When the call for business travel comes along for the UK entrepreneur, the time spent away from home isn’t going to be full-on work.
There will naturally be downtime after business hours are done and dusted, and then comes the challenge of what to do with those pockets of free time, which can be valuable for recharging batteries and refreshing spirits away from business pressures.
For many people, the decision can boil down to enjoying the thrills of a casino or heading off to a sports match. Both offer a controlled dose of uncertainty, attention, and engagement, which can help take the mind off business decisions without demanding too much energy. Which of those to choose becomes an interesting question, as the entertainment activities offer their unique benefits along with potential pitfalls. Hitting the slots or joining thousands of spectators at sporting events, casinos and sports are common casual pastimes, but are they appropriate for the business traveller?
Gambling When Travelling
Most gambling activity today takes place online. Casino games and sports betting are available on your phone in minutes, wherever you happen to be. You can also make use of incentives such as bonus offers on Legalbet.uk, an expert site that brings together current promotions from licensed UK online casinos and sportsbooks.
Having said that, the shift to digital hasn’t removed offline options. A business traveller can still choose to stay at a hotel with an on-site casino, or one located close to a land-based venue or sports arena. After a day of meetings, that could mean a short visit to the gaming floor, watching a live match in a hotel bar, or heading out to a nearby stadium to watch a local team and perhaps place a bet.
Both approaches offer different ways to fill downtime during a trip. The sections below look at each option separately and how they fit into a business travel routine.
Casino Benefits
Casinos are naturally appealing to entrepreneurs because they involve things like controlled risk and, for some games like blackjack, strategic thinking. These are skills relevant to the world of business, and it’s an environment where entrepreneurs can thrive, although, of course, gambling is little more than a game of chance, and it’s not always going to end in a positive outcome financially.
But that’s also like business, where losses have to be counted alongside the wins. There are other areas where business bleeds over into the casino experience, like knowing when to cut your losses and scheduling time for the gambling excursion. There’s a fun experience that can be had at a casino, whether that’s on the slots, where no skills or strenuous thinking are needed, or understanding basic strategy to maximise your odds at the blackjack table.
The budget that you go with can be thought of as an entertainment expense, which is a completely viable element of business travel. However, unless there is a hard, defined bankroll that’s adhered to, playing at a casino can potentially end up being more costly than buying a fixed-priced ticket to a sports match through overplaying.
Appropriateness
Visiting a casino on a business trip is perfectly acceptable outside of working hours and is a genuinely positive and social way to spend free time. Casinos are more than just for gambling too, there are bars where potentially networking can happen, cinemas, restaurants and more to take in, providing a fun and varied night out.
It can be a highly stimulating and sometimes stressful experience, though, which does have the potential to mess with your sleep. It’s a good idea to know when you are planning to end the night, so you don’t feel fatigued the next day.
The Sports Match
Whether it’s football, rugby, netball, or anything else that fills your sporting need, attending a sports event can be a thrilling occasion. Sport happens in informal settings, and because of so many other people being in attendance, it can provide plenty of networking opportunities.
A great thing about watching a sports match in person is that it can be a great catalyst for an emotional release. Getting caught up in the passion of the infectious crowd is a fantastic way to let off steam and destress. It also offers a glimpse into the local culture, wherever you are, and a chance to get a taste of the local community.
Sport in the UK is, of course, synonymous with betting and checking out the odds for a game you are going to attend can involve research and analysis. Betting odds can make a match more interesting to follow, but any wagering should stay within a planned budget. For most people, the main draw is still being at the ground, watching the game unfold, and taking in the atmosphere.
Appropriateness
Attending a sports match with colleagues or even local contacts is a great way to build rapport and unwind. It’s casual, but be on guard not to make it too casual. Attending a big football match can be a draining experience because it involves a lot of intensity, so ensure enough is left in the tank for work the next day.
Decisions
The choice of which to attend is down to a preference for what’s wanted from the experience. Casino play can still demand intense focus as it’s down to managing money, and the losses and wins can cause emotions to ebb and flow.
A sports match is more of a mental escape in a more vibrant and social setting. Both are highly acceptable for business travel as long as there’s self-awareness over actions and behaviour, particularly if the chosen leisure activity is with contacts.