Games and Gambling

In some games there is real prizes like money, but in many there is the sense of success or feeling of defeat, so dreaming of games can indicate these. But in dreams, games are often used to represent life, where chances we take can have very direct connection with real events. Such adult ‘games’ as making a record, developing a business, starting a job, bring us into direct interaction with the world, with an incredibly wide range of responses. Such games are extremely satisfying because of these interactions, but like racing driving, can be fatal because of their reality. What we do in our dream game will indicate how we are playing the ‘game’ of life. We may be playing recklessly, by the rules, skilfully, caringly etc. These indications can be seen as comments on our real life activities.

Stances used to meet life; not taking life seriously – making a game of it; competitiveness; sense of winning or losing; team work; life skills. See: playing.

Particular games suggest different ‘stances’.

Ball games and athletics:

Competitiveness; conflict within the dreamer – the two sides; sense of win or lose, success failure; the game of love.

Cards and chess:

Use of strategies and observation.

Gambling:

Taking risks with your life, health, family; work, money – whatever is indicated in dream.

Games like darts, billiards etc.:

Your aims and ambitions; aiming at a goal and trying to achieve it; the difficulties of achievement.

Opponents:

What you are meeting or in conflict with. This may be a part of your nature, such as self awareness, sexuality, even your body. You might be in conflict with life itself or ‘God’.

Idioms: Beat somebody at their own game; deep game; dirty game; fair game; game of chance; game to the end; give the game away; know what someone’s game is; mug’s game; name of the game; on the game; waiting game; game is up. See also: ball under shapes symbols; doll; toy.

Badminton ***

Football matches, baseball, rugby

These are generally the same as the above, but have another side to them. They also represent for many people the strong drive to identify with a tribe, a group. They are therefore ways the person gains identity and a sense of connection with people around them. In growing internationalism, such games may be of vital importance to maintaining a sense of identity within what may feel like being lost in a multitude.

Tennis Relationship and the sometimes battle for who is going to dominate that goes on in it; competition; the game people play in approaching sex, i.e. veiled remarks, casual telephone calls, verbal clues to readiness, etc.