English Culture Videos

Instructions: Watch this video on casinos and answer the questions. Then, read the script at the bottom of the page.

• casino (noun): a place where people can play games and bet money
  – Las Vegas is famous for its large, elaborate casinos.
• keep in mind (phrasal verb): to remember something important when making a decision
  – She told her friends to keep in mind that gambling can become addictive if you are not careful.
• gamble (verb): to bet money on a game or event, knowing you might lose it
  – He decided to gamble a small amount of money just for fun.
• gamble (noun): a risk taken in the hope of gaining something
  – Starting a new business is always a gamble, but it can pay off.
• budget (noun): a plan for how much money you will spend during a certain period or activity
  – His budget for gambling was only fifty dollars for the whole weekend.
• budget (verb): to plan carefully how you will use your money
  – If you budget wisely, you can have fun in Las Vegas without breaking the bank.
• stick to it (phrasal verb): to follow a plan or decision without changing it, even when it is tempting to do otherwise
  – She set a gambling budget of one hundred dollars and made sure to stick to it all night.
  – It can be hard to stick to a budget when you are having fun, but it is important.
• afford (verb): to have enough money to pay for something without causing financial problems
  – He could not afford to lose more money, so he stopped playing after an hour.

Why do some people visit places like Las Vegas? Use the Internet to learn why the city is more than just gambling. That said, if people want to gamble, what are tips to do it safely without getting into debt? Search for some ideas.

Hi, I’m Randall, and I’m in a casino, and I think there are several things that you should keep in mind when you come to gamble. Number one: Make sure you understand how the games work, so you understand a certain strategy to play, if there is one.

Number two: Make sure you have a budget and stick to it. Uh, sometimes you end up spending more money than you really can afford.

And number three: Leave your credit cards and ATM cards back in your hotel room. That helps you, again, stick to that budget, so you don’t overspend, and spend money that you can’t afford to lose.