Alternatives to the global statement in Python -

i'm writing simple roulette simulator, focusing on red/black betting (basically game of heads or tails).

the issue have variables being called across functions.

here code (i'm sure has other issues too, i'm focusing on one, now):

import random  # defines initial amounts of money , losses money = 50 losses = 0  # starts sim def roulette_sim():     print "how want bet?"     bet = int(raw_input("> "))        if bet > money:         bet_too_much()     else:         red_or_black()   # prevents 1 betting more money 1 has def bet_too_much():     print "you not have money. please bet again."      raw_input("press enter continue> ")     roulette_sim()  # asks user select red or black, starts sim, modifies money/losses def red_or_black():     print "ok, bet %r" %  (bet)     print "red or black?"     answer = raw_input("> ")     number = random.randint(1, 2)     if number == 1 , answer == "red":         print "you win!"         money += bet         print "you have %r money" % (money)         print "your losses %r" % (losses)         replay()     elif number == 2 , answer == "black":         print "you win!"         money += bet         print "you have %r money" % (money)         print "your losses %r" % (losses)         replay()     else:         print "you lost!"         money -= bet         losses += bet         print "you have %r money" % (money)         print "your losses %r" % (losses)         replay()  # asks user whether he/she wants play again def replay():     print "do want play again?"     play_again = raw_input("y/n> ")     if play_again == "y":         roulette_sim()     else:         print "ok, bye loser!"   roulette_sim() 

so, nameerror: global name 'bet' not defined, avoid using global, i'd rather not resort that. how can call variable, value assigned user in roulette_sim, in other functions, other via using global?

i suppose same issue apply money variable.

i have extremely basic knowledge of python, apologise mistakes.

thanks

you can pass values arguments functions , make functions return updated values, e.g:

def roulette_sim(money, losses):     print "how want bet?"     bet = int(raw_input("> "))        if bet > money:         return bet_too_much(money, losses)     else:         eturn red_or_black(money, losses, bet) 

where red_or_black instead of modifying global money , losses variables passes amount of lost moey replay calls roulette_sim updated values.

alternatively can put class , use self.money, self.losses , self.bet "globals".

however may notice whole design of these functions awful. have complicated relations , use recursion, means after (probably less than) 1000 bets you'll receive runtimerror: maximum recursion depth exceeded.

you refactor whole code use loops instead. give idea:

import random    def get_bet():     bet = float('+inf')     while bet > money:         print("how want bet?")         bet = int(raw_input("> "))         if bet > money:             bet_too_much()     return bet  def bet_too_much():     print("you not have money. please bet again.")     raw_input("press enter continue")   def roulette_sim():     money = 50     losses = 0     while true:         bet = get_bet()         won = red_or_black(bet)         money += won         losses -= won 

note: imagine want write different game player bets. using design it's really hacky re-use functions in new game.

with above design can freely re-use get_bet() function asks player bet etc. give yet reason use loops instead of tightly coupling functions recursion cycles.