50 Best Gambling Quotes of All-Time

Gambling quotes can help us learn, make us laugh and teach us how to reflect on winning or losing.

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Gambling quotes have permeated popular culture for millenia. Since time immemorial, the world has been enthralled by the the allure of the wager, and the thrill of the game. These elements come together in one activity that has maintained its popularity despite societal changes – gambling. The human fascination with gambling shows no signs of abating, transcending generations, borders, and backgrounds. Its influences all forms of culture and media, from books to movies, television, radio, and even the news.

Indeed, gambling has spawned wisdom that communicates this pastime’s nuances, hopes, dreams, and stark realities. Gambling is even often it’s own language, with terms and slang that are only familiar to those that dare defy the odds. This collection of gambling quotes we have compiled offers a glimpse into the vast universe of human sentiment about gambling.

Timeless Gambling Quotes

Albert Einstein once purportedly quipped, “You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it.”
In his famous James Bond series, Ian Fleming says, “Bond didn’t defend the practice. He simply maintained that the more effort and ingenuity you put into gambling, the more you took out.”
Poker legend Doyle Brunson opined, “A man with money is no match against a man on a mission.”
Mark Twain, the American author known for his wit and wisdom, stated perhaps one of the most famous gambling quotes, “There are two great pleasures in gambling: that of winning and that of losing.”
The American professional golfer Jackie Burke once said, “One of the interesting things about golf is that you occasionally win.”
Seneca, the ancient Roman philosopher, offered an early perspective on gambling, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
In the movie The Color of Money, a quote that stuck with many was, “Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.”
Even in ancient times, some gambling quotes provided true wisdom. Chinese Proverbs reminds us, “If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.”
In her book ‘The Passion,’ Jeanette Winterson wrote, “Gambling is not a vice; it is an expression of our humanness. We gamble. Some do it at the gaming table; some do not. You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play.”
Hunter S. Thompson, in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, remarked, “No sympathy for the devil; keep that in mind. Buy the ticket, take the ride…and if it occasionally gets a little heavier than what you had in mind, well…maybe chalk it up to forced consciousness expansion.”
Dostoevsky wrote in ‘The Gambler’, “The excitement that a gambler feels when making a bet is equal to the amount he might win times the probability of winning it.” Now that’s one of the best gambling quotes for the ages!
In another quip from ‘The Color of Money, Paul Newman said, “Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.”
The poker champion Johnny Chan once mused, “The guy who invented poker was bright, but the man who invented the chip was a genius.”
In ‘The Drawing of the Three’, Stephen King wrote, “I’m a gambler, a farmboy, and I’m here to take down the world’s largest corporation.”
Tom McEvoy, a poker superstar, once said, “No-limit hold’em: Hours of boredom followed by moments of sheer terror.”
Edmund Burke famously stated, “Gaming is the child of avarice, the brother of iniquity, and the father of mischief.”
Some gambling quotes reflect a deep truth, even said in Jest. Toba Beta in ‘Master of Stupidity’ reflected, “In gambling, the many must lose in order that the few may win.”
John Milton Hay captured the essence of gambling in a short verse, “True luck consists not in holding the best of the cards at the table; luckiest is he who knows just when to rise and go home.”
In the novel Casino Royale, James Bond noted, “In any game, the game itself is the prize, no matter who wins, ultimately both lose the game.”
John Scarne, a magician and gambling expert, once declared, “Cheating is not in the nature of a gambler but in the nature of a loser.”
In ‘Dead Souls’, Nikolai Gogol wrote, “The only man who makes money following the races is one who does it with a broom and shovel.” That’s perhaps one of the most morbid gambling quotes!
Benny Binion, an iconic figure in the world of gambling, once said, “Trust everyone, but always cut the cards.”
James Altucher, in ‘Reinvent Yourself’, wrote, “The only way to win at the casino is to own the casino.”
Wilson Mizner once declared, “The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.”
Will Rogers quipped “You never heard of a horse going broke betting on people.”
In ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ Tennessee Williams wrote, “Luck is believing you’re lucky.” Now that is an ode to the power of positive thinking!
W.C. Fields humorously said, “Horse sense is a thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.”
Leo Tolstoy wrote in ‘War and Peace,’ “Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it.” This is one of the gambling quotes that remind us to enjoy the good times.
Frank Scoblete, a gambling expert, said, “The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.”
From the movie The Cincinnati Kid, we have “Gets down to what it’s all about, doesn’t it? Making the wrong move at the right time.”
The novelist Mario Puzo, author of ‘The Godfather,’ wrote, “A man without enemies is a man without character.” Perhaps this technically shouldn’t be included among gambling quotes, but it serves as a reminder that winners make enemies. Jealousy is inevitable.
Amarillo Slim, a famous poker player, said, “Look around the table. If you don’t see a sucker, get up because you’re the sucker.”
In his book ‘Shadow Dancing in the USA’, Michael Ventura wrote, “The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavour upon the business known as gambling.”
James Bond in Casino Royale said, “Gambling’s not about the money… Gambling’s about not facing reality, ignoring the odds.”
Anton Chekhov, the Russian playwright, wrote, “The only way to gain your objective in a gamble is to stay in until the final hand.”
Puggy Pearson, a World Series of Poker Champion, stated, “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” (Perhaps one of the wiser gambling quotes ever!)
Ambrose Bierce, in The Devil’s Dictionary, defined poker as “A game said to be played with cards for some purpose to this lexicographer unknown.”
The legendary gambler Nick “The Greek” Dandalos said, “The next best thing to playing and winning is playing and losing.”
The professional gambler and casino manager John Patrick once declared, “A dollar won is twice as sweet as a dollar earned.”
A modern Chinese Proverb: “Gambling must be the only profession where you can earn billions of dollars in a year and still be broke.”
George Augustus Sala, an English journalist, said: “Gaming is a mode of transferring property without producing any intermediate good.”
Ambrose Pierce, an American writer, remarked: “Gambling is a principle inherent in human nature.”
From the movie Rounders, Mike McDermott played by Matt Damon, says: “You can’t lose what you don’t put in the middle. But you can’t win much either.”
This French Proverb could be considered a gambling quote, for relapsed gamblers: “There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist, said: “Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” This gambling quote reminds us that the true long term winners in the industry only achieve success in games of skill.
The famed Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde observed: “One can always gamble on a complaisant fool.”
Sophocles, the ancient Greek playwright, said: “The dice of Zeus always fall luckily.”
The famous astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan remarked: “You have to know the odds before you can beat them.”
The ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius noted: “In a bet, there is a fool and a thief.”
Some gambling quotes are cynical, but unfortunately true. The acclaimed American author Ernest Hemingway stated: “You know what makes a good loser? Practice.”

How do these gambling quotes help me?

These gambling quotes paint a picture of the spectrum of emotions accompanying the gamble. They encompass the thrill, the dread, the hope, and the regret. Starkly revealing the compelling allure of the game, the high stakes, and the irrevocable consequences. Their words provide a lens through which we can appreciate this timeless human activity in all its raw, unvarnished truth.

Remember, when it comes to gambling, it’s always a game of chance. As the saying goes, “The house always wins.” Enjoy the game but play responsibly.

Indeed, the world of gambling has inspired numerous quotes that encompass a wide range of perspectives, feelings, and advice.

Remember, these gambling quotes capture the essence of the thrill and emotions associated with gambling and offer wisdom and cautionary advice. Gambling can be a fun pastime when treated responsibly, but as many of these gambling quotes illustrate, it can also lead to financial and personal difficulties. Always gamble responsibly, know your limits, and remember that the house almost always has the edge.

These gambling quotes provide insight into the excitement, heartbreak, joy, and wisdom associated with the world of gambling. They reveal the human nature of gamblers and the thrill of the game while reminding us to always gamble responsibly.