Harry Nilsson had it right; “One” truly is the loneliest number. Try to picture an event. Any event. Name one that you would not prefer to do with another person. Another person simply makes everything more exciting. Going to the bathroom. Besides going to the bathroom, name one event that isn’t elevated by having another person present.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you need a gambling buddy. Before you lower your head and sulk, just because you don’t have a gambling buddy now, doesn’t mean we can’t find you one. In today’s day and age, we are connected more than ever.
If they have an app where you can find your long-lost farming soul mate, then surely somehow, we can find you a gambling pal. Maybe that’s a new app idea. On to the list.
Celebration
You can’t high-five yourself – Okay you technically can high-five yourself. I’ve been a victim of being left hanging. Throwing that hand up just to be ignored, unseen, or a combination of the two. Either way, it hurts to have that hand up with nowhere to go.
Some will do the sarcastic high-five of themselves. Others will slowly bring it down and bathe in their shame. I have no right answer here, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll risk being hung out to dry one hundred out of one hundred times if that means I even have the opportunity for the high five in the first place.
It isn’t the high five directly, but it is what the high five represents (but a good high five where you create that POP and have a slight hand sting after – hard to beat). The high five means celebration.
Celebrating a big win – the dealer busting after showing a 10 in the window, hitting your favorite roulette number, or finally hitting your “Hard 6” at bubble craps after sitting there for over an hour. Our wins are meant to be shared. High five, fist bump, obnoxious yell, chest bump, secret handshake, the look.
It doesn’t matter how you celebrate, know that celebrating in two’s is the best.
Smarterer
Two minds are better than one. Unless your friends are absolute numbskulls, having two perspectives, ideas, and strategies, is always a benefit.
I don’t recommend arguing with yourself on which team to take on Monday Night Football, although people will leave you alone for the most part. Instead, talk out all the angles with your gambling buddy. They will naturally have a unique opinion or thought process than you.
In the end, maybe you don’t listen to them, and that’s okay. To be fair, I wouldn’t back the Titans either, but at least you can weigh your options.
This also comes in handy when you’re trying to stay on a dealt 15 in blackjack. Friends don’t let friends stay on 15.
Break Time
It’s okay to be a spectator. You can’t gamble every minute you’re inside a casino, and if you can, I tip my cap to you.
We all know, the longer you play, the more likely the casino will get your money. When you go to the casino by yourself, you’re either gambling, eating overpriced fast food, or wandering with a blank stare in your eyes.
With a gambling buddy, you don’t always have to be gambling. Sometimes it’s okay to take a break and watch your pal roll some dice.
Sure, if he gets on a heater jump in (at your own risk), but otherwise take time not spending money. A gambling buddy is a built-in reason not to be gambling, at least the entire time. Take advantage.
Forces Combined
Hedge your bets. This method isn’t for everyone, but an approach a buddy and I love to do is team up when betting.
For example, if we both want to play blackjack, we both buy-in $100, play as long as desired, and at the end, we split the money between both of us. This does a couple of things.
First, it helps you avoid the crazy swings that can happen in blackjack. If you’re ice cold, your gambling buddy will hopefully be able to bail you out. Short of your dealer being a big ol’ bully, the law of averages will allow you both to keep playing table after table.
Secondly, you just doubled your hands you get to cheer for. Sure, you always want your pal to win, but when it financially impacts your bankroll, you definitely will be cheering for them to win. Their win is your win.
Sharing is more than caring, it’s fiscally responsible.
Fun For All
Chalk it up to having a good time. Some people know the “walk of shame” to be leaving the house of a random stranger after a one-night stand. That is a stroll in the park compared to the true meaning.
How about when your chip stack slowly dwindles after you miss spin after spin at roulette? You get down to your last bet and, like clockwork, you lose that one too.
You now have to say “thank you” to the dealer when you have never felt less thankful in your life. Slow turn as every member at the table stares at you as you stagger away into the abyss. It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. It’s shameful. Your only saving grace? A gambling buddy.
When you’re bouncing from table to table, win or lose, you can tally it up to having fun. You’re there for entertainment, quality time, or however you want to justify your borderline addiction.
Nobody wants to walk away a loser, but walking away a loser alone, well let’s not let that happen again.
Take Action
The casino will never be the same if you can find your gambling soulmate. Everyone deserves to find this needle in a haystack. When you know, you know. I hope I was able to motivate you to put yourself out there and be a little vulnerable in the name of gambling. Now I have to think of some names for my app. Betting Buddies. Blackjack Bros. Cash Comrades. Good Luck Lovers. I’ll keep brainstorming.
