Not worth the candle

Posted by Albert Delgado on November 30, 2000

The phrase is originally "the game is not worth the candle". Therefore, the origin given here is not sufficient. I have been told that gambling, as many things, used to be done by candle light. Candles were more in demand and probably more expensive. When a gambler had a bad night at the tables, he may be heard saying that "the game was not worth the candle".