Gamblers are not usually seen as positive role models. This judgmental approach lacks awareness of the virtues of gamblers. The purse lipped comment, “I’ve never been in a betting shop” tells us all we need to know about the narrow minded sanctimonious people who have dragged this country down into its current psychotic, neurotic status. Gamblers make countries great. Gambling is more than the stuff of life it is life.

Gamblers have an intensity of purpose unknown outside battle zones. To begin an activity where the odds are stacked against you shows courage and determination. The Royal Commission on Gambling, 1978, analysed all the data and showed that an average gambler loses 18% of their stake. Gamblers don’t care because, like car drivers and lovers, they are above average. Therefore the implication of minus 18% for the average gambler doesn’t apply. Nonetheless gamblers do want to enhance their gambling experience. A famous golfer once said, “The more I practice the luckier I get.” Gamblers embrace that motto. Gamblers are not part-time workers, or, half hearted clock watchers. Gamblers strive. They strive in a world that is stacked against them. Minus 18%! And it takes a 23% out- performance to retrieve the situation. No wonder gamblers are optimistic in the face of such odds.

Gambling is an accelerated metaphor for life itself. Choices are made and the feedback is quick, sure and unambiguous. Significant life choices for non-gamblers, such as marriage, university et. al. have very long time lapses before unambiguous feedback kicks in. A long time lapse for a gambler is measured in hours at most. Gamblers don’t make significant life choices. Made a mistake? Gamblers simply dump their previous position, assess the actuality and move on. They know they are fallible and they incorporate that fallibility into their lives. Mistakes aren’t disasters they are opportunities for getting it right next time. Non- gamblers dwell on mistakes and that is catastrophic.

The principal cause of death for the under 35s is suicide. People commit suicide because they are depressed. Gamblers live a life of quick fire activity constantly looking forward. Gamblers don’t say What if? They don’t have time for What ifs as they lead a life driven by anticipation, disappointment and elation. That necessary out- performance (23%) has to be made before any profit is made. Gamblers get on with their hectic life free of depression. Once they are 35 years old they join the mainstream and die of cutting edge stupidity (laziness, salt, sugar) like everyone else in Britain. Being gamblers they know what the odds are from dying of stupidity, or, as they usually say, quoting Doris Day, “Que sera sera”. Or, as gamblers roughly translate it, “I don’t give a monkey’s”.

When you see who criticise gamblers the structural faults of Britain are laid bare. Typical of these moralising critics are desiccated accountants paralysed at the thought of making a decision. Gamblers make decisions; they live and die by the outcome of those decisions. Winston Churchill changed political parties when it suited him, he gambled his political future on those decisions. Stamford Raffles, born poor in a an aristocratic era, changed the world by gambling on his judgement that Singapore would be a great port and asset to the British Empire. Cecil Rhodes conquered Africa not on a whim but because he backed his own judgement and gambled his future on that judgement. None of these titans of British history knew they would succeed but they were confident that they were above average, just as all gamblers are above average.

The Asian Tiger economies are populated with gamblers. Asian entrepreneurs use their capital, win or lose they maintain their spirit. Britain is in a death spiral, with young people more concerned with pension plans than wealth creation. Gamblers know they don’t need to worry as they are above average. Gamblers are the back-bone of society and Britain needs more gamblers and fewer prissy old maids (of both sexes). Britain’s high streets are being rescued by betting shops. I see British greatness reborn on the high streets of every town and  city in the land.

(Chris)