Is Gambling a zero sum game?

Question

Do you think answers in this category would differ greatly than if I asked in Economics, Mathematics or gambling?

Answer 1

The short answer is both. In slot gambling the aggregate gains and losses of players is either less than or more than zero so that is not a zero sum game. But in card games such as poker, ti is since the gains and losses of the players equal zero.


In game theory, zero-sum describes a situation in which a participant's gain or loss is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the other participant(s). It is so named because when the total gains of the participants are added up, and the total losses are subtracted, they will sum to zero. Chess and Go are examples of a zero-sum game: it is impossible for both players to win. Zero-sum can be thought of more generally as constant sum where the benefits and losses to all players sum to the same value. Cutting a cake is zero- or constant-sum because taking a larger piece reduces the amount of cake available for others. In contrast, non-zero-sum describes a situation in which the interacting parties' aggregate gains and losses is either less than or more than zero.

Answer 2

It may be so as a perfect mathematical concept... in practice it is no zero-sum for two reasons.

What one loses is good money and what one wins is easy money. Secondly, the organizing joints make sure their own cut is well incorporated in the gadgets and logic governing the games.

Answer 3

No. In the end, the house always win. Individual games may or may not be "zero-sum," but if it were so, the house would never profit from it. It makes perfect business sense.

Answer 4

What an interesting question

Answer 5

yes . it's a sucker bet . they get rich from your rent money .