Gambling Quotes to Make You Laugh & Think

Whether you have come across them in movies, overheard them at the poker table in Las Vegas, or read them in a book, gambling has inspired people to come up with memorable remarks that have seared themselves in our collective memory.

The gambling quotes we have picked for you capture the essence of risk-taking and the duality of human nature—our awareness that some risks may be doomed to fail, yet our irresistible "what if" mentality still pushes us to take the gamble.

From funny gambling sayings to some of the wisest risk quotes, we explore the unique folk psychology of the gambling world, captured in a few punchy aphorisms that are likely to outlive the industry itself.

Quotes about Gambling

The first part of this article focuses entirely on various funny and insightful quotes about gambling. They are to be taken with a grain of salt as, after all, gambling involves chance and is usually designed against the player.

"The house always wins" – Uknown

The first quote on the list is as timeless as it is witty, and you are bound to have heard it. It distils the inexorable truth that the "house always wins" and this is a fact. You cannot walk into a casino and really "beat it," and although this maxim is well-known to players new and old, we are drawn to gambling regardless and enjoy the thrill of the chase.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" – Seneca

This may be one of the tritest "gambling quotes" ever, and it would be – were it not for the fact that it is credited to Seneca, a Stoic philosopher in Ancient Rome. Although it can be ill-applied to gambling, which is purely dependent on chance, the quote can inspire you across other areas of your life. The essence is that training consistently and persistently means that when an opportunity arises, whether it’s a promotion at work, investment or education, you will have the skill and aptitude to benefit from this.

"In gambling, the many must lose in order that the few may win" – George Bernard Shaw

So far as funny gambling sayings go, this one will strike you with its honesty and unapologetic statement of truth. The truth is that casinos are not giving out money and prizes out of the kindness of their heart. They are pulling in enough revenue to justify the payout of monetary rewards, which makes this quote all the more important as it readily dissects the very nature of gambling and cuts it to the bone.

"If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time" – Chinese proverb

So far as quotes about gambling go, this one is particularly good. The Chinese proverb essentially lays down the groundwork of "responsible gambling," although the historical origins of the proverb do not necessarily have to do with gambling per se. Deciding on the stakes and quitting time, as well as the game, are indeed smart things to do when walking through the front door of a casino today or even if you mean to play online at an internet casino.

"The best throw of the dice is to throw them away" – English proverb

An English folk aphorism goes even further, advising anyone who wants to throw dice to the game, to just throw the dice away. The meaning of the proverb is simple – gamble and you have a very good chance of losing. Enough it seems to make people advise against the habit of gambling.

"Bet with your head, not over it" – National Council on Problem Gambling

One great and punchy quote about gambling comes from the National Council on Problem Gambling, an organization fully dedicated to addressing gambling harm. The idea is that you ought to "bet your head" and not "over it," meaning not to bet more than you can afford to lose, but also to be reflective and mindful about your gambling habits in the first place. It’s a great thing to keep in mind when looking to gamble.

"Luck has a way of evaporating when you lean on it" – Brandon Mull

One of the gambling quotes that are funny certainly comes from Brandon Mull. It essentially boils down to the fact that you cannot expect faith to get things right for you. Yes, you may get lucky on occasion, but if you only focus on being lucky, you might soon realize that you are sitting on thin ice, with the consequences likely to be as sobering as the icy waters of uncertainty between the thin crust of luck. This metaphor aside, Mull offers an important reminder of why we should consider "being lucky" a little more carefully.

"Gambling is not about how well you play the games; it’s really about how well you handle your money" – Unknown

This is a great gambling quote. It captures the essence of "bankroll management," which is how smartly you are going to spend your money when you gamble. Although no person is credited with the quote, the fact remains that this brief statement successfully captures the nature of gambling and makes you think twice about the importance of spending your money responsibly to enjoy the positive play.

"The urge to gamble is so universal and its practice so pleasurable that I assume it must be evil" – Heywood Broun

The next quote about gambling comes from Heywood Broun, and it successfully captures that despite its concomitant ills, gambling is a mighty pleasurable and enjoyable activity. The chance to win money is not what universally drives people, as gambling goes much deeper than this, and yet, acknowledges Broun, anything that is fun must be at least a little bit bad. The sentence is food for thought.

Risk quotes

We have handpicked a number of gambling quotes about risk, that can equally be applied to other areas of life. Risk quotes inherently come to the same conclusion – that taking a chance on something is part of life, but you ought to be careful with what you bet your hopes or money on.

"The only gambling I do is at the stock exchange" – Unknown

This particular quote has not been credited to a particular author, but it is still a valid addition to this list. The premise is that the stock exchange is not gambling, but making an informed decision, and therefore any "gambling" the author of the quote makes is based on hard evidence, data, and research.

"Do one thing every day that scares you" – Eleanor Roosevelt

The late First Lady of the United States was an inspirational figure who was an active public speaker and personality. One of her memorable quotes has to do with the nature of life involving risk and challenging oneself. The quote focuses on the fact that human existence will inherently entail situations that are outside of our comfort zone and as such, doing one such thing every day helps us build resilience.

"Fortune favors the bold" –Virgil

If you want to benefit from ancient wisdom and find good quotes about winning, turn to Virgil. The Ancient Roman poet has captured the essence of risk in his timeless "Fortune favors the bold," which will be reiterated throughout the ages in different forms. The essence of the quote is straightforward – if you want to win, you have to take a risk of some sort.

"The biggest risk is not taking any risk" – Mark Zuckerberg

Having built one of the most transformative companies of our time, Mark Zuckerberg is often seen as a mix of villain, entrepreneur, and visionary. His success stems from embracing risk at the right level, a concept he captured well in his observation that by avoiding certain risks, you ultimately risk more than if you take them

"Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing" – Warren Buffett

Warren Buffet, or the Oracle of Omaha, is credited with some of the most insightful investment moves that have given him a venerable status in the world of finance. His aphorisms and quotes have become legendary, as they synthesize the essence of his success. Buffett insists that knowledge of markets and world events comes through reading, and that "anyone can do it" but most people won’t. Therefore, the biggest risk comes from "not knowing what you are doing" he accurately remarks.

Quotes about winning

Next up, we have some quotes about winning - and winning money in particular. The aphorisms we have picked, pithily summarize how winning can be a habit, but so can losing. All in all, these are punch truths that can help you understand the nature of why humans strive to succeed, and what could potentially throw a spanner in the works. They are also some of the best quotes about gambling.

"Money won is twice as sweet as money earned" – Paul Newman

This one is really good and probably one of our favorite quotes about winning (not just in gambling but in general). The premise is that earning money is fine, but winning something extra, and often unexpectedly, which is essentially what gambling is, is all the more fun. It certainly is, and this is one of the best aphorisms you will find on the list.

"Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing" – Vinci Lombardi

Vinci Lombardi nails it when he outlines the unpredictability of winning and losing, and simply likens it to a "habit." It is, too. But the trouble with habit is that it is something that happens to you almost effortlessly, and a loss can be sudden, but it is part of the way life works, too.

"There are no winners and losers; only winners and learners" – Unknown

This one is also good, but perhaps do not use it when you gamble, because in gambling – there surely are losers. Regardless, this is one of the best quotes about winning and we cherish it. It’s a great mindset to have too – you could make a mistake, or even lose – but you are not a "loser." You have just learned something, so embrace it!

Conclusion

In exploring these gambling quotes, we have dissected the timeless wisdom of mankind accumulated over the ages. Gambling and taking a chance are clearly activities that transcend generations and have been part of human life from Ancient Rome and earlier to the modern-day glamorous venues of Las Vegas, Nevada. Whether you are a casual player or a high roller yourself, you will find these gambling quotes to be funny, wise, and ultimately – helpful.

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