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Slots Losing It All... the addiction

Discussion in 'Slots' started by deansrobinson, Nov 22, 2016.

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  1. deansrobinson

    deansrobinson VIP Whale

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    I can see where - if you were to jackpot your first time out - you could become deluded into thinking "hey...this is easy! I can do this!". Addiction is a terrible thing, no matter the vice. It just seems to me that if you come from No Money, that maybe you'd be able to reel in the gaming. Then again, it could be that if you did come from No Money, you might just be lookin' for that miracle. No doubt...it is seductive.
     
  2. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    I enjoy slot machines and VP but I am not addicted. If I start losing more than I am comfortable, I get discouraged and quit for a while.
     
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  3. 7out7

    7out7 Low-Roller

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    I work in a casino. I work in the afternoon and the amount of turnover I see day after day is incredibly low. Same people day after day after day, it's depressing and enraging at the same time. The worst part is the mind numbing hypocrisy of the government. Spending large amounts of money to pretend to give a ____ about problem gamers. Meanwhile 24 hour casinos all over the place, constant commercials about how great it would be to win the lottery, and making sure it's easy as pie to buy those lottery tickets every time you buy groceries, or gas, or drop into a corner store.

    I'm 100% for accountability, and that includes the gov'ts thorough effort to entice as many people as possible to throw away money.
     
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  4. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Yep a small percentage of the total patrons seen typically makes up a large percentage of the revenue in casinos, especially outside of the Vegas strip and downtown. And it's pretty clear not every one of those "regular customers" can really afford it. :(
     
  5. Fafa2e

    Fafa2e High-Roller

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    Wow, that was not the best article to read the day before you are leaving for a Vegas trip. It does make me think about my gambling habits and whether I fall victim to some of these enticements that the casinos provide. While I don't gamble more than I can afford and don't feel like I have an addiction, I would say that I visit the local casinos more frequently than I used to and I'm playing more video poker and slots than I used to.

    The local casinos send me some sort of free play, usually small amounts between $10 and $30, free gift, slot tournament, free play drawing events, and other offers almost daily in the mail. I am not usually enticed by these