I was at my worst on a trip to Las Vegas. While my friends were having fun at various tables I stood behind them yelling anti-gambling insults. At one point I grabbed a mate's chips and cashed them in before he could bet any more. The whole thing went south and he ended up in A and E.
What kind of low-life goes to Las Vegas and hassles people for gambling? You might as well go to a pool and hassle people for swimming.
Thankfully my anti-gambling crusade ended when I discovered blackjack.
A buddy was celebrating his birthday at a casino. I sat down at a table and was initially proven right. Two minutes in I was $60 down. A minute later I humiliated myself. I hit on 20. The whole table laughed. I was about to walk away when something amazing happened. I won anyway.
Pretty soon I was hitting, splitting, winning and losing like a pro. But more importantly having fun and making friends. It was a revelation. In just two hours a lifetime of brainwashing was erased.
I realised that gambling isn't evil, it's entertainment. It's like going to the movies, the zoo or a game. We are always handing over our money to cure boredom. This is no different.
That night I put $100 in and left with $240, but that isn't what won me over. It was the camaraderie. The bringing together of people of different ages, races and sexual orientations over a common cause.
I shared a spiritual bond with the ancient lady who didn't speak a word of English. We communicated with the universal language of gambling.
There were highs, lows, laughter and anguish but absolutely no sign of boredom. I would have happily lost the money I put in to pay for the good times I got out.
A clear distinction needs to be made between a classy night out at the tables and sitting in the corner of a pub slotting your kid's dinner money into a machine. No social interaction, no glamour - just flashing lights and broken dreams. I've seen a fair bit of that and it doesn't look fun.
Often on tour with my band Deja Voodoo the pubs would close off the pokies rooms to give us a place to enjoy our pre-show beers. It quickly became a Dawn of the Dead situation with gambling zombies banging on the glass doors to get in. Dozens of blank-faced wretches desperate to get rid of their rent money. On the rare occasion one got in they would silently shuffle past us, sit at a machine and wait for someone to turn it on. Pretty much as far from Casino Royale as you can get.
Obviously things can become grim at the casino as well. I am not a big fan of people peeing on their seats, pawning their jewellery, leaving their kids in the car or blowing their life savings. That's depressing gambling. There is no need for it. What I am talking about is fun social wagering. A happy little flutter at the table, track or game. It's a good time.
I plan to go through every one of my beliefs and make sure I formed them myself. Who knows what other worthy messages have slipped into my brain without me noticing.
Matt Heath co-hosts the Radio Hauraki breakfast show with Jeremy Wells and Laura McGoldrick, weekdays 6am-9am www.hauraki.co.nz.
