Drinks at a Roulette Table at a casino in Atlantic City

Sip and Spin: Navigating the Interplay Between Beer and Bets

As someone who worked as a dealer at a casino for 11 years (nearly 12 years), and who now works in the brewing industry, the idea of how gambling and alcohol correlate and cross-intersect is one I find very interesting. While working at the casino we had signs up “We don’t deal to intoxicated gamblers” and things like “Intoxicated Gambling is Illegal Gambling”…. but where’s the line and how do you draw it? …And does anyone even pay attention to the line? If a guy comes in with 50$ that line is a lot more apparent, than when a guy brings 25,000$ to the table.

So with that all in mind, I did a bit of research to look at the intersectionality of gambling and alcohol.

From Casinos to Couches: The Role of Beer in Gambling Dynamics

Gambling and Drinking

The intricate relationship between beer consumption and gambling activities is evident in settings like casinos, where the allure of free alcoholic beverages serves as a strategic enticement to enrich the gambling experience. Alcohol’s well-known effect of lowering inhibitions contributes to a more relaxed approach to gambling, often leading to higher stakes and more spontaneous betting decisions.

This concept of complimentary incentives is not confined to physical casinos but extends into the digital gambling space. Online gambling platforms lure new users with attractive promotions, such as the “$200 no deposit bonus 200 free spins,” allowing individuals to gamble from home. In such settings, the choice of drinking beer remains, but without the physical environment’s constraints, offering a different yet impactful dynamic.

Exploring Alcohol’s Psychological Effects on Gambling

Gambling in a Saloon

The impact of alcohol on gambling behavior is complex. Moderate beer consumption might reduce stress, potentially leading to clearer decision-making by reducing the anxiety associated with gambling. However, excessive drinking can impair judgment, complicating strategic gambling efforts and the ability to recognize when to quit. The outcome depends greatly on individual tolerance and the gambling context.

Even minimal alcohol consumption can subtly influence the balance between caution and risk in decision-making, with long-term effects on gambling outcomes. Additionally, alcohol can affect memory, possibly altering the perception of wins and losses and amplifying the perceived benefits of gambling while minimizing the risks through the social aspect of drinking and gambling together.

Key Psychological Considerations:

• Risk Perception: Alcohol may make the risks of gambling seem less daunting, encouraging bolder bets.
• Impulse Control: Drinking beer can reduce self-control, leading to more impulsive gambling decisions.
• Stress and Cognitive Clarity: The stress-reducing effects of alcohol need to be balanced with its potential to cloud judgment and decision-making.
• Social Influence: The social aspect of drinking while gambling can intensify alcohol’s impact on gambling choices, influenced by the behavior and suggestions of peers.

Statistical Trends and Gambling Behaviors

The global online gambling market is expected to grow significantly, highlighting the increasing popularity of digital gambling platforms. Research shows that alcohol consumption is linked to riskier gambling behaviors and an increased likelihood of regrettable decisions, underscoring the importance of moderation and awareness in combining beer with gambling activities.

According to Statista, the global online gambling market is expected to experience a growth rate of 6.59% from 2024 to 2028, reaching a total market size of €126.60 billion by the end of 2028. Engaging with statistical data reveals telling patterns about the correlation between beer consumption and gambling behaviors. Studies indicate that individuals under the influence of alcohol are more likely to engage in risky gambling behaviors compared to those who abstain. The likelihood of regrettable gambling decisions increases parallel to the amount of alcohol consumed. These statistics underscore the importance of awareness and moderation in the consumption of beer within gambling contexts.

The Growing Role of Online Gambling

Online gambling introduces a unique aspect to the beer-gambling dynamic. Even without the physical presence of free alcoholic drinks, the decision to consume beer at home can influence gambling behaviors and decisions. The online environment emphasizes personal responsibility and awareness in managing alcohol’s impact on gambling, given the ease of excessive drinking and the challenges in tracking time and money spent.

The Intersection of Beer and Gambling: A Complex Dynamic

Conclusion

The link between beer consumption and gambling is nuanced, affecting cognitive functions, emotional states, and decision-making processes. While the combination of beer and gambling in social scenarios is appealing, it requires mindful navigation to ensure a balanced experience. Recognizing alcohol’s influence on gambling behaviors is crucial for enhancing the enjoyment of these activities while avoiding negative consequences. Informed choices and self-regulation emerge as essential strategies for maintaining a balanced gambling experience in both physical and online environments.

Coming off the heels of the Lancaster Craft Beerfest I’m back and I think my liver has regenerated enough to begin some more beer reviews. (And slowly push and make a dent into the beer events, brewery activities, and hop harvests posts I need to do as well). This might be a bit of a long blog post, with some ‘non-beer’ related things, but stay with me, and it’ll all wrap up nicely, and tie in with the day as well (I think/hope). Also, lots of pictures in this one, so if you like pretty pictures, then here you go.

Firstly, let me just say that this is an absolutely fantastic beer. Makes me wish I had a lot more of these to power through the day. But, I think most of the activities I did today would have frowned on me drinking (even if it was a coffee beer, …and especially given that the largest activity today was work).

So, starting off the day, it was back to school day / first day of school. My oldest going into Middle School (dear god I’m getting old), and my youngest two entering 4th and 1st grade. So now that I’m officially old, I guess I need to start drinking coffee right?

