>Why is there a 0 and a 00 on roulette? To spoil the maths: if you put it on black, you get 1:2, but the actual odds are not 18 out of 36, they're 18 out of 38.
>
>Regarding stock market (which is just a mental exercise for me, never having had a closer look at it), the only people who really make money are the middleware people, who are sure to make a cent for their services; the others are gambling, and, in the long run, losing.
>
>You probably can make big money in the long run, if you have some insider info (including the case when you know or rightly guess the future of a new technology), and invest some and wait while it grows. On the day market, I doubt it. I guess the people who think they feel the day market are far crazier than us coders.


I agree that the odds are against you. But, people win at the lottery every day. And stocks give you much better odds at winning than the lottery (granted, with a smaller jackpot). As far as day traders: They are just taking a bigger gamble. I personally don't feel it is worth it (risk/potential benefit ratio is too high). I think they would be better to hold some of the stock they buy for a longer period when it doesn't do what they wanted it to do in the short term.

I think there is one factor that we haven't discussed: The Enjoyment Factor. Some people like to gamble. It might cost them some money, but it provides them with a fair return on that money with entertainment.

Take care,
Joe