Can you actually get a small profit doing your own opal mining at a tourist spot like Royal Peacock in Nevada, or would you be better off gambling?
I'm not asking if I should quit my day job or anything like that, but I think it would be really cool to have the cahnce to actually earn a little cash when on a vacation. I heard about opal mining tourism and I love the idea. However, I have no idea what kinds of opals are worth what and if how rare they are? What are the chances that I'm going to be able to gig up valuable enough opal to offset a 150$/day mining rate? Should I just head to Vegas instead?
Answers ( 1 )
Casinos make money because the odds are in the dealer's favor while the players are convinced they have a system that can overcome probabilities. I know almost nothing about mining opals, but it seems probable that if the owners of the mine could make more money doing the opal-hunting themselves, they wouldn't be offering you the chance to DIY for $150/day. It is, after all, their business! So... casino, opal mine -- take your pick.
(Am I too cynical? Not, I think, when it comes to money.)