In another thread there was a discussion in which a participant made certain claims that video poker, played in a casino, could be a better investment than U. S. government bonds.

His claim was based on a combination of knowledge and skill for playing video poker and the mathematics and possible or expected return of playing certain games.

I want to make this clear to all of my readers and viewers and followers who have watched my financial reports on TV for more than 35 years: it makes no difference if we are talking about a video poker game with a negative expectation or a positive expectation, or a video poker game played with the best skill and with the best possible paytable that might give you an "expected return" that exceeds any other known investment yield or dividend or interest rate. When it comes to investment and security there is no comparison between the return on your money and the return of your money.

If you are investing your money the better investment is always the investment that will guarantee the return of your money. NO casino game will guarantee the return of your money.

The US Government has never defaulted on a bond. I want to make it clear to my readers and viewers who have followed me for more than 35 years on TV and for longer than that on radio and when I wrote for Barron's and the financial press do not -- repeat -- do not allow yourself to be duped by anyone who claims that they can sell you a system, a technique, a method, or a bet that can guarantee you the return of your money in any casino game or that any casino game will offer you more security than an investment in U.S. government insured bonds or the debt obligations of the U.S. government.

Yes, there are casino games just as there are business ventures that offer you the opportunity to get a better return on your money. But understand that a gamble is always a gamble. And when the potential return on your money goes up, so does the risk that you won't get your money back.

I don't want anyone to ever say to me that they lost their college fund, retirement fund, or house because they were lured into a casino by the promise of a greater return on their money and that they overlooked the risk of not getting a return of their money.

While there are professional casino gamblers, let me assure you that the best of the casino gamblers also have their own guaranteed and insured investment plans that are not a gamble.