@David31290: I think Kaiji is a static character, and has never gained or lost any development. Outside of life-or-death gambles, he has no pressure, no motivation to find a way to "make it" in life, so that's why he just returns to being a bum, or takes a minimum wage job. In one of the first few chapters Sakazaki told him that he's full of potential, but Kaiji won't make use of it. The only times he will make use of his skills is when his life is in danger, but outside of that, he'll simply waste away, since he knows he won't die any time soon.