Not the same thing at all. Risks are totally different.
You only lose money when you SELL a stock.
In vegas, you lost the money the moment you put it on table and the only way to get it back is if you WIN. So vegas its about winning and losing, and when you lose you have NOTHING.
With stocks or bonds, you always have something unless companies go bankrupt or out of business. Even if market tanks 50%, you still have shares, which are worth 50% of what you paid for them. You have not lost anything unless you liquidate the shares (SELL).
Statisically speaking, you can make 8-12% per year on average in stock market. When market drops, you still have the same exact numbers of shares you did before the drop.
Statistically speaking, you will lose all your money you gamble more often than not. When you win it's bigger than 12% (like 25%, 50% or more). When you lose money you have no way to get it back unless you have more liquid cash from another source.
Measure in terms of risk and reward. Gambling and investing are NOT the same thing.
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