BLACKJACK IS....WURRRRRRRK!!!!
if that's the work you choose to do, and I get awfully tired with the investment analogy that people apply to Blackjack vs other kinds of capital investment. Not to say that these other investitures, such as the stock market, the future's market, or real estate also don't involve wurrrrrrrk!--but folks, Easy Street is no where to be found in Vegas, or any other gaming venue for that matter, and let us never forget it.
Furthermore, risk is only one part to be considered in any investment strategy; the other part being how much pleasure and ease you take in seeing your capital grow. E-A-S-E...that's what its all about Alfalfa--did you squirm too much while you earned it, or did you learn from prior struggles where and how to find an easier way. ( And BTW, would'nt you know that Alfalfa never did learn this lesson, as he died over a nickle and dime argument concerning who was the rightful owner of a hunting rifle! Hmmm?--Reminds me of the fate of a certain number of failed cardcounters. )
Donald Frump, Warren Buck-it, J Paul Giddy et al.,--not a genuis among'em but great INVESTORS all--who found a way to make money work for them instead of the other way around--which, in a nut shell, is what good investment should always be, that is, it ain't no longer sweaty, uneasy, in the pits, hardscrabbl'n, money grubb'n WUUURRRRRRRRRK!!!
I'd say, for what you seem to be after Who-Asked-It, 5000 bucks is quite enough therefore.--Just go to Vegas on your annual sojourn, and ramp those bets like a 10 year-old kid doin wheeley's off a ski jump, say a little prayer, and, as they say, hope for the best--but NEVER be surprised if the worst happens, for if you are surprised you'd being acting as though your ease and pleasure had come too much at the expense of....WURRRRRRRRRRRRRRK! ( Hmmm? Reminds of the fate of a certain number of....)