Don't Drink and Gamble

Gambling on an empty stomach may not always be a good idea, but playing a few games of poker or a round or two of blackjack when drunk is not a good idea at all. There is nothing inherently wrong with tipping back a shot or two every now and then. Neither is there anything wrong with setting aside a small bankroll for a trip to the casino once in a while. Both activities, when done by themselves and in moderation, do not usually amount to a higher possibility of disaster. Put gambling and drinking together though, and the results could potentially be disastrous.

While studies may show that the health benefits of alcohol do exist, if it is consumed in moderation, this does not change the fact that alcohol is an intoxicant. Excessive consumption of alcohol can affect brain function. It can cause slurred speech, slowed reflexes, clumsiness, and reduced impulse control. Under the influence of a few too many martinis or gin and tonics, for example, a person's inhibitions could be lowered to the point where caution and prudence are thrown to the wind. A lot of bad things can happen when a person is under the influence of large amounts of alcohol. The potential for catastrophe can be significantly raised if circumstances are such that a drunken person is required to keep a clear head about them.

Gambling is an activity that primarily involves guessing the outcome of a particular event or activity, and wagering money on whether or not your guess is correct. While winning in gambling does hinge primarily on uncontrollable variables, actually making a profit while gambling, regardless of luck, usually depends a lot more on money management and a person's betting savvy. It is highly advisable, for example, not to blow your entire gambling budget on a single large wager. One gambling tip is to space out your bets, gather more information about the game, and be prepared for the contingency of losing. This is far more difficult if a person's mind is addled by a few too many glasses of whiskey.

This is especially true if you are playing a gambling game that requires strategy, such as Texas Hold'em. Poker tactics are much more difficult to keep in mind, especially if your cognitive functions are dulled by an alcoholic haze. Also, gambling requires risk, and people can tend to emotionally invest themselves in the outcomes of a particular game; it is more difficult to keep a person's emotions in check when they are drunk.

Alcohol is often considered a social lubricant, and drinking alcohol in moderation can have many health benefits, but getting hammered at the race tracks or in a casino is not a wise course of action at all.