Betting on You

In Betting on You, games are more than just distractions—they symbolize the protagonists’ deep-seated desire to cling to childhood and escape the emotional heaviness of their lives. For both Charlie and Bailey, whose lives have been reshaped by divorce, the simplicity of playful competition offers a temporary reprieve from the uncertainty and emotional strain that dominate their personal worlds.

Charlie is particularly known for inventing silly games, often while working shifts at Planet Funn. From timing who can make it to the bathroom and back fastest to creating a game based on guessing what snack someone is most likely to get at a vending machine, Charlie thrives on constructing low-stakes challenges that allow him to remain emotionally distant. Bailey reflects during one such game, “It was just one of multiple games Charlie would come up with that helped us pass the time at the front desk […] he sure put a lot of effort into making up things to do to avoid whatever it was he wanted to avoid” (120). These games aren’t about winning—they’re about escape. In a life where so much feels out of their control, the rules of a game are comforting; they’re clear, simple, and, most importantly, unthreatening.