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Gambling

Second Conditional

Date: Nov 16 2011

Themes: Hobbies, Travel

Grammar: Second Conditional

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Intro

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If you think about it, gambling is a pretty strange way to pass the time. You put your money into a machine or give it to a dealer, and in return you get…nothing, usually.

Or maybe you do get something. You get the thrill of taking a risk. And there’s a chance you might get the much bigger thrill of winning. Just don’t hold your breath.

Mason recently took a trip to Las Vegas. Hear him and Jason talk about gambling.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Jason

Mason: I was in Las Vegas earlier this year, and in general, I just don’t understand why people like gambling.

Jason: Really?

Mason: Well, it’s really about what are the stakes, right? Like, in Vegas, it’s really expensive to gamble. You know, if you’re gonna play like 10, 15 dollars a hand to play blackjack, you have to have a lot of money that you’re willing to put at risk.

Jason: That’s true. Well, I don’t know, I think the thrill is the getting rich quick. It’s a rush when you turn that $5 into 80, and then 800 if you’re really good. But the trick is to walk away at that point, which is so hard for people.

Mason: Right. And it is very addictive when you’re in that moment, like, “Hey, I just won something! I should probably keep doing this so I will win more.”

Jason: Yeah, it doesn’t make a lot of sense, because the odds just are not in your favor. But it’s fun. You get to sit there and hang out with the dealer, have a drink.

Mason: I think if it were more common, like if you could gamble legally everywhere, it would lose its luster pretty quick.

Jason: That’s true. Well, it’s like a travel event for a lot of people, unless you live in one of those rare places where you can gamble. It’s something you do as a tourist, so you’re a little looser with your money.

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Discussion

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Mason recently went to Las Vegas. But he didn’t hit the jackpot. In fact, he doesn’t understand why people enjoy gambling. To him, it is just too expensive.

Jason says people like to gamble because of the rush they get if they win something. But the problem is that most people don’t stop gambling after they’ve won. They keep going. And eventually, they’re almost certain to lose.

Mason thinks that if gambling were legal everywhere, people wouldn’t be as interested in it. Jason agrees that most people gamble when they’re on vacation, so they might be less concerned than usual about spending lots of money.

Do you like to gamble? Is it legal to gamble in any parts of your country?

Dale recently went to a casino. Read about it on his blog.

Comments

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julito

Argentina

Christianny, thanks for your info. i have been in San Pablo a couple of times and noticed many lottery agencies. people play lotto, quiniela , lottery and what not . this is also very addictive as casinos and bingos. In Argentina people play probably the money that they need for other things . but who wouldn´t like to win extra money without having to work hard for it. The problem is that rarely a casino is out of business for lack of money. They get rich and richer everyday.

Christianny

Brazil

yeah.. in Brazil it is illegal…

veljanepra

Germany

Yes, I agree with IsaabelaxD, gambling is criminal activity and I’m warning young people befor it. Otherwise, I like brasil Bossa Nova and vocalist Maria Bethania.

julito

Argentina

IsaabelaxD, you mean than in Brazil you don´t have bingos ,casinos and the like ?

IsaaBelaxD

Brazil

It’s not legal gamble in my country. And I’m really not interested in gambling. I think it’s just waste of time and money! :)

free7soul

Sudan

when you start gamble the problem is that you wouldn’t assume control of it . ( gambling really apear friendly but never trust luck :D

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

i dontlike gamble, and it not legal.

Nicte ha

Mexico

I don’t like gambling, as 4 me it’s bad and addictive

selvgali

Honduras

In my country is legal to Gamble, but that does not mean that is a smart choice for having entertainment. Many people works hard to earn some money, but they quickly lose it by gambling. That must not bee any smart thing to do!!!!!!!

idrissever

Turkey

I think gambling is the stupiest thing to do for human being and it is the most addictive habit in the world.

Nakul

India

No, it’s illegal in our country.. but people have this kind of tendency to play n expect to win. They are not allowed to play here.

Nakul

India

No, actually I don’t like Gamble, but I used to put the money on bet (Like on games)... actually it urges us to play more if we lose, for getting back what we lost actually… We can’t hold our breath…. so that’s y, I don’t like now, it’s bad game, I would say

i love life

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

I dont know what useful when you playing gambling with those bad people

we can abandoned on money but we cant abandoned on the ethics

I guess any one playing gamble reflect a bad photo to others

the money isn.t coming easy we doing a big effort for obtian of money

as the same time we looking to be a good example for next generation

I dont like to be gambling man I respect my self I want to be a good preacher

some day we will missing all bleesing from god because our actions hands

now every thing has change because of the greedy we become like Monsters for of the money the main thing now become how you can find a good way for get on the comfortable regardless any condition I know some people like money more than any thing yes or no

Anna A

Armenia

I think that gambling is like drugs… one of my friends is playing games like this and so his life became very desordered.. and I think that it is’nt best way to pass a time or somethink like that… Sorry for my English…

Maria del Alba

Spain

I dont like gambling because I dont have enought money to overspend on it. However I like poker because I think playing poker is the best sport for training the intelligent people: if you wanna win you must pretend not to have good hand, you must lie, you must be good at mathematics to calculate the odds, you must be have good memory in order to forecast the rest of player’s next steps…

In my country, in most of bars it is not allowed to gamble, even among friends. But there are some clubs and casinos specially in the south of Spain where you can, but they’re so professional for most people I think.

Kubi

Germany

Personally, I think gambling is like a drug cigarettes or alcohol. If you try it, than it doesn’t let you go. That’s why do not touch it,..

In my country gambling is not forbidden…

But it is not my life style…

FUN777

Egypt

Well, i think people start gambling just for fun or for change in a vacation or something like that, but it mostly turns to addictive thing so in this case it would be a disaster. In general i don’t like gambling, there are a lot of things enable us to feel fun while spending our money and help people who really need money

olddog

China

in fact i like pleasure gambling which means gambling with my family or friends , i will feel great ,even lose money,just like spending money in pleasure.