William Bennett and the Slot Machines

Bill Bennett was recently outed as being a degenerate gambler and was subsequently pulverized by pundits nationwide. Many people are angry and justified in their anger. For the past two decades, Bill Bennett has been a recognized leader in efforts to renew morality and virtue as basic precepts of American culture. But now, with his gambling obsession or addiction made public, he's recognized by the pundits as a buffoon and a hypocrite. He espouses virtues and qualities he does not have. I am as pissed off as anybody.

A second point needs to be made concerning Dr. Bennett's motivation. As I understand, he lost millions of dollars playing slot machines and video poker. Anyone who has ever picked up a book on gambling knows that slots are a waste of time, if you want to win, and video poker is not much better. Prudent bettors will always spend their time playing blackjack or craps where, on occasion, the gambler can actually have an advantage over the house. Now, since Dr. Bill is a very intelligent person, I have to assume he was aware of this.

So, why would a normally rational person with high intellect play the slots and video poker when that person knows he has essentially no chance of consistently winning? That's the first question. I don't know the answer, but I wonder if he was concerned about winning. Seems to me that maybe he wasn't.

A second question. If a person already has more millions than he can reasonably spend in a lifetime, why in the world would he spend oogats of hours in front of a stupid machine. Even if he won something, it would not have any effect on his net worth. Once again, it appears that he gambled without regard to winning or losing and was willing to pay whatever price necessary.

If what I assume is valid, then I'd suggest the machines functioned to block out all distractions for Dr. Bill. He didn't have to think, answer questions, worry, be frustrated or bothered in any manner. The machine, with its bells, sirens, and lights, allowed him to forget all his troubles for a finite period of time. Winning or losing didn't matter. If that's true, Bill Bennett is no gambler. A gambler always tries to win.

But my assumptions and conclusions could be wrong.