Gambling vs Playing the Market

i gamble.  i will bet on most anything.  i will play most games of change be they cards or dice.  i like to bet on the ponies, i like to have action on a couple games a night.  but i dont think i have a gambling problem.  i have never been in a situation where i could not pay my bills due to gambling.  

i have often thought about "investing" in the stock market, and have even gone as far as to seek advice of some seemingly competent traders.  but i have never had the nerve to actually take the plunge into the every changing world of wall street.  and people have chastised me for not making the "adult decision" of investing for my future.  well honestly i don't see why the stock market is the adult thing and gambling is irresponsible.  why does the government go after gambling but let the market go seemingly unregulated.

i think that if you are smart you can play the gambling angle and make a decent, though slightly under the table.  and i have proven to be that smart 4 days out of the week... its the other 3 that keep me round even on the year.  but at the same time the market moves just as staggered.  the current market crisis not withstanding, i am of the volition that it is more responsible to bet on say a football game than buy an amount of stock in say an air line (or you can insert what ever stock you choose.)

i maintain that in gambling you are making a simple one time investment per bet (or if you are using a more advanced if bets.)  once you place the bet you cannot stop it until the bet is over, win or lose.  if you win you may bet again or go out and buy some groceries, lose... well you lose.  but with stocks it seems to me that you watch your money grow and without any more input you can in a time in which you think your money is getting better and better it tanks and you now holding worthless paper.  it is just my opinion that i would rather make a decision on monday then on tuesday make another decision.  

oh well i am off to bet some more...