Gambling Addiction

[muck4doo]

Someone I know who had been complaining about how broke she was for months, just got lucky on Monday on TX Pick4 with a $2600 pay out. I thought to myself "great luck for someone who needs it". Then I watched this same person blow through just about all of that pay out on scratcher tickets. "Six $50 tickets left on that roll? I'll take them all! Give me the rest of your Bonus break the Banks and Big Moneys too"!!! Come Friday, and she is broke again.

What good does it do to play and hope for a big pay out from the lottery, if all you are going to do is hand the money right back to them? The House ALWAYS wins. The Alcoholic has some protection in if that if he has had too much the bartender or store clerk can tell them they have had too much, and not sell them anymore for their own good. The gambling addict doesn't have that same kind of protection. It saddens me all anyone can do legally is is sit there and watch them throw everything down the drain.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Any type of addiction is a serious thing. Personally, I don't find any joy in gambling. I do not see how losing money with no return on that value can evoke any joy for someone. I love Poker, but I only play with friends and only with coinage just to keep everyone honest.

 

[JackOfNoTrades]

Any type of addiction is a serious thing. Personally, I don't find any joy in gambling. I do not see how losing money with no return on that value can evoke any joy for someone. I love Poker, but I only play with friends and only with coinage just to keep everyone honest.

There were times I worried if my desire to play blackjack was more driven by an addiction than enjoyment of the game. Fortunately I've won considerably more than I've lost over the years but there were times I lost more than I was comfortable with. I found the way to keep myself in check was to think of all the things I could have gotten for my daughter that could very well be lost in minutes. Gambling games, which are more decided by luck than skill, which I believe to be the case for most, are inherently a losing proposition. Now I play cards maybe once a year while on vacation with a very strict budget.

If there's anyone here reading this that is concerned they may be afflicted with an addiction, it may not work for everyone but did for me in keeping you loved ones in mind and how much your actions hurt or help them.

 

[TheEnigma]

I had a gambling addiction once and then I went a couple thousand overdrawn in my bank account. I was a teenager and didn't really know what I was doing so a lot of it became about chasing my losses. I don't have the self control to gamble "correctly."

A few years later I went to a craw dad festival with singe friends and cane across a game (con). I got caught up in trying to chase my money back again and lost about $200. My consolation prize was a fish stuffed animal. I still have that fish as a reminder to stay away from gambling.

 

[CyberB0b]

Someone I know who had been complaining about how broke she was for months, just got lucky on Monday on TX Pick4 with a $2600 pay out. I thought to myself "great luck for someone who needs it". Then I watched this same person blow through just about all of that pay out on scratcher tickets. "Six $50 tickets left on that roll? I'll take them all! Give me the rest of your Bonus break the Banks and Big Moneys too"!!! Come Friday, and she is broke again.

What good does it do to play and hope for a big pay out from the lottery, if all you are going to do is hand the money right back to them? The House ALWAYS wins. The Alcoholic has some protection in if that if he has had too much the bartender or store clerk can tell them they have had too much, and not sell them anymore for their own good. The gambling addict doesn't have that same kind of protection. It saddens me all anyone can do legally is is sit there and watch them throw everything down the drain.

People are going to get addicted to something. Passing a law against the lottery likely won't cure your friends itch. Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they're willing to change.

My in-laws simply can't manage their finances. They make about 75k combined, but live in squalor and live paycheck to paycheck because it gets blown on frivolous crap.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It saddens me all anyone can do legally is is sit there and watch them throw everything down the drain.

Addiction happens in much more than just gambling. The more you actually look for it the more you will see. I'm far from perfect but I see something every day. Nothing you can really do unless you want to say something to make yourself feel better.

 

[muck4doo]

People are going to get addicted to something. Passing a law against the lottery likely won't cure your friends itch. Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they're willing to change.

My in-laws simply can't manage their finances. They make about 75k combined, but live in squalor and live paycheck to paycheck because it gets blown on frivolous crap.

Gambling got around just fine when it was outlawed in most places. The government just figured they might as well get a cut of it. It's just sad to see someone you know who was struggling get a lucky break, then just throw it all away in the greed that she might get even luckier.

 

[rynochop]

'Its not gambling when you know you're going to win'

 

[Phoenix]

My ex-wife turned into a hopeless gambler. I'm talking to the point that an occasional $10,000 win was NOTHING. For seven years I tried to deal with it, but believe me, this is one of the worst addictions. I had no choice but to divorce her just to save my own life.

It's a very sad addiction.

 

[Longboysfan]

That's why Casinos stay in business.

 

[JBS]

My ex-wife turned into a hopeless gambler. I'm talking to the point that an occasional $10,000 win was NOTHING. For seven years I tried to deal with it, but believe me, this is one of the worst addictions. I had no choice but to divorce her just to save my own life.

It's a very sad addiction.

What kind of gambling? Table games?

 

[Roadtrip635]

'Its not gambling when you know you're going to win'

Yep, that's exactly it. They have an "edge" or "angle", they're "due" or whatever the reasoning is.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

It is a sad addiction.

Sad to see the folks line up at 7-11 to buy scratch-offs who least able to afford them.

 

[Tabascocat]

Gambling is tough to break. I don't do scratchies or anything like that. Love the casions, blackjack and craps, but my weakness was betting on sports, specifically the NFL and College football.

Unfortunately, I got to watch my old roommate go down the drains from losing his money week after week and I saw the light. Haven't placed an actual sportsbook bet in almost 8 years. Now, it is just casual bets with friends for big games only and a trip to the casinos once a year.

It is pretty sad betting on European soccer games in the middle of the night for that adrenaline rush of winning, or just something to kill the time before the next day. I would bet on teams that I did not know existed. It gets worse, I even bet on the WNBA, heh.

I didn't just do straight bets either, a lot of parlays and teasers mixed with all sorts of sports together.

Now, if I could only quit the Copenhagen

 

[JBS]

Betting on sports is really the most dangerous...especially if you have a local that Let's you wager on "credit"...you can get in very deep...

All other kinds of gambling requires you to post funds up front and at least puts a limit on what you can lose...when you are dealing w credit...you can dig a much bigger hole

 

[Shunpike]

So you are satying I should stop betting on Sports? I am a newbie and I M currently winning but I will stop if you think I might develop an addiction.

 

[Tabascocat]

So you are satying I should stop betting on Sports? I am a newbie and I M currently winning but I will stop if you think I might develop an addiction.

Only you know the answer to that question. There are many factors that come into play:
1. Do you have an addictive personality?
2. When you lose, will it affect your way of life, money wise?
3. Will you increase the amount of your bets as times goes on? If so, can you afford it?

If yes to any of the above, stop before you can't control it. I see no harm if you just do small, periodic bets and it doesn't effect your or someone else's life, negatively.

One piece of advice, do not chase your bets. That means, if you lose or go on a small losing streak......back off for awhile and do not keep betting to make up for the losses. That is the fastest way to get into trouble

 

[dreghorn2]

Money won is twice as sweet as money earned.

 

[Phoenix]

What kind of gambling? Table games?

Slots. Casinos. Big money Bingo.

 

[CyberB0b]

So you are satying I should stop betting on Sports? I am a newbie and I M currently winning but I will stop if you think I might develop an addiction.

It's like alcohol. Most people can handle it, but some can't. Keep an eye on it.

It is a sad addiction.

Sad to see the folks line up at 7-11 to buy scratch-offs who least able to afford them.

For some people, spending the $1 on a scratch off is a nice escape from reality. If their biggest vice is spending a $1 a week on scratch offs, then that's not too bad. Better than seeing the same person spend $12 a day on cigarettes or booze.