Article November 22, 2010 Issue

What's wrong with a little gambling?

BY MARK RAFFLES

Where's the harm in buying a lotto ticket at the convenience store? Or chipping into the office sports pool? Or making a quick trip to the slots at the casino?

When I was younger, I loved to play poker for money with my friends. The stakes were small, the camaraderie was great, and I appreciated the challenge of calculating the odds, bluffing, and reading the other players.