Flip or Trade? What’s The Bigger Gamble?

[Gozie51]

You've got a point about the organized chaos of trading with all its analysis and learning. But let’s be real, are we just kidding ourselves thinking we have a leg up? In day trading, we’re up against the massive hedge funds armed with AI & ML and huge budgets, and quality of market data you can't imagine to have. It’s like bringing a spoon to a gunfight. Does our little analysis really stack up against their tech power? Feels like we need more than hope to stand a chance in this big league of trading. How do we even start to level this playing field, any ideas?

Some retail traders who know what they are doing in their trade also cash in on the big whales move if they analyze well on their daily trading. No matter the size of the capital, it is the risk drive of the trader that matters. However, the manipulation that could be going on within the financial houses and the big hedge middle traders can be the challenge in the volatility of the market. But trading is not about hope and it is not for everyone.

You’re right that some retail traders who are astute in their analysis can potentially cash in on big whales' moves. However, it's essential to look at the larger picture and think about averages and general trends. Yes, some gamblers also win fortunes, but statistically speaking, the odds aren't always in their favor. I respectfully disagree with the notion that the average retail investor can consistently take advantage of a Whale's movements, except maybe in exceptional circumstances like a fire sale. The reality is that large players and financial houses have significant resources and information, which could potentially influence market volatility, presenting a considerable challenge for the average trader. Trading indeed isn’t about hope, and it certainly isn’t for everyone, especially considering these factors.

Your explanation also buttress the point where people say trading is like gambling and gambling is like trading. Of course retail traders won't make consistent profit against the "manipulators" or the whale traders and that is why there are more loses in trading just like there are also losers in gambling that have now turned addicts. Whichever side of the divide we are, we have to put efforts to be better on it.

[Haunebu]

On the flip side (pun intended), imagine the cheer and banter playing coin flip or Rock Paper Scissors with friends. No technical analysis, just good old-fashioned luck, and fun. Though with Rock Paper Scissors, you could sneak in a bit of strategy based on past moves, a light-hearted way to apply some skills without the financial market stress. Both paths have their own charm, choose your adventure!

These are great advantages for sure, but you are forgetting about the most important advantage of them is all which is the zero house edge factor thanks to which it's possible to earn big money in a short period of time without any technical analysis.

Only hardcore traders would choose day trading over gambling in this case.

[BenCodie]

Flipping and leaving things down to chance is the easy way. In turn, sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose. Ultimately, 50/50 results in long term even events. Even wins, even losses. With casinos, this goes down as low as 35%/65%. In online casinos, it's generally 45%/55% or sometimes as low as 49.5%/50.5%. The result? Long term losses.

Day trading involves a lot more than just chance. It requires following principals and skill to improve the success rate. You are also competing with and against many people in many markets, not against a casino software built to always have better odds of winning than you do.

[pawanjain]

Lost in the whirlwind world of day trading? It often feels like a maze with big folks and their flashy tools, leaving us hoping for a stroke of luck. Imagine ditching the tricky charts for a simple, real coin flip, person vs person, with a fair 50/50 chance. No gimmicks, no house edge, just a clear, honest game.

What’s your take? Does day trading seem more of a gamble compared to a straight-up coin flip

Day tricking cannot be directly said as a gamble. There are people who do perform their analysis and set their targets.
It's more of a prediction game than a straight up gamble. The bigger gamble would definitely be trading.
There are lots of people involved in it and the amount accumulates in millions when trading.
As for the coin flip, I don't think a lot of people are doing that.

Not because there are lots of people day trading, it is a bigger gamble.  I think to say when it is a bigger gamble is by simply looking at the mechanics and how the risk is mitigated.  Besides gamble is related to risk.  The bigger the risk, the bigger the gamble.  So in day trading, as many of the replies stated, the risk can be mitigated and those who are expert on trading can even reduce this risk to the minimum.  While in coin flip, no matter what the gambler do, he cannot reduce the risk nor increase the chance of losing.  So between the two, it is the coin flip that is has the bigger risk so it can be said that it is the bigger gamble.

Oh, I get it now. Yes, it makes sense from that perspective. Coin flip definitely has higher risk when compared to day trading.
Yet, the question is, are people even doing that? I mean are people gambling on a coin flip ?
Even if they do, the number of people would be very low.

