Last year while away in Sri Lanka I met another British guy while staying in this guesthouse and he showed me he had £90k in shares on his phone, a long list of shares and they was either up or down on how much money he’s made or lost, these was companies I’ve never heard off. He was dramatic when his shares was up and he was constantly looking at his phone. I’m unsure if he wanted me to invest in his scheme and was bigging them up. I know during the 18 days we stayed together in the guesthouse smoking H@SH and listening to 90s Trance music his shares jumped up to £110.000 and he was well happy. I told him I’m in no debt, don’t gamble and take no risks. I told him shares are like gambling. Are investing in shares like gambling?
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They are sort of like gambling, but with better odds generally. There is also an element of knowledge to it. Although, I am not some investment expert and made money on my stocks when I had them. Its not rocket science, but yes, there is some risk
Im not sure I’d go as far as to call it as risky as gambling, though.
I’ve found government bonds to be a safer and more profitable investment, personally.
I currently have no money in stocks or bonds, though. I took it all out for my home purchase and for improvements on the property.
BOth stocks and bonds worked out better for me than keeping it in a savings account, though. And like I said, I am no investment guru.
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Like @Bowens said, it’s kinda like gambling but with much better odds of making money.
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@Bowens pretty much sums it up. Its “like” gambling but with better odds.
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It’s gambling. Pure and simple. The stock market is known as “the great humiliator” in some circles.
I know a guy who quit his job and started day trading without telling his wife. Didn’t make a dime, lost all of their savings, and his wife ended up divorcing him.
I’d reckon it’s a form of gambling.
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gambling is either an instant win or loss with losses equating to nothing.
investing is not really like gambling, short term you can take a loss but you still have funds in shares which is like placeholders where your money is never going to go negative, long term investments can bring good returns and isnt like putting money in with no chance of getting it back
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I’m into soup stocks. Chicken stock 
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[No, investing is not inherently gambling; while both involve risk and potential reward, investing relies on analysis, strategic planning, and long-term wealth creation based on asset ownership, whereas gambling is primarily driven by chance, offering a chance to win but with odds that favor the “house” and provide no ownership. The line blurs when investors engage in impulsive, high-frequency trading and excessive risk-taking, mimicking gambling behaviors rather than following a disciplined investment strategy.
Key Differences
Strategy vs. Chance: Investing involves research, evaluating company performance, and long-term planning to benefit from asset appreciation and income. Gambling is largely a game of chance, where outcomes depend on luck rather than analysis.
Ownership: Investing means you own a part of a company or asset, while gambling is a win-or-lose activity that doesn’t provide ownership of anything tangible.
Expected Return: Gambling has a negative expected return; the “house edge” means you’re statistically likely to lose money over time. Investing in a diversified market has historically provided positive returns over the long term.
Risk Mitigation: Investing allows for strategies to limit potential losses, such as diversification across many assets or setting stop-loss orders. In most gambling, if you lose a bet, you lose the entire amount of your wager.
Goal: The goal of investing is to grow wealth steadily over time. The goal of gambling is often to win big in a short amount of time, relying on luck for the outcome.]–AI Overview
Since its inception in 1957, the S&P 500 has never lost money over a 10-year-period, and has had an average annual return of 8% (adjusted for inflation). If you invested $5,000 in the S&P 500 index fund 40 years ago, you would now have $757,000 (based on historical average returns over that period of time). This is why it’s very important to start investing when you’re young.
Most people know that it’s dangerous to take on too much risk, but it’s also dangerous to take on too little risk.
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to some extent. obviously not as risky as gambling and there is some skill involved. that being said there is a degree of risk. some people are comfortable living like that though and often are able to convince people to invest in them which supplements their income. There is obviously money to be made but often you see only the winners and never the losers. in any case the people doing this often are doing it with daddy’s money so theyre able to absorb the loss. Let me clarify, investing in business is obviously a good investment (Financially atleast). businesses are what make money. But the way its generally done, hopping from one company to another, following what the market is doing on a daily basis etc, is a guessing game and thats what im talking about. but generally just picking a company you think displays all the characteristics of a model business and putting your money into it is a good idea. i.e. its the get rich quick stocks guy (common) vs the longterm savy investor. the first one will take you on a financial rollercoaster unless you have daddy’s money. the second is better. but if you have the money and energy its best to invest in your own business that way you have full control over its success.
I don’t know if you put all your money into just one stock it’s like putting all your money into the lottery kind of to me. But if you spread it around or use a well-known company that guarantees like 4% or something. Very conservative but very guaranteed. I don’t think it’s really gambling. Kind of like putting all your money into a business and then losing the business that’s kind of like gambling also
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