From heartbreak to triumph. From losing a loved one to gaining a lifelong friend. Stars who passed on can teach us so much about life and about betting, which is why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most influential stars who died since the start of 2020.
Here, we’re going to explore the key lessons that these stars have for us, the avid gamers and betting enthusiasts.
The Importance of Knowing Your Lines
One of the most significant things that any avid gamer should know is the difference between winning and losing. Like any other skill, learning how to gamble can be quite the challenge and it takes some time to really understand all of the ins and outs. In the meantime, it’s always a good idea to research the books and learn about the odds. If you’re walking into a casino or a bookmaker, knowing the line is essential. The line is the difference between winning and losing, and it’s also an indication of how much the casino or bookmaker is willing to wager on the outcome of the game. For example, if the line is -110, this means that the casino is offering odds of 11/10 (1.1) that you’ll win the game, while a line of +100 indicates that the casino is taking odds of 10/10 (1.0) that you’ll lose the game.
Knowing the line is essential, but it’s also a good idea to understand the strategy behind it all. Certainty of the win or loss means nothing if you don’t have a strategy in place to ensure that you’re maximizing your earnings. For example, if you’re playing blackjack and you have a strategy that involves sticking with a single-deck, then you must play according to the rules of single-deck blackjack. Otherwise, you could easily end up sabotaging your own winnings by cheating at the game (the forbidden fruit approach).
Stars such as Stephen Hawking, who famously predicted the existence of extraterrestrial life, and computer pioneer and futurist Ken Olson both passed away in 2020. However, both of them left a lasting impression on the world because of their work and their unique perspectives on science and society. Interestingly, both men also had a strong interest in gambling, which was why many people have linked their untimely deaths to the ‘gambler’s disease’.
The Dangers of Getting Overconfident
One of the things that can derail a gambling addict or a habitual gambler is getting overconfident. When you’re starting out as a gambler, it’s easy to get overly excited about winning big and, as a result, become overconfident. After all, you’re just lucky enough to be able to contribute to the expenses of your favorite bar or restaurant, or to save up enough to buy your dream car. These are all things that can make winning feel that much more worthwhile. But, like any addiction, taking part in gambling can become dangerously compulsive, leading you to risk more and more to get the same thrill. This can put you in danger of losing a lot of money, which is why it’s essential to stay under-confident at all times, especially when you’re starting out. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a situation that you’re not prepared for (economically or otherwise).
Getting overconfident can be fatal to an avid gambler or a betting enthusiast. When you start out, it’s easy to be humble and reserved because you don’t want to blow your chances of winning. But, as time goes by and you begin to see a trend of success, it’s natural for you to start believing in your ability to foresee the future and, as a result, make accurate predictions about the outcome of various games. In reality, this is rarely possible, which is why it’s a good idea to stay humble when you’re starting out and never get overconfident.
The Power of Perspective
The power of perspective is something that truly good gamblers and betting enthusiasts understand and apply well. When you’re playing games such as poker or blackjack, your odds of winning or losing can be determined by a number of factors, including the quality of your cards, the strategy that you’re using, and how much you’re willing to bet. But, in the end, it’s all about perspective. Your cards might be bad but, from another angle, they could be much better. The same goes for the amount that you’re willing to bet. Sometimes you have to change your perspective to see the opportunities that lie before you.
One excellent example of this is the story of Mark Roberts, who in 2016 suffered from an overwhelming case of ‘gambler’s disease’. After losing his job and his fiancee, Roberts was forced to bet the only thing he had left, which was his car. In the end, Roberts won $150,000, which he then spent on acquiring the tools and the know-how to become a successful online poker player. Two years later, Roberts is still making money online and he recently earned $500,000 in just 24 hours, which he plans to use to buy an even bigger SUV. This is a prime example of how a bad situation can end up being a good one. When you get knocked down, you have to get up and continue fighting. Never give up. Keep your chin up and look for the opportunities that lie ahead.
The Importance of Adaptability
Another significant quality that good gamblers and betting enthusiasts have is the ability to adapt to change. Often, our instincts and our first reactions are the best tools for beating the odds. But sometimes, we have to adjust our strategy or approach if the odds are not in our favor. Instead of getting mad or frustrated, we have to adapt and change gears. Sometimes this can be as easy as changing the way that we play, while other times it could mean completely altering our strategy and approach altogether.
An excellent example of this would be the story of Matt Damon. In 2015, Damon was on a winning streak which had seen him amass a massive $20M at the poker table. After about a month of this uneventful streak, Damon decided to take a break from the tables to participate in the Adaptation project, a mental health initiative that aimed to help vulnerable communities to adapt to climate change. Damon played a key role in helping a group of local fishermen to adapt an old way of thinking and a technique which had served them well for generations in order to survive the changing climate.
After two days, the Adaptation project had transformed the way that the fishermen thought about fishing and how they approached the endeavor. Due to the initiative, the fishermen were now seeing the water in a totally different way and they were able to land a lot more fish than they ever had before. At the end of the project, the community was so grateful that they insisted that Damon become an honorary member of the clan and give them all the profits from his upcoming movie, “The Great Game”. In reality, Damon was unsure about doing business with a group of people he had just worked with for two days but he eventually went ahead and made the transaction, seeing the value in the community and its people.
Adaptability is one of the most valuable qualities that good gamblers and betting enthusiasts possess because it allows them to truly see the opportunities that lie before them. Sometimes, the situation that we’re in simply does not offer us the best odds of winning. Instead of getting mad, we have to adapt and find a way to beat the system. Sometimes this means changing course and doing things differently, while other times it could mean completely overhauling our strategy and approach. The great thing is that, even when we lose, we can continue adapting and continue improving our odds of winning in the future. It’s all about perspective. When we lose, it’s not the end of the world. There are always other opportunities out there, and we have to continue finding them, and beating the odds, until we succeed.