Is Sports Card Collecting Gambling?
I've never been much of a gambler. The Lord knows I have enough crosses to bear. Other than a few games of low-stakes Texas Hold'em with friends from time to time, I don't throw my money to the wind for luck. Heck, I never even played fantasy football until last year! I lost.
I had a conversation with my brother the other day and he referred to collecting as gambling, which got me thinking, “Have I been fooling myself?" I never considered collecting sports cards a gamble. When I rip a box of cards and get a huge hit, I don't consider it to be a peck on the cheek from Lady Luck. If I buy a single, I call it an investment. It's just playing the game, right? Furthermore, is my local hobby store my Las Vegas? If so, all that's missing is Carrot Top and blinking lights.
Betting on sports events is a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. We bet on everything we can think of, hoping to get the big payoff. An amazing adrenaline rush washes over winners. That moment when it's “go time," the world slows and it's all or nothing. Nothing's better. Nothing's worse when you lose it all.
It's the same idea with collecting, at least to a certain extent. I don't hesitate buying a box to rip. I have no idea what's in it. There are no guarantees, but I get a huge rush opening it. Pack after pack, I am searching for cardboard gold.
It's not just ripping boxes either. It's also found in what I call the "hording of rookies". This is when you buy quantities of every so-called hot prospect and "long shot" you can get your hands on. Then it's the wait and hoping that a star will rise out of a mountain of cards. The payoff can be huge. On the flip side, you can end up with a closet full of rookie cards worth absolutely squat.
Is there really a stone cold lock in collecting? We are always playing the odds, the over and the under. There are the obvious athletes with the honor of the “absolute." With many of us, including myself, unable to afford that luxury, I guess we'll continue to take that risk of boom or bust, hoping to someday find our “absolute." Until then, I guess we better know when to hold them and know when to fold them. Oh forget it, I'm all in!
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nick | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
it can be considered more like an addiction. like people are addicted to smoking cigarettes, and if you addiction is really bad, then maybe you can consider it like your hooked on “H”. that being said, you can’t get cancer from card collecting as from cigarettes. and if your hooked on “H”, you got bigger problems. i think the worse you can get from card collecting is an empty wallet and maybe an angry wife.
Kenny | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
Yes, to some people card collecting is gambling and to some others it is an addiction. But in card collecting you still have something to show for it besides an empty wallet and an angry wife. Another great story Brad!
P.S.
The blinking lights and a top of a carrot is on the way! lol……
The Madbacker | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
Collecting itself is not gambling, it’s more of an addiction. Buying wax and opening packs with the express reason of trying to double your money is gambling.
Brian Campbell | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
Two points from the brother: 1) I was not trying to have an intervention (yet). 2) You talked me out of my way of thinking.
It’s like you mentioned to me on the phone: When you enter a casino you don’t know if you will hit on anything at all; when you buy a box you are virtually guaranteed a few hits even though you don’t know what the hit may be.
That said, Brad, I think you may have a problem…we need to talk again…soon… :)
Gene | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
There is a fine line between gambling and investing. Regardless, if you look at it from a hobby standpoint (that being more about fun than money) then does it really matter if you make or lose money – even long term?
Jon Belk | Aug 8, 2011 | Reply
well written and good question. I think some make it a gamble.
mookie | Aug 15, 2011 | Reply
Here is my opinion on the matter and i do not want to offend anyone, but true collectors do not buy wax and you are kidding yourself if u do not think it is just a form of legal gambling. Again, not trying to be a jagoff, but why in the world would i want to spend let’s say 200-300 dollars to pull a lousy 30 dollars worth of ****, when i can just spend that on something actually worth the money! Also, keep a checklist of how much money u spend on wax each week and how much u get in return and i bet unless u r one lucky mother, it aint even close. If u see this as an investment, it aint a good one! If u cant buy food or anything else because u spent it all on wax (which is not too hard ) how can this be considered not gambling!? And gotta love UD products that state u get an auto per box ( according to the odds and what most collectors say – Referring to like SP Authentic, ie.) and when u call them on it, it’s just a given odd and not a guarantee they state. Yea, just paid over 100 large for a box full of nothing, save a no name rookie and i was not the only person this happened to! One last thing: how many times or people do you know that have bought a case to actually get that 1 big hit, only to find nothing or a crappy player? So just spent like 1200 dollars again to get about not even half the value and this not gambling? Am i missing something here? Just saying!