R u a gambling addict?

Dfalk...That sounds more like a hobby to me. I'd bet.....umm, I mean I'd guess that there are many people (I'll stay away from male or female) that spend way more than that per week on clothes.

You know....I love playing on line poker and if it were leagal to play w/ real money in the US....I could have to re-think my answer.

 

Addicted can be such a brutal word! I associate it with drug use. Or my kids video game use.

But I guess I am addicted to the Gambling-in-Vegas trip. I travel a lot, and it is one of my favorite fun trips. Its the gambling plus all the other stuff that makes it incredible. I try to get to Vegas once a quarter. Thats often enough to consider it an addiction.

But for regular gambling, I would prefer to consider myself a gambling "enthusiast". I probably visited regional casinos a dozen or more times last year, and that frequency was inspired by winning. And by the fact that its a fun activity my wife and I can do together. Also, I work/travel with others who like to go, which can be fun. It is fascinating to check out different casinos around the country. Many have peculiar rules. The frequency seems like a lot, but it could've been 5 times that if I was a true addict. Also, I never go alone, and I definitely play much less "intensely" on a regional visit, risking 1/10 what I would in Vegas, drinking less, etc.

In my 20's, with much less access, I was much more of an addict. Or perhaps much more of a degenerate. Not only for gambling, but for many other mainstream vices (legal). But in those days, Vegas was the only place to play. I had 3 day weekends where I never left the hotel, rarely left the tables, and would risk my entire checking account balance. Gambling was always a Frenzy back in those days.

But as I type this, I realize that last year I also gambled when on a Cruise ship. And when I was in London (which was kind of weird). And at the KY Derby.

And, whenever I book "relaxing" caribbean vacations, I tend to look at the islands where there are casinos.

And I used to own a sports book (statute of limitations is up), and we used to set up casino events for our players (fyi, being "the house" isn't always fun).

And when online poker was legal, I played several times a week.

And I have lots of gambling books.

And, I read and post on this board.

So who am I kidding, I guess I am an addict.

 

No, I'm not addicted to gambling. Do I enjoy gambling? Sure. But I never use money I need for expenses or savings and I always stop when I need to. I see gambling as being similar to drinking. If you are a normal responsible person then it is not a problem. However, when you do it too much and you are no longer in control of yourself, that's when it becomes a real problem.

 

Lay you 8:5 I'm not.

 

Not sure where I found my original link, but I found this one.

[YOUTUBE]G0bGP9SxIY0[/YOUTUBE]

 

I am pretty sure I am.

They are talking about building more casinos nearer to my home...and that makes me sweat...lol I really do not need anymore temptations. I have also heard of people that have lost their homes and their retirement due to gambling....that is so sad a scary.

Now, I try to stay very aware of when I go and how much I spend but I have not ruled out having them take my picture and not allow me back in again!! lol

 

Vegas addict, guilty! Gambling addict, don't think so.

Live in Dallas, have casinos in Oklahoma and Louisiana not far away. Never go to them. Love the concept of Vegas itself - gamble, eat and drink 24 hours a day if you want. After 3 full days of that, ready to go home and get clean!

 

I guess it all depends on what kind of a gambler up you are. If you are running to the casino and using that month's bills money to play...then there mighty be a problem. We go to the local once every other month or so but we don't bring more than we can afford to,lose and we aren't blowing money that should be spent on living expenses etc... If we can't afford it, we don't go.
Going to the local has actually become a nice date night for the hubby and I. We talk more on the hour drive up and the drive back than we talk to each other all week (becuase we are always so busy).

 

Well said. If there were a Ten Commandments of gambling then gambling should only ever be done with money that you can comfortably afford to lose would most certainly top the list.

 

Use to be from around the age 8 use to play slots or what we call fruit machines in the uk . All the money went in them . I got it under control around 15 years ago when I decoved the money was better spent on saving for a holiday or vacation . I be lieing if I said I giving it up but I am in control rather then the gambling being in control . I know when to stop .

 

I have my bankroll and stick to money mgt. I don't gamble with bills money or mortgage money. I don't chase losses. I don't borrow to gamble.

So if the above criteria is part of what an addicted gambler is, then I guess I'm not.

