theoldwolf

In Vegas everyone's odds are exactly the same, as long as the gaff is not in. My odds are exactly the same on every pull of the slot machine handle (lousy), every spin of the roulette wheel (almost as lousy) and every throw of the dice (only marginally better). The best odds in Vegas are the Pass line at craps - 2:1.

If I lose all the time and you win all the time, ceteris paribus, it's pure chance.

Some people do seem to live charmed lives, but I believe that in the arena of daily life, people tend to make their own fortunes by dint of hard work, or preparation, or attitude. And sometimes we get the breaks, and sometimes we don't.

Outside of this, there's the hand of Divinity working in our lives, and those who believe in miracles tend to see them everywhere. But that is the stuff of dissertations, bar-room brawls and flame wars.