I agree that Russ feels like a gambling addict, one who always plays the same way, like trying to draw for a royal flush, and bluffing while wearing mirrored sunglasses.
I am also very sure that the only reason he hasn’t dipped into real gambling is because of his Mormon upbringing. I know a lot of people who left a different fairly conservative denomination after being raised in the faith l, and every one of them have a hard time breaking at least some of the habits we grew up with.
I know someone who eats bacon and pepperoni, but not other cuts of pork, because pork is unclean according to the church.
Same thing with Russ, whores are acceptable, but alcohol isn’t. Brains are wild.