Following getting all of the girls to their two different schools this morning, and following an extremely long day at work (some days, like roulette days, just makes you want to bash your head against very large solid objects – repeatedly) I stopped at the Hershey Public Library where the Central PA Blood bank was doing one of their blood drives. I cannot urge people enough to donate blood. It is beyond critical and in definite need for all kinds of patients. There is tons of different ways you can check into donating, the simplest is to find a blood drive at various places near you (libraries, churches, restaurants like Papa John’s often sponsor them, even some bars/breweries do). For the Central PA Blood Bank you can check out their website here: Central PA Blood Bank.

It is relatively easy, not too time consuming (~45 minutes), relatively painless (small prick, some soreness at the spot), but its more than worth it. One bag donated can help up to three patients. And certain blood types are in higher demand than others (though all are in high demand). So please look into donating if you are able to (there is some restrictions due to life style choices, tattoos, locations you’ve visited, medication, etc.).

Once home, I decided to treat Leela (my dog, who you may remember photo bombed my beer review: Beer Review: Boulangerie Imperial Churro (Tattered Flag) ) by taking her on a 2-mile walk around town. It is National Dog Day afterall, and she’s a very good trusty and faithful companion and dog, so why not.

Decided while walking through Hummelstown I would pass by what will soon(ish) become the new home for Rubber Soul Brewing Company, and took a picture, as it looks like their making even more headway on the endeavor.

They are still aiming for a November opening date. So fingers crossed everything goes smoothly and they get set up and running soon. But…. enough of all of this gibbering and jabbering and jibbering and gabbering, and get onto the actual brew review that you clicked on.

This was just fantastic, and a perfect beer for writing the blog (and probably explains why it got so wordy).

Beer: Rêve Coffee Stout
Brewery: Parish Brewing Co.
Style: Stout – Coffee
ABV: 7.2%
IBU: No IBU
Untappd Write-Up: Collaboration coffee stout between Parish Brewing Company & Rêve Coffee Roasters. Created with Columbia Java blend coffee & Madagascar vanilla beans. Beer: Rêve Coffee Stout
Brewery: Parish Brewing Co.
Style: Stout – Coffee
ABV: 7.2%
IBU: No IBU
Untappd Write-Up: Collaboration coffee stout between Parish Brewing Company & Rêve Coffee Roasters. Created with Columbia Java blend coffee & Madagascar vanilla beans.

From the moment you pop bottle and begin to pour it, you can smell the rich delicious notes of the coffee. Once its done pouring and you smell the beer and swirl it, you get the instant notes of coffee, vanilla, nutty earth notes. It just smells incredible.

Pouring it comes out very dark black, and has a lovely dark brown – golden halo of a head to it, with nice, large bubbles forming out of the top that pop and slowly fade away. There is the right amount of carbonation, and the head lasts just long enough before you dig into this bad boy.

And sipping this is even better. Very strong coffee notes, but with a very rich, smooth, heavy backbone, that actually makes you feel like the 7.2% is lighter than it should be. Not saying its boozy, but it just as a ‘heavyness’ to this that makes you feel and think it should be a higher ABV than it is. This is a strong, rich, decadent beer, but not too sweet, not too decadent, and not too strong. Its in the goldilocks range of being. There is a bitterness with the coffee, but the vanilla covers and masks most of that. There is a nuttyness to it, but it becomes more subdued and subtle as you drink. The coffee gives you a bit of a nice pep and creative boost to really push you to do some writing or doing whatever it is that your doing.

I must say, I am definitely glad I was given two of these in my beer mail trade, because I can’t wait to dive into the second one. Strangely enough, I am honestly considering to say that this might be better than the beer everyone “knows” Parish for – Ghost in the Machine; though this might be just due to my preferred style of beer being stouts and the like moreso than IPAs, but take this for whatever you think its worth, this is a damn good beer and rivals Ghost in the Machine as Parish’s best beer.

I could waver back and forth on the rating I gave it, from a 4.5 to a 4.25, but I ultimately went with a 4.25 primarily due to wanting it to linger a bit more in my mouth after drinking it, and not wanting to come off too much as ‘style bias’.

My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 4.27 (as of 8.26.19)

And since this is National Dog Day, I tried to get Leela (a “red” border collie) in the pics, but kind of failed, here’s one of her by my one hop arbor, don’t mind the uglyness of the picture, it was 10:30PM, had to use the flash which I hate, and I had just finished this beer, and she was panting from the 2 mile walk.

For those of you wondering, she is named after Turonga Leela from Futurama. I have several cats in the house, that have been named after other Futurama characters as well (Zoidberg, Hermes, Fry, Hattie, and Kiff) —- (and yes… thats 5 cats….).

Also, for those wondering, the books in the background are:
* Foxtrot: The Best of Foxtrot vol. 1
* The Joker: Endgame
* Best. Movie. Year. Ever. : How 1999 Blew Up The Big Screen
* Brief Answers to the Big Questions
(Yes, that means I finally finished Master & Apprentice).

If you want, you can always check out my GoodReads and what I have been reading here: GoodReads – Profile – B. Kline.

Alright everyone, I think I’m gonna have another beer, and get to sleep. Oldest will have to be up soon for school anyway and besides, in 18 minutes it’ll be my birthday. I work tomorrow, but who knows, maybe afterwards I’ll have a ‘birthday beer review’. I also have the tons and tons of other event blog posts to do yet, don’t worry, I haven’t forgot! I’m making a mad dash push to get them all done by the end of August, so fingers crossed I do it!

Take care all, peace, love, and donate some blood! You’re not using it all anyway damnit!

-B. Kline