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"Let's take a look at history.
Gambling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment in the world. Betting dates back to ancient times and was initially seen as a whim of the gods. Now, gambling has evolved into one of the most unconventional ways of making a living. The story of this transformation is both fascinating and relevant to all aspiring professional gamblers.
In the United States alone, revenue from casinos and lotteries reached $57 billion in 2006, far surpassing the $20 billion from movie box offices and music record sales combined, and even more than the $28 billion generated by McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and Starbucks.
However, gambling is often looked down upon. By the end of this article, you'll understand why this is the case and what distinguishes gamblers from smart players.
First and foremost, let's talk about chance. The earliest recorded form of gambling in human history is believed to date back to around 2300 B.C. in ancient China. However, this form was not solely about entertainment. There is evidence to suggest that dice were used to determine the fate of territories. Europe had a similar situation. Going back to 100 A.D., a dispute between King Olaf of Norway and King Olaf of Sweden in the Hising area was resolved in favor of the Swedish king when he rolled two sixes (a 1/36 chance).
Life has often been compared to a gamble. In the 1st century, Pliny the Elder wrote the famous quote: ""We are tossed by chance wherever it pleases, and our place is assigned at birth by the caprice of Fortune."" When it comes to sports betting, we must pay tribute to Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. Thousands of years ago, sports competitions such as running and discus throwing were held in various city-states, and winners were awarded prizes. However, it was in the stands of these events that some people made big money by placing bets.
Early Romans were even more significant sports gamblers, wagering amounts so large that they not only lost their possessions but sometimes their freedom as well. From dice and knucklebones to board games and chariot races, everything was fair game in ancient Rome. They even used ""magical"" lead tablets to bring misfortune or even death to their opponents. Life has often been compared to a gamble. Pliny the Elder wrote the famous quote in the 1st century: ""We are tossed by chance wherever it pleases, and our place is assigned at birth by the caprice of Fortune.""
To have light. It wasn't until the Renaissance period that risk was scientifically examined, leading to breakthroughs in the magical world of probability, the foundation of modern risk management employed by gambling companies and professional gamblers. The Renaissance was a period of religious upheaval, extraordinary innovation, and rigorous scientific methods that banished mysticism. In 1654, French nobleman and avid gambler Chevalier de Méré challenged the renowned mathematician Blaise Pascal to solve a problem posed by Italian monk Luca Pacioli about 200 years earlier.
This problem had baffled mathematicians, and they couldn't crack it. Pascal sought the help of Pierre de Fermat, a lawyer and mathematician, and their collaborative effort marked the beginning of the end for superstition in gambling. What emerged was a 17th-century version of digging to the roots, a precursor to probability theory, which is the mathematical foundation of risk management. Over the years, mathematicians transformed probability theory from a gambler's plaything into a powerful tool for organizing, analyzing, and applying information. It became a valuable quantitative means used in various aspects of modern life, from opinion polls to stock picking, wine tasting, and drug testing.
To gamble or to bet smartly? That's your choice! ""Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing."" Warren Buffett, the self-made American billionaire investor, defines risk as ""the possibility of loss of something bad or unpleasant."" He pointed out that ""risk comes from not knowing what you're doing."" From an etymological perspective, the word ""risk"" comes from the early Italian word ""rischiare,"" meaning ""to dare."" In this sense, risk is a choice, not fate. If we are to believe the advice of successful investors, our actions are proportional to our knowledge.
Therefore, at least for those who profit from leading people's enthusiasm for betting, success is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. Feeling like you've expanded your knowledge? Someone wants to recommend the three best gambling books to our sports betting manager. Find out what his choices are. Be better prepared to be surprised!" |
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Post time 28-9-2023 22:41:58