"Credit card game" = gambling?

[SteveWinters]

Please help me out guys.

I'm a practicing Mormon and have run into this situation a few times while out on business trips or at dinner with my wife and another couple.

Rather than splitting up the bill, the party each puts their credit card in with the check and asks the waiter to pick one.

Lately I've found myself getting more and more excited by the prospect of going out to dinner to play this "game", sometimes even more than the dinner itself. It's beginning to strain my relationship with my wife and the Lord. Is this normal? Is the "game" really a form of gambling? If it is, what's the best way to seek help and stop this destructive behavior.

Thx,

Steve

[Just_A_Guy]

It's beginning to strain my relationship with my wife and the Lord.

Then, from a technical standpoint, it really doesn't matter whether it's gambling or not--does it?

[UrbanFool]

I want to laugh because it's such a bizarre idea to me, but I have a brother who has had a gambling addiction and he says he still sweats when the bus goes past the casino. It's not a funny thing. Stay out of the casinos!

And if I were you, I'd start taking cash and paying for your own meal. Just stop participating in the game. Leave the credit cards at home.

[Hemidakota]

The best part of a credit card is not having one. Visa Debit is the best method of keeping a person out of trouble. Though, I have a company (corporate card) but that is place in the drawer and only used when I go on trips.

[Suzie]

Rather than splitting up the bill, the party each puts their credit card in with the check and asks the waiter to pick one.

Lately I've found myself getting more and more excited by the prospect of going out to dinner to play this "game", sometimes even more than the dinner itself. It's beginning to strain my relationship with my wife and the Lord. Is this normal? Is the "game" really a form of gambling? If it is, what's the best way to seek help and stop this destructive behavior.

I am puzzled. Is this is a REAL scenario or someone just making a joke?

[UrbanFool]

Who knows?

[FairChild]

Yes, I see it as gambling. I think UrbanFool gave good advice.

[Wingnut]

I'm going with TROLL!!!!

[miztrniceguy]

I don't know any Mormons who refer to themselves as "practicing Mormons". The usual term is "active".

Hmmmmm

[Wingnut]

Rather than splitting up the bill, the party each puts their credit card in with the check and asks the waiter to pick one.

Oh, and if I were the server, I wouldn't buy into this. I would take whichever card was handed to me.

[Just_A_Guy]

Oh, and if I were the server, I wouldn't buy into this. I would take whichever card was handed to me.

Heck--run it once on each of the cards, and let each diner think he lost the draw.

[PrinceofLight2000]

Please help me out guys.

I'm a practicing Mormon and have run into this situation a few times while out on business trips or at dinner with my wife and another couple.

Rather than splitting up the bill, the party each puts their credit card in with the check and asks the waiter to pick one.

Lately I've found myself getting more and more excited by the prospect of going out to dinner to play this "game", sometimes even more than the dinner itself. It's beginning to strain my relationship with my wife and the Lord. Is this normal? Is the "game" really a form of gambling? If it is, what's the best way to seek help and stop this destructive behavior.

Thx,

Steve

This is gambling.

But if you cut out the other couple, it wouldn't be, for one reason alone. I assume you and your wife are unified in taking care of any financial obligations that might occur. I also assume you consult with each other as needed, and share both money and trust freely.

Assuming that, it can't be gambling. If you handle your finances in the way I outlined above, it shouldn't matter whose name the credit card is in. Ultimately, the both of you would be working together to pay that bill.

It's a fun way to see who's got better luck, though.

To further reinforce your given example as being gambling, it would be so if there was any other relationship involved apart from yours and your wife's with each other. Friends/children/parents/siblings/etc. don't have the same sort of financial unification a husband and wife do.

Edited August 9, 2010 by PrinceofLight2000

[miztrniceguy]

Prince, he did say"and another couple"

[PrinceofLight2000]

Prince, he did say"and another couple"

Oh, I missed that. Revising.