[Wiwo]

When you look at and evaluate rich traders it is quite impressive because of the various sophistications they have and also buying and selling with large amounts of money so that when you get a profit it will also seem like it easy to get rich from trading but apart from all that there are actually some risks happens is that when the tools they use experience problems they might also lose some money but actually something like this might be a challenge and adrenaline rush for rich traders.
There are many differences between rich traders and traders who have limited capital and each profit target will also be different but some traders get lucky by buying tokens that are very cheap but can increase the price many times over.

Aside from being a rich trader also experience matter also because being reach won't result into automatic except trading position that will yied the needed profits,  what we have noticed that differentiate the winner from the older in both trading and gambling is the level of experience,  knowledge and skills developed over time,  and this is what we notice in their partten pf operations and we think that they make such profits because of the huge capital in the position which is why you hear such comment as rich traders.

Capital plays significant role in the total amount in both loses and profiting at the same time since the capital position determines the total outcome,  but what gives winning/profits is the skills and expertise put in place by the gambler/trader.

[fingnome]

Flipping and leaving things down to chance is the easy way. In turn, sometimes you will win, sometimes you will lose. Ultimately, 50/50 results in long term even events. Even wins, even losses. With casinos, this goes down as low as 35%/65%. In online casinos, it's generally 45%/55% or sometimes as low as 49.5%/50.5%. The result? Long term losses.

Day trading involves a lot more than just chance. It requires following principals and skill to improve the success rate. You are also competing with and against many people in many markets, not against a casino software built to always have better odds of winning than you do.

I totally get your point about the certainty of the 50/50 coin flip and the skewed odds in casinos or online platforms. Yes, day trading does require adherence to principles, a honed skill set, and a comprehensive understanding of the market dynamics. However, despite all the skills and principles, the market has its way of throwing curveballs. Considering the statistic that over the last 20 years, less than 10% of U.S. actively managed funds have outperformed the market, the odds seem grim. In day trading, you're pitted not just against a system designed for you to lose, but against global events, algorithmic trading, and massive financial institutions, making the playing field more uneven than it might initially appear. The complexity, the competition, and the unpredictability could make day trading feel like more of a gamble than a game of chance.

[fingnome]

You've got a point about the organized chaos of trading with all its analysis and learning. But let’s be real, are we just kidding ourselves thinking we have a leg up? In day trading, we’re up against the massive hedge funds armed with AI & ML and huge budgets, and quality of market data you can't imagine to have. It’s like bringing a spoon to a gunfight. Does our little analysis really stack up against their tech power? Feels like we need more than hope to stand a chance in this big league of trading. How do we even start to level this playing field, any ideas?

Some retail traders who know what they are doing in their trade also cash in on the big whales move if they analyze well on their daily trading. No matter the size of the capital, it is the risk drive of the trader that matters. However, the manipulation that could be going on within the financial houses and the big hedge middle traders can be the challenge in the volatility of the market. But trading is not about hope and it is not for everyone.

You’re right that some retail traders who are astute in their analysis can potentially cash in on big whales' moves. However, it's essential to look at the larger picture and think about averages and general trends. Yes, some gamblers also win fortunes, but statistically speaking, the odds aren't always in their favor. I respectfully disagree with the notion that the average retail investor can consistently take advantage of a Whale's movements, except maybe in exceptional circumstances like a fire sale. The reality is that large players and financial houses have significant resources and information, which could potentially influence market volatility, presenting a considerable challenge for the average trader. Trading indeed isn’t about hope, and it certainly isn’t for everyone, especially considering these factors.

Your explanation also buttress the point where people say trading is like gambling and gambling is like trading. Of course retail traders won't make consistent profit against the "manipulators" or the whale traders and that is why there are more loses in trading just like there are also losers in gambling that have now turned addicts. Whichever side of the divide we are, we have to put efforts to be better on it.

You've hit on an essential comparison, bringing out the stark similarities between trading and gambling. Your mention of the struggles of retail traders against "whale traders" or "manipulators" highlights the challenges in both realms. Reflecting on the point that investing can seem like a zero-sum game, it's pertinent to acknowledge that while someone wins, someone else loses, underscoring the competitive nature of the arena. Brokers, indeed, perpetually earn through commissions, irrespective of the market's ups and downs, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. This dimension reinforces the idea that money indeed doesn’t grow on trees. Each gain or loss in the market is offset by a corresponding loss or gain by another trader, highlighting the essential gamble that both trading and gambling represent, despite the skill and strategy involved in trading.

