game of chance

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A game of chance is a game whose outcome is strongly influenced by some randomizing device, and upon which contestants may or may not wager money or anything of monetary value. Common devices used include dice, spinning tops, playing cards, roulette wheels or numbered balls drawn from a container.

Any game of chance that involves anything of monetary value is Gambling. Thus, every gamble is a game of chance, but not every game of chance is a gamble.

Gambling is known in nearly all human societies, even though many have passed laws restricting it. Early people used the knucklebones of sheep as dice. Some people develop a psychological addiction to gambling, and will risk even food and shelter to continue.

Some games of chance may also involve a certain degree of skill. This is especially true where the player or players have decisions to make based upon previous or incomplete knowledge, such as poker and blackjack. The distinction between 'chance' and 'skill' is relevant as in some countries chance games are illegal or at least regulated, where skill games are not.

See also

• Card Game: War
• Probability theory
• Poker probability
• Psychology
• Stochastic process
• Game classification
• Monty Hall problem
• Game of skill

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