If it weren't for people taking risks or "gambling" on certain things then this world wouldn't be the same as it is today. What would have happened if Ben Franklin didn't take the risk in trying to invent electricity? We would not have lights or pretty much anything that we use today. Another type of gambling is that which is done for entertainment or sport. The risk, or thrill, involved in this type of gambling is a game where the person places money against the odds that some given thing will happen when they say it will. If they can guess or be lucky, they can earn a profit for choosing the favorable outcome.

However, gambling has turned into much more than the traditional betting on which number the wheel is going to land on, or trying to find the "hot" slot machine. Office pools, friendly bets, poker nights, casi

What's sad, but true, is that gambling is a wager made at unfavorable odds. There have been many instances where professional athletes have admitted to "point shaving", or playing in a way that has an effect on the outcome of the game. Players will miss shots on purpose or make sure their team does not exceed a certain score. In exchange for their cooperation, "bookies" or someone with a lot of money will pay them off. In this way, the bookie can bet a lot of money on the opposite team because he is certain of the outcome. This happens far too often, that's not even counting the number of college kids who accept money to "throw" a game. It's all out of the public's hand and that's why it is so tough to win on a consistent basis.

Gambling addiction is a disease just like an alcoholic and causes many families to separate and even become bankrupt. There have been cases of people who have gambled away their entire family's life savings because they cannot stop betting and trying to get out of debt. They lose all sight of what is practical because they are overwhelmed with this urge to win it all back. The thing is there isn't much these people can do to control it. Gambling is brought to the public as a way of entertainment, but just like anything can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

Sports betting can also be the most addicting and the most dangerous, as it is nearly impossible to determine the outcome of a sporting event, even though to the gambler it seems you have a 50% chance of winning. But when all the factors come into play such as the spread, and other trends and outcomes, it throws the gambler off and gives them negative thoughts through their head and that's exactly what they want. Odds and spreads are specifically based on the oddsmaker's opinion of what the public will bet to try to throw off the bettor and give the house the better odds. The pro

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ben Franklin, Street Journal, Unlike Roulette, Truth Gambling, sports betting, win money, win lose, gambling sports, 50% chance winning, win lose win, bet lose, bet win, house odds, bet despite, sporting event, chance win,
Approximate Word count = 1264
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)