The worst thing that ever happened to me was being a winner at casino gambling for about 10 years. Hit Vegas or AC once or twice a year type of thing. Nothing huge. Win 1-2K. Not a whale. Not living at the casino. Just a guy making some extra coin at poker/blackjack/craps a couple of times a year.
Then, winning $22,000 in about 5 minutes.
You then get on the “preferred” lists. “Free” rooms. “Free” meals. Matchplay. Etc.
Believe me, the amount I lost over the subsequent 10 years more than offsets the winnings. Way more. You convince yourself that you can beat it (hell, I did for 10 years). Lose at the casino? I can certainly win it back sports betting. I watch a lot of sports! How hard could it be? You start chasing. And chasing. And chasing.
It ends up bad.