[seoincorporation]

There is a main difference between trading and gambling, in the casinos you lose your coins while in trading the coins lose their value, and those are totally different things because in the casino you will not recover those lost coins if you lose your balance, but in trading the coins can recover their value the next days, even you still having a chance to walk away with money.

That's why the risk on trading is lower than gambling.

[Wakate]

On the flip side (pun intended), imagine the cheer and banter playing coin flip or Rock Paper Scissors with friends. No technical analysis, just good old-fashioned luck, and fun. Though with Rock Paper Scissors, you could sneak in a bit of strategy based on past moves, a light-hearted way to apply some skills without the financial market stress. Both paths have their own charm, choose your adventure!

These are great advantages for sure, but you are forgetting about the most important advantage of them is all which is the zero house edge factor thanks to which it's possible to earn big money in a short period of time without any technical analysis.

Only hardcore traders would choose day trading over gambling in this case.

We can earn a lot from trading if we know how to go about it especially having a good strategy that pays well. If we don't to clamour on luck everytime we try to make bet because that alone might not be available everytime we needed it. Gambling is something that needed luck and constantly taking risk even though we don't know what the outcome would be. We need to at least make decisions that would profits us that is why having a good skill is important for us to make good profits from betting.  Even with house edge one can still be unfortunate when it comes to betting.

[SamReomo]

There is a main difference between trading and gambling, in the casinos you lose your coins while in trading the coins lose their value, and those are totally different things because in the casino you will not recover those lost coins if you lose your balance, but in trading the coins can recover their value the next days, even you still having a chance to walk away with money.

That's why the risk on trading is lower than gambling.

I think you explained their difference in the best way possible and I totally agree with you. In gambling when we lose a bet we lose it forever and we won't be able to recover the loss again if we don't win any future bets. Trading is different in that perspective because a trader when buys a coin and the coin's value  drop more than 50% in value but if the trader can hold that coin for long periods then he/she may recover the lost balance.

But, sometimes when a trader invest into a wrong coin then such coin's value won't recover and the trader has lost everything. I believe same is true for futures trader who trade with leveraging. Whenever a trader goes with futures trading with leverage then I believe the thing will be similar to gambling somehow because if the coins get liquidated then the trader won't be able to recover those.

[boyptc]

Lost in the whirlwind world of day trading? It often feels like a maze with big folks and their flashy tools, leaving us hoping for a stroke of luck. Imagine ditching the tricky charts for a simple, real coin flip, person vs person, with a fair 50/50 chance. No gimmicks, no house edge, just a clear, honest game.

What’s your take?

It's a childhood game to me.

Yeah, there's no trick on it and both of you the flipper and the opponent have 50/50 chance unless there's something wrong with the coin that makes it flip on the other side at most times.

I can't remember about that trick when it happens like that but there seems to be a heavier part of it that makes it flip on the other side. We just used to watch that in some series before when I was younger and did tried to copy that when I and my childhood play mates regularly meet.

Does day trading seem more of a gamble compared to a straight-up coin flip

Spot is fine but leverage is.

[komisariatku]

Lost in the whirlwind world of day trading? It often feels like a maze with big folks and their flashy tools, leaving us hoping for a stroke of luck. Imagine ditching the tricky charts for a simple, real coin flip, person vs person, with a fair 50/50 chance. No gimmicks, no house edge, just a clear, honest game.

Yes, if trading is done without technique and analysis it will look like gambling, they are just guessing whether the price will go up or down. If it's like that then it's better to flip a coin because the chances are 50 - 50. However, if you are a professional trader then he knows how to predict the market and determine whether the market will go up or down. In conditions like this of course traders are better

So under certain conditions gambling is better than trading and sometimes vice versa. But the most important thing is that we know what we are doing

[serjent05]

At the end of the day, gambling is gambling and trading is trading.  No matter how we look at it or try to see the scenario, the basic concept if follows shows coinf flip can't be called a gamble if it does not possess high risk and is not affected by risk management.  I think the term risk management stands between these two entity.  Trading is highly affected by risk management so even if it looks like a high risk activity, the risk management narrowed down the risk to be lesser than the gambling activity.  Just like what some of the earlier reply stated.

Those people who trade without knowledge isn't actually a trader but a gambler thus their action cannot be considered as the standard of trading but rather fall under gambling activity.

[harizen]

Lost in the whirlwind world of day trading? It often feels like a maze with big folks and their flashy tools, leaving us hoping for a stroke of luck. Imagine ditching the tricky charts for a simple, real coin flip, person vs person, with a fair 50/50 chance. No gimmicks, no house edge, just a clear, honest game.

What’s your take? Does day trading seem more of a gamble compared to a straight-up coin flip

It might look like you are gambling money in trading, the same as how you gamble in the usual gambling, but will you just allow your own money to be gambled there without even trying to increase the chance of winning? In other words, trading and gambling have different approaches.

Let's not make this too technical. Depends on how you look at it, then just keep it that way.

What matters is, regardless of where the big gamble is from either of those, don't always depend on your luck - associate it with strategies.

[Mr.suevie]

Lost in the whirlwind world of day trading? It often feels like a maze with big folks and their flashy tools, leaving us hoping for a stroke of luck. Imagine ditching the tricky charts for a simple, real coin flip, person vs person, with a fair 50/50 chance. No gimmicks, no house edge, just a clear, honest game.

What’s your take? Does day trading seem more of a gamble compared to a straight-up coin flip

Yeah I feel trade can be related to gamble because the risk involved is also very high and  its tend to be a 50/50 that's if you don't know what you are actually doing but for some peculiar reason I just feel trading is somehow better because with gambling it's 30/70 chance as the house or casino has the 70% while you as the gambler is left with just 30% to actually secure a win and result of a profit.

[khaled0111]

I don't understand why some members keep insisting on comparing trading to gambling and are totally convinced they are not different from each other. First, gambling is an entertainment activity while trading is a sort of investment or a job if you like.
Second, gambling is based mainly on luck while trading is based on specific skills and experience.
It's true that you can win or lose on both of them but they are not the same and for each of them the possibilities of winning or losing depends on totally different factors.

[Jemzx00]

I don't understand why some members keep insisting on comparing trading to gambling and are totally convinced they are not different from each other. First, gambling is an entertainment activity while trading is a sort of investment or a job if you like.
Second, gambling is based mainly on luck while trading is based on specific skills and experience.
It's true that you can win or lose on both of them but they are not the same and for each of them the possibilities of winning or losing depends on totally different factors.

Gambling and Trading may have some similarities in some sort of way as there's no guarantee whether you earn or win as it varies on multiple factors. By the way, I cannot think how trading can be considered as a job as that may be too far of a stretch to even compare.

While trading may not provide a guarantee of profit but you can strategize your way on minimizing your loss or even control how your money grow, however on gambling it may differ as most games basely rely on luck.

[tread93]

If you're day trading you had better have a damn good idea what you're doing otherwise you might as well just throw all of your silver coins down the wishing well.

[3kpk3]

I don't understand why some members keep insisting on comparing trading to gambling and are totally convinced they are not different from each other. First, gambling is an entertainment activity while trading is a sort of investment or a job if you like.
Second, gambling is based mainly on luck while trading is based on specific skills and experience.
It's true that you can win or lose on both of them but they are not the same and for each of them the possibilities of winning or losing depends on totally different factors.

Trading also requires a good dose of luck to go your way though skills definitely help here unlike gambling where you are 100% dependent on luck. However, there are games like poker etc where skill helps along with luck.

This is why trading and gambling are actually pretty similar in more ways than one if you think about it.

[avp2306]

I don't understand why some members keep insisting on comparing trading to gambling and are totally convinced they are not different from each other. First, gambling is an entertainment activity while trading is a sort of investment or a job if you like.
Second, gambling is based mainly on luck while trading is based on specific skills and experience.
It's true that you can win or lose on both of them but they are not the same and for each of them the possibilities of winning or losing depends on totally different factors.

Trading also requires a good dose of luck to go your way though skills definitely help here unlike gambling where you are 100% dependent on luck. However, there are games like poker etc where skill helps along with luck.

This is why trading and gambling are actually pretty similar in more ways than one if you think about it.

On some instances you really need some luck to win on the trades you set but you should never rely on that because if you just trade without doing analysis of some sort of latest events and doing some simple fundamentals then maybe you are at huge risk to lose your money. You need to spend some time or attention on trade to get some better result so if you don't have time to monitor each movement then maybe guess that trading is not for you or those people who's busy on other personal matters.

But still we choose to gamble because the fun factor is so different since dealing with certain risk especially playing along side with your friends is somehow giving us more better experience.