Tony's gambling

1
Chrissy isn't making money. He's all involved in the movie and shirking other things. Paulie asked when they would start seeing some money as a result of their investment in the movie. Apparently the movie has some legal problems with clearing the title which is holding up sale of the production. Add more money needed for lawyers. IE. No money from the movie, and as we saw, Chrissy was borrowing more money from Tony to add another scene.

Tony is spending money on Chrissy's movie with no return on investment so far. Carlo is bringing in less that Vito (whether it is as low as Tony says or not). Over the last few seasons, it has been pointed out that Paulie has been bringing in less, and skimming more off the top.

Tony bought Johnny's house for Bobby and Janet. Even at a cut rate price it was still something like $600,000 cash or more.

Tony has invested money in Carmela's spec house buying the land ($600.000 I think they said at the end of 5), materials, labor.

Meadow's education is not cheap.

Add to that the "outgo" money that Tony is losing gambling and there is a problem.

As to Tony's sudden gambling problem. It has always been there, but he could afford it, and was not in a desperate financial situation. As his financial situation hits a low point, it becomes more stressful, so does his need to win money, and the need to keep getting more, because he knows that his $25,000 is not enough to make up for what he has lost.

I've only known two real gamblers and they would bet what they could afford until things got tense. Then they would bet the house they lived in or their entire paycheck.


Without the audience really realizing what was going on, Chase has been building up to this set of events. Card games, pool wagers in the back of the pork store. Occassional trips to Atlantic City.

Taken as isolated events, they look like one thing. On the other side are the debts. Add that to the gambling and there is a whole new picture.


All of his good deeds have led him to a bad place.

Re: Tony's gambling

4
RefLib wrote:Chrissy isn't making money. He's all involved in the movie and shirking other things. Paulie asked when they would start seeing some money as a result of their investment in the movie. Apparently the movie has some legal problems with clearing the title which is holding up sale of the production. Add more money needed for lawyers. IE. No money from the movie, and as we saw, Chrissy was borrowing more money from Tony to add another scene.

Tony is spending money on Chrissy's movie with no return on investment so far. Carlo is bringing in less that Vito (whether it is as low as Tony says or not). Over the last few seasons, it has been pointed out that Paulie has been bringing in less, and skimming more off the top.

Tony bought Johnny's house for Bobby and Janet. Even at a cut rate price it was still something like $600,000 cash or more.

Tony has invested money in Carmela's spec house buying the land ($600.000 I think they said at the end of 5), materials, labor.

Meadow's education is not cheap.

Add to that the "outgo" money that Tony is losing gambling and there is a problem.

As to Tony's sudden gambling problem. It has always been there, but he could afford it, and was not in a desperate financial situation. As his financial situation hits a low point, it becomes more stressful, so does his need to win money, and the need to keep getting more, because he knows that his $25,000 is not enough to make up for what he has lost.

I've only known two real gamblers and they would bet what they could afford until things got tense. Then they would bet the house they lived in or their entire paycheck.


Without the audience really realizing what was going on, Chase has been building up to this set of events. Card games, pool wagers in the back of the pork store. Occassional trips to Atlantic City.

Taken as isolated events, they look like one thing. On the other side are the debts. Add that to the gambling and there is a whole new picture.


All of his good deeds have led him to a bad place.
This will sound illogical, but it's true: Compulsive gamblers rarely gamble for the money. They gamble to get high, or to escape their troubles (troubles that are often caused by gambling). I've known a lot of people with gambling problems, and few, if any, quit after they hit a jackpot. It's not about the money. It's about the feeling they get.

Re: Tony's gambling

5
Not only to "degenerates" gamble for the high of chasing it...but they also gamble to keep thier minds busy. To have something meaningful to do...Tony has no 9-5 job...It might have just started on a whim..place a bet here and there to have something meaningfull to focus on..then next thing you know your doing it everyday as a hobby. Money doesn't become a problem until you run out of it.

Just like drug addicts get high...so they are not bored.

Re: Tony's gambling

6
aprilemoney wrote:It might have just started on a whim..place a bet here and there to have something meaningfull to focus on..then next thing you know your doing it everyday as a hobby. Money doesn't become a problem until you run out of it.
That is an excellent point. I think it all goes back to Tony slowly losing (as the series progressed) the truly meaningful things in his life. The Kevin Finnerty episodes are the most obvious evidence to his fear of what his life really amounts to:

His marriage is in shambles, has been since before season 4. As much as he and Carmela love each other, it is quite obvious neither one is happy.

His son is screwup with bad facial hair (who was actually doing OK with Blanca, can't wait to see his devolution in the coming episodes)

Money is tighter than it has been. The one thing that made the life he lived worthwhile (providing for himself and his family) is drying up. He hangs around with a 'bunch of murderers' and is a murderer himself for what? It truly is a thankless job.

Add these up and gambling might be the natural move for a guy in his position. It gives him a thrill while (in theory) helping remedy the money problems he is facing. Right. The one thing that still seems to make him smile is Meadow, who seems to be doing OK right now. For Tony's sake, I hope that dosn't change.
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