Casino games and the Tao
It may seem strange to equate casino gambling with Taoist philosophy, but it may be because gambling is a very important part of and widely accepted Chinese culture.
The first recorded history of playing cards dates back to 9th century China, which makes sense because they were the inventors of writing paper. The first book written with reference to playing cards dates from the Tang dynasty (618-907) called Yezi Gexi. By the 11th century, playing cards could be found throughout Asia featuring many of Lan Shun’s 108 heroes found in the Chinese classic “The Water’s Edge.”
In the 16th century, playing cards had arrived in France and it is there that the card suits we know today based on figures of the French nobility began to be used.
Taoist philosophy is said to be nearly 6,000 years old and rose to prominence with the teachings of the Yellow Emperor, Huang Ti, the first emperor of China. With many of his scientific discoveries, such as mathematics and astronomy, there was also a deep connection to astrology, symbology (a science of symbols and their effects), numerology, and many forms of mysticism.
In the Seventh Pillar of Taoism, “The Tao of Mastery”, the symbol for water is K’AN and it says: “to be successful and lucky, one must take risks”. Luck for the ancient Taoists was a form of control and timing.
Clearly, in all games of chance, time is an important factor. Regardless of the type of game, all of its forms tend to run in cycles, both winning and losing. It is the skill with which one navigates through these cycles that the player conveys their level of control over the outcome.
The first serious studies of gambling in the 20th century were by economists who expressed confusion that gambling is a losing proposition and indeed irrational behavior. In 1945, William Vickery, a leading economist, concluded that gambling should not be measured by expected winnings, but rather by the money a player does not have and which appears to be more valuable to him than the money he does have.
The typical view is that gambling is self-destructive, undermines work ethic, and takes away money that could be put to better uses in the economy. The notion that most people tend to gamble beyond their means remains unproven and was discussed in research done in 1966 in “Economics of Gambling” published in London, England. In this study it was found that it is an affective way out of frustration, a relief from loneliness and a leveler of inequality between economic classes.
Many psychologists view gambling as a normal form of recreation and destructive only for addicts. They stated that the solution lies in the treatment of the player, not in the condemnation of the game as a whole.
The casino patron is wooed with opulent surroundings, pools, shops, shows, nightlife and “compensating” amenities. The attraction is undeniable as an escape from tedious and meaningless occupations. Facing the myth of success, when faced with insurmountable economic and social obstacles, makes the entire casino experience much easier to understand.
My own opinion is that people who gamble solely for the thrill and excitement, with no concern for financial results, would do better to find a more satisfying and less expensive pastime. The game is an isolated activity. It will not take the place of a meaningful relationship or counteract feelings of alienation or loneliness. These are not reasons to bet.
Using any type of gambling to fill a void in one’s personal life, something he cannot do, is the type of gambling that can have devastating consequences.
If you’ve ever been to a casino, there’s one thing you’ve probably noticed more than anything else… that thing is watching people lose money. This happens because the amateur gambler enters this competition without basic knowledge of game odds, game strategy, or even thought about proper money management. It’s a careless way of handling money, and it does little to change the inevitable outcome.
Casinos love this type of player and they spend a fortune attracting their business. With the odds completely in their favor, casino operators know that while there are highly effective gaming methods that can change those odds for the player, very few of them will invest the time or effort to use them.
Common sense tells us that if everyone who plays in casinos lost, they would cease to exist. To attract losers, you must have winners and it is just as easy to win at many casino games as it is to lose.
I don’t write for weekend gamers desperately looking to have a good time at all costs. Winning is not even in his vocabulary. They consider the chance of winning to be remote, as if it were left completely to chance.
It is the individual who is determined to win at all costs that I feel is the most like me. It is to these individuals that I offer the following. There are many ways to achieve your goal. Decide that you will learn everything you need to learn to win consistently when you risk your hard-earned money playing in casinos. To me, nothing else makes sense.
In the words of the ancient Taoist, Lao Tzu
“Fortune favors the prepared.”