---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This would have been a great game to…"
description: "\"This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't have any money on it.\" — Norm MacDonald"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png"
---

#  This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't…

![“This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't have any money on it.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png)

> “This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't have any money on it.”

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He jokes that a game’s entertainment value depends on personal stakes.

**In simple terms:** Games are boring without money on the line.

Key Takeaway

Add personal stakes to increase excitement.

Themes

gamification motivation value

Mood

humorous observational

Type

entertainment economic

When to use this quote

- sports betting
- video games
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

risk engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- When does betting ruin fun?
- What non‑monetary stakes motivate you?

A Different Perspective

Not all enjoyment requires monetary risk.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gambling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambling/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/)

## Related quotes

> [When I was young and didn't have money, I liked gambling because winning and losing was fun for the rush of it. The amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/when-i-was-young-and-didn-t-have-money-i-liked-gambling-because-2/)

[Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/)

> [When you're not in the game, you can watch. Certain players have mannerisms, and they do the same things repetitiously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bosh/when-you-re-not-in-the-game-you-can-watch-certain-players-have/)

[Chris Bosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bosh/)

> [A few kids maybe never had a chance to go to a game, watch us on TV, so to see us around could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/a-few-kids-maybe-never-had-a-chance-to-go-to-a-game-watch-us-on-tv-so/)

[Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/)

> [I've done the same thing in the world of business that winners do in the game. I watch them, admire them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-dionne/i-ve-done-the-same-thing-in-the-world-of-business-that-winners-do-in/)

[Marcel Dionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-dionne/)

> [I just think in order for someone to understand my game, they have to watch me more than once, because I'm not going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/i-just-think-in-order-for-someone-to-understand-my-game-they-have-to/)

[Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/)

> [When I'm watching any game, I watch the tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-gronkowski/when-i-m-watching-any-game-i-watch-the-tight-end/)

[Rob Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-gronkowski/)

> [It was an ugly and painful game to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/it-was-an-ugly-and-painful-game-to-watch/)

[Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/)

> [I don't know how smart I am, but I was a student of the game and I still watch games and still pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dicicco/i-don-t-know-how-smart-i-am-but-i-was-a-student-of-the-game-and-i/)

[Tony DiCicco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dicicco/)

> [When I came in the NBA, it was more a U.S. game. Now you can watch the NBA anywhere in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlade-divac/when-i-came-in-the-nba-it-was-more-a-u-s-game-now-you-can-watch-the/)

[Vlade Divac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vlade-divac/)

> [I don't play golf competitively. I tell everybody that I cheat so they won't gamble with me. That's why you can't watch football. Everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-don-t-play-golf-competitively-i-tell-everybody-that-i-cheat-so-they/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [Yeah man, they call gambling a disease, but it's the only disease where you can win a bunch of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/yeah-man-they-call-gambling-a-disease-but-it-s-the-only-disease-where/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [It's a great game, and it's done great things for me and my family, but the bottom line is when I'm done, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-warner/it-s-a-great-game-and-it-s-done-great-things-for-me-and-my-family-but/)

[Kurt Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-warner/)

> [Chess is a great game. No matter how good one is, there is always somebody better. No matter how bad one is, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-albert-horowitz/chess-is-a-great-game-no-matter-how-good-one-is-there-is-always/)

Israel Albert Horowitz

> ['StarCraft II' is a really great game. It appeals to players on multiple different levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morhaime/starcraft-ii-is-a-really-great-game-it-appeals-to-players-on-multiple/)

[Michael Morhaime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morhaime/)

> [Denver has been underrated all year and so have we. That makes for a really great game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/denver-has-been-underrated-all-year-and-so-have-we-that-makes-for-a/)

[Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/)

## More by Norm MacDonald

> [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

[Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

## More Gambling quotes

> [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. It has been engaged in everywhere, from the dregs of society to the most respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-l-bernstein/gambling-has-held-human-beings-in-thrall-for-millennia-it-has-been/)

[Peter L. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/)

> [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [“The town will never be the same. After the Tangiers, the big corporations took it all over. Today it looks like Disneyland. And while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rothstein/the-town-will-never-be-the-same-after-the-tangiers-the-big/)

Sam Rothstein

> [I didn't want to be a slave to any passion anymore. I gave up card playing altogether, even bridge and gambling - more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-sharif/i-didn-t-want-to-be-a-slave-to-any-passion-anymore-i-gave-up-card/)

[Omar Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-sharif/)

> [Taxpayers would likely be responsible for treating addicts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/taxpayers-would-likely-be-responsible-for-treating-addicts/)

[John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/)

> [“My casino experience is to someone else their experience with their employer, of how the company has elected to behave solely for greed, profits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-talmage-mathis/my-casino-experience-is-to-someone-else-their-experience-with-their/)

[John-Talmage Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-talmage-mathis/)

> [And it´s so different for a lot of people I´ve known. One partner doesn´t love the other enough to stop drinking, or gambling, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-katsu/and-it-s-so-different-for-a-lot-of-people-i-ve-known-one-partner/)

[Alma Katsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-katsu/)

> [“It is impossible to make real progress in technology without gambling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freeman-dyson/it-is-impossible-to-make-real-progress-in-technology-without-gambling/)

[Freeman Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freeman-dyson/)

> [In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/in-the-casino-the-cardinal-rule-is-to-keep-them-playing-and-to-keep/)

[Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/)

> [Then they're like addicts; they can't help themselves... They will steal, cheat, embezzle and commit other crimes just to get money to gamble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warren-kindt/then-they-re-like-addicts-they-can-t-help-themselves-they-will-steal/)

[John Warren Kindt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warren-kindt/)

> [In most betting shops you will see three windows marked 'Bet Here', but only one window with the legend 'Pay Out'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/in-most-betting-shops-you-will-see-three-windows-marked-bet-here-but/)

[Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/)

> [A lottery is a salutary instrument and a tax... laid on the willing only, that is to say, on those who can risk the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-lottery-is-a-salutary-instrument-and-a-tax-laid-on-the-willing-only/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Except justice, I will not fear for any gambling dude”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/except-justice-i-will-not-fear-for-any-gambling-dude/)

[Sir P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [I don't play golf competitively. I tell everybody that I cheat so they won't gamble with me. That's why you can't watch football. Everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/i-don-t-play-golf-competitively-i-tell-everybody-that-i-cheat-so-they/)

[Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/)

> [“The purpose of Augur is simple but powerful. It will allow any Ether holder to wager money on any future event of their choosing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-reed/the-purpose-of-augur-is-simple-but-powerful-it-will-allow-any-ether/)

[Jeff Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-reed/)

[Browse all 981 Gambling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gambling/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't have any money on it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Norm MacDonald"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-watch-if-we-didn-t-have-any/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Gambling"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-watch-if-we-didn-t-have-any/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/norm-macdonald-1825_gambling_this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-wat_1995124.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“This would have been a great game to watch if we didn't have any money on it.” — Norm MacDonald",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Norm MacDonald",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "This would have been a great...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-watch-if-we-didn-t-have-any/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/this-would-have-been-a-great-game-to-watch-if-we-didn-t-have-any/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
