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I've been retired nearly 20 years, and my spouse and I love to visit local casinos about once a month, and Las Vegas once every four months. Do you remember timid accountant Leo Bloom in "The Producers"? He had a little blue blanket he pressed against his face when he was stressed. He confessed, "It is only a minor compulsion. I can control it if I want, but it gives me comfort." That's the way we feel about gambling.

We are not out-of-control gamblers, and for what it is worth, here is our advice to those who fear they are or are becoming compulsive gamblers. First of all, of course, gamble only the amount of money you can afford. This sounds easier than it actually is, but it can be controlled. We set budgets: $50 per visit to a local casino, and $100 a day while in Vegas. Whatever happens, we do not break this limit. It works for us, and with discipline, it can work for anyone else. Of course, there have been times when our budgets were depleted in a couple of hours, and other times when we stopped at the bank on the way home to deposit several hundred winning dollars. All in all, for the past 16 years of our retirement life, we figure we've broken even. However, there are pluses in our gambling that have made it somewhat profitable.

Because we visit just one hotel regularly in Vegas, now for every three night visit, we are comped totally for our room and, depending on our time in the casino, for most of our meals there. Thus, even if we lose our total budget of $600 in gambling money, most often we have actually been awarded about the same amount of money in comps. And, of course, we've also enjoyed the ambiance, pools, free drinks, exhibits and other luxuries Vegas affords. There are many other seniors we see frequently in the casinos, and we have formed some good friendships.

We are aware, of course, of people who have ruined their lives and those of their families by out-of-control gambling. Vegas is not all luxury, glitz and freebees because it is a charitable institution. Sin City is there to make money. But, by controlling our spending to our self-established limits, we find gambling an enjoyable activity we can enjoy.

Learn more about this author, Ted Sherman.
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