I started gambling in seventh grade. That may sound shocking but stay with me.
Vividly etched in my memory is the day when, alongside my father, I stepped foot into an Esso gas station and laid a humble $5 wager on the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. It was an intriguing matchup, with Buffalo pegged at +5 2.1 — a tantalizing prospect whereby a victory by a margin of 5 or more would magnify my bet by a factor of 2.1. It is worth noting that, in Ontario, the option to place bets at gas stations, much akin to purchasing a lottery ticket, was readily available. This alternative form of entertainment was incessantly thrust into the spotlight during the enthralling spectacles of sporting events that held me spellbound. It was an ambition I had long harbored.
Admittedly, I was a minor, and strictly speaking, the wager was placed under my father's name. I am acutely aware that some may harbor skepticism and hasten to judge my father for permitting a 12-year-old to partake in gambling. However, it is imperative to clarify that my father does not exhibit the traits of a gambling addict. In fact, I have never witnessed him placing a substantial bet, despite being well within his means to do so.
From an early stage, he instilled within me a cardinal principle: gambling ought to be confined to one's disposable income, eschewing the temptation to treat it as a gateway to instant wealth. This philosophy necessitates a meticulous examination of each matchup, employing a mathematical lens that favors betting exclusively when the odds tilt in one's favor. He imparted to me the concept of expected value, a subject that would resurface only in my junior year of college. Essentially, in every game, the odds of prevailing are set at ½, implying that the more games one wagers on, the more unfavorable the odds become. For a bet to transcend the mere preservation of one's funds, the anticipated return must surpass a breakeven point.
Above all, the most profound lesson my father imparted to me was the perception of gambling as a form of entertainment. I distinctly recall his words, resonating within me to this day: "For a mere $10, we have transformed a three-hour football game into a realm of boundless excitement. It is akin to attending a cinema, except this time, instead of indulging in another $10 popcorn, we have the potential to savor it free of charge, should fortune smile upon us." The emphasis I place upon this statement is a testament to its profound impact.
Beyond mere spectating, our shared experience involved extensive discussions during car rides to hockey practice and throughout the week leading up to Sunday football. Countless were the occasions when we engaged in passionate debates, exchanging perspectives on key players, offensive strategies, and any salient insights that caught my attention. Yet, I was always humbled by his encyclopedic knowledge, as he embodied a walking compendium of injury reports, weather conditions, and even the intricacies of the playing surface. Through his guidance, I learned that meticulous research can expose vulnerabilities in the game lines. Over the years, I have indulged in gambling with numerous friends, fostering camaraderie through this shared pursuit. However, there exists an undeniable truth—I have encountered no individual, and I mean none, who surpasses my father's consistent success. It is a realization that fails to bring me unmitigated joy. Astonishingly, each Sunday, without fail, he dispatches to me at least one winning ticket! Truly, it defies belief.
I am well aware of the dangers that gambling harbors, akin to any vice that elicits intense emotions. Nevertheless, should one approach it with the mindset of a mere pastime, akin to attending a movie screening, its potential pitfalls can be mitigated.
My father and I still converse every Sunday morning, sharing our perspectives on the emotional states of the NFL's finest players as they embark on their respective battles. In a comedic twist of fate, we hold steadfast to our delusion of possessing profound insights, despite the verity that our knowledge pales in comparison to that of the athletes we revere. Nevertheless, these phone conversations are a source of eager anticipation on my part.
Were I to be questioned regarding my overall gambling outcomes, the balance of wins and losses, I would likely confess to being slightly in the red. It is an acknowledgment shared by countless gamblers across their lifetime. Yet, I have been able to relish in what my father coined as the "free popcorn" experience, an indulgence that transcends mere monetary value.