Is trading Gambling or not .."What say You" Vote here.

Discussion in 'Psychology' started by ElectricSavant, Apr 10, 2005.

Is Trading Gambling or not

This poll will close on Jan 12, 2060 at 11:25 AM.
  1. Gambling

    460 vote(s)
    35.0%
  2. Not Gambling

    854 vote(s)
    65.0%
  1. It's a battle, isn't it? Thinking in points not in dollars helps...This is going back to trading 101


     
    #161     Apr 11, 2005
  2. Today's Trades..
     
    #162     Apr 11, 2005
  3. If the sub-account were triple for each system...say 9k? Would this cover the sky is falling.

    And say a daily move from each account to the sub-account equalling 1/3 of the days profit.

    Michael B.

    P.S. Perhaps a slight reduction in the default trade ticket percent would be in order too...
     
    #163     Apr 11, 2005
  4. lar

    lar

    Hi Electric,

    Thanks for the invitation to rethink this growing discussion.

    I spent a lot of time going back and forth with exceptions, If/buts, thots about edge, probabilities, risk and qualifying wiggle words then finally asked myself this question. If I had a gun to my head and had to chose to label trading as IS or IS NOT gambling... I'd simply have to say it is.

    At the heart of this is the fact that you are risking money on the results of an unknown outcome.

    You are not saying that you have found a trading style that has NO RISK OF LOSS... right? Or that it is a 100% guaranteed net profit giving money spigot... right?

    If you can lose your money, even if it is to the vig or carry costs or loss of interest or what ever, how can one not say they aren't taking a gamble on the outcome?

    Peace and gtty,

    Lar
     
    #164     Apr 11, 2005
  5. Well lar,

    is anything possible?

    This would be semantics and what comes from all these threads.

    The line of gambling simply does not need to be crossed with trading....

    Over 100 traders here disagree with you.

    Do you feel that traders that consistantly win are lucky?


     
    #165     Apr 11, 2005
  6. TGregg

    TGregg

    Then what is not gambling? If you go to the store to buy a bottle of Maker's Mark, you might be unsure of the price, so you'll have a somewhat unknown outcome (how much money you'll have left to buy stoogies with).

    Or what about going to college to learn a trade? Who knows if you like it (you may discover that trading is more rewarding).

    I might pick a different definition for gambling, along the lines of risking money on pure chance. Also something about how the risk/reward is at best even (including one's skill and knowledge), and is usually less (as in craps at casinos).

    For example: Rounders. A movie about professional poker players. While a master might not win every hand against a noob player, he has a positive expectancy and should make money over the long run. Not gambling, IMO. If it is, then everything is gambling. If it is then you're gambling that a meteoroid won't blast through your roof and strike you dead where you stand. If it is, then every single action or non-action is a gamble. And that's not good, we use words to convey information. If everything is a gamble, then what's the point of saying something else is a gamble?
     
    #166     Apr 11, 2005
  7. By this logic, starting/attempting any business is a gamble, if you concede to this than I will agree with you, otherwise it is not.

     
    #167     Apr 11, 2005
  8. lar

    lar

    Hey Electric,

    Do I think traders who win consistantly are lucky? No, I think they have a valid edge(s) which they exploit time and time again.

    I think they found a way to put the odds on their side.

    It's ok that a lot of folks disagree with my conclusion... it's not the first time.

    Out of the first 1000 people trading in any given market on any given day... are you saying that none of them are gambling?

    Peace,

    Lar
     
    #168     Apr 11, 2005
  9. This is the unknown outcome for

    System#1
    EUR/USD goes down to zero
    USD/CHF goes up to infinity
    or vice versa

    System#2
    AUD/JPY falls to Zero
    GBP/CHF falls to Zero
    EUR/HUF rises to infinity

     
    #169     Apr 11, 2005
  10. lar

    lar

    Hi saturnine,

    Yes, I concede that.

    Like many things, some gambles/gamblers are better than others.

    Peace and gtty,

    Lar
     
    #170     Apr 11, 2005