Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting our neighboring state of Nevada and experiencing Reno for the first time. I arrived with no particular expectations, which often makes things easier, but I did anticipate having fun, as I always do.

The citylike offers high desert views, large neon signs, a river running through it, friendly people, indoor smoking—a surprising throwback I haven’t encountered since 2007—and, of course, casinos. While gambling isn’t a pastime I enjoy, it’s hard not to be charmed by the flashing lights, distinctive animated characters, exciting sounds, and the thrilling hope of winning money. However, despite the saying, “You can’t win if you don’t play,” after spending a substantial $25 on the machines, I decided to be a loser.

After observing this zombie-like behavior for hours, I couldn’t help but wonder: why would anyone choose yet another screen in which to lose oneself for entertainment? I also questioned if everyone in the casinos really has a few hundred, or even thousands, of dollars to spare. Are the odds really in their favor? In this economy, that seems hard to believe.

While everyone has the freedom to do with their money as they please, I have a few suggestions for those lucky enough to have some money to spare on fun. These recommendations might not be as thrilling as feeding a noisy machine, but they might be more profitable.

A nice pair of walking shoes. For way less than $200, you can turn your attention to the widest screen we have: real life. Use your senses to enjoy shiny colors and surprising sounds, all for free. Add some excitement and win extra points for every piece of trash you collect.

A big puzzle. For around $40, you can entertain yourself indoors by solving a 6000-piece jigsaw puzzle. This activity encapsulates the thrilling emotions of being in a casino: excitement, anger, and the constant questioning of why you’re putting yourself through this for so many hours.

Bet on society. Whether we like it or not, we depend on others to succeed as a community – it’s just part of life. So if you have some money to spare, let’s all win together and consider supporting local businesses by eating, drinking, and shopping locally. Go crazy and make it a “double or nothing” bet by donating to organizations that make our community safer, like the volunteer fire department.

While I will keep supporting Reno’s local community, I might think twice before burning another $25 in the machines and instead save it for our fire department – no pun intended. But for now, locals, old-timers, newcomers, tourists, and visitors from other galaxies, while I can’t guarantee any of these suggestions will make you a millionaire, let’s pretend that betting on yourself and your community could be the biggest win – jackpot sounds not included.