But I love to gamble, that's for sure. I hope I never get to the point where I would do any of the above. It can happen to anyone so I have to always do a reality check on myself every once in a while.

 

I do not see myself as a gambling addict, but I would say that I have a gambling habbit. I will sometimes go to the local casinos by myself to have a couple drinks and play some Poker, VP, BJ or other games. I will practice gambling on iphone apps. I enjoy gambling and wouldn't want to give it up (much like drinking), but I don't think that I gamble (or drink) to excess or to the point it has a significant effect on me financially or socially.

 

I would have to answer no. If we don't count on-line NFL betting, our only gambling is in Vegas. I haven't been in the Indian casino that is 15 miles from our house in ~12 years.

My wife still plays Powerball twice a week, but funny thing is once we moved back from Vegas, I just stopped buying lottery tickets. I just didn't care anymore. When it gets up in 300 million + range, I buy until somebody wins.

 

I noticed that the quote section in my previous post looks like those are Vivalasvegas's answers, but I modified the answers to show my experience.

 

I take about 4 to 5 trips a year to Vegas so I get my fix in Vegas. I have 2 casinos that just have slot machines within 25 minutes of my house and 1 about 35 minutes from my house that has a full casino. I think I have visited these places combined less than 10 times, over a 2 year period. I just don't like local places, Vegas is where my heart is. When I'm in Vegas, oh it is an all out gamble fest, I work hard so I play very hard.

I don't classify myself as an addict, I only play with what I can afford to loose.

 

I was expecting ZERO responses to this question...I am surprised at the honesty of the posters..Some came out of the closet..Others just peeped.

For some reason, many posters brought up "local casinos" (without provocation from me) to rationalize why they are not addicts..

That's why, I have posted a follow up post about local casinos

 

I would say yes, I am addicted to gambling.

But to me it is a gambling addiction and not a gambling problem:

- I rarely go down to my local casino, just bored of the place and the selection of games so I go there maybe 1-2 times a month

- I bet on sports every day, there has probably been less than 10 days in total in the last 4 years that I haven't had some sports bets going that day

- I don't gamble beyond my means and mentally I justify much of it as just how I entertain myself since we don't go out for dinners, movies, shows, etc

- I do run rampant in Las Vegas, but we normally only go 1-2 times a year

- I can still control myself and my actions, like we haven't gone to Las Vegas since April 2012 because instead of blowing money on gambling I went and pumped all my money that would have normally gone to Vegas and vacations and extra trips to the casino in to stock options for the company I am working with

- When I bet on sports I don't just make bets because I feel like it or have a hunch or its my favorite team but instead spend 2-3 hours every day doing research and I keep meticulous records, enough so that I could say exactly what I wagered, on who, what the outcomes were and whether I won or lost that day for any day in the last 4 years... plus I am up in sports betting in that time so that helps. But spending all the time doing research and making picks almost makes it like a hobby at times.


About 2 years ago I thought about signing up for the voluntary self exclusion from my local casino, to go with a 6 month exclusion... I never did but that wasn't really a gambling thing but more just got bored with the place. If they added a whole bunch of new slots that might change, but when they brought in a bunch of "new" slots 2 months ago they were old crap like Cleopatra, Rich Girl, Where's the Gold, etc... just a bunch of old crap machines that they already had a bunch of. So maybe I'm lucky they just have a really lame slot director

 

I am nowhere near being gambling addict. I have never really enjoyed gambling. I think that is because I have never really had any luck gambling.
For me, it is hard to enjoy gambling when I am losing. The thought of me losing my hard earned money on games that are stacked against me does not excite me.
For me gambling has never been fun, It has always been the serious business of trying to get the casino's money while trying to keep mine. We all know that is a losing proposition. I could never find gambling to be addicting.

 

I'll lay you 6-5 I'm not a gambling addict and that test is total BS.

 

What exactly is BS about it?

I'm glad the casinos are forced to sponsor programs for problem gambling. Most casino profits come from a small percentage of gamblers, many of whom are problem / compulsive gamblers.

I had a friend who scored a 10, he's doing much better but it took a lot of time and effort. Not everyone who gambles periodically are problem / compulsive gamblers, but it doesn't hurt to self examine what you're doing and why you are doing it.