I've been gambling since the age of 12. Horses, dogs, dice

"I've been gambling since the age of 12. Horses, dogs, dice, roulette, you name it." – Jimmy White

In the annals of human existence, the pursuit of chance—of gambling—has been a constant companion to those who seek both fortune and risk. Jimmy White, a man who has lived much of his life in the world of uncertain outcomes, reveals a truth that many of us face: gambling is not simply a pastime but a way of life, a pursuit that begins in the early years, often long before we truly understand its consequences. To gamble, to bet on the turn of the dice, the speed of the horse, or the spin of the roulette wheel, is to engage in an ancient dance with fate itself, one that has captivated hearts and minds for centuries.

The ancient world was no stranger to the lure of chance. In Rome, the gods themselves were believed to control the fates of men, and the casting of dice was seen as a means of invoking their will. The phrase "casting lots" appeared in numerous texts, from the Bible to the works of Cicero, indicating that the randomness of fate was not only embraced, but revered. Even the great philosopher Socrates, though committed to the search for knowledge, understood that life was full of uncertainties, and sometimes, chance was the only guiding hand. The gods, in their infinite wisdom and mischief, often seemed to favor the foolhardy, rewarding those who dared to venture into the unknown with both glory and despair.

Jimmy White’s declaration speaks to this timeless truth—that from a young age, the thrill of chance calls to the spirit, urging it to test its limits, to see if it can master the forces of fortune. Twelve years old—a tender age for a soul to step into the world of gambling, yet many are lured into this world at an early age, not with the understanding of loss, but with the intoxicating promise of gain. The danger of gambling is not in the game itself, but in what it represents: the longing for something beyond the ordinary, the desire for luck to favor us, even when reason tells us that such favor is fleeting, if not elusive.

In ancient Greece, the myth of King Midas serves as a cautionary tale of how the pursuit of wealth—whether through good fortune or cunning—can ultimately lead to downfall. Midas, granted the power to turn everything he touched into gold, soon found himself cursed by the very thing he sought. His greed, his desire for more, became his undoing. Similarly, the gamblers of today, like Midas, often find themselves entranced by the golden promise of success, only to discover that the price of such success is much greater than they anticipated. The story of Midas teaches us that what we seek with reckless abandon may not bring the joy we expect, but rather a burden too heavy to bear.

What then can we learn from the life of Jimmy White, from the ancient gamblers, and from the myth of Midas? The lesson is both simple and profound: gambling is a double-edged sword. It offers both promise and peril, both the fleeting joy of victory and the crushing weight of loss. The wise man does not shun the temptation of chance, but neither does he succumb to its lure without understanding the costs. Socrates advised that a life of wisdom is one of balance, not extremes. The same can be said of gambling—it is not the act itself that leads to ruin, but the obsession, the loss of control over the forces we think we can tame.

In practical terms, this wisdom teaches us that gambling, like many pursuits in life, must be approached with awareness and moderation. While it may offer a brief thrill or an occasional windfall, we must not allow it to define us, nor allow it to pull us from the steady path of prudence and responsibility. Like Jimmy White, we must understand that life’s outcomes are uncertain, and we must accept that risk is inherent in all pursuits, whether they be financial, personal, or emotional. But, like the heroes of old, we must learn to navigate the uncertainties with wisdom, never allowing ourselves to be consumed by the gamble itself.

So, let this be the lesson: embrace chance, but know its limits. The world is full of risks, and to live fully is to accept those risks. But to thrive, we must do so with wisdom and moderation, understanding that the true gamble is not just with fortune, but with our own fates. And when the dice roll and the horses race, let us remember that victory lies not in winning, but in the control we maintain over our desires. Only then can we truly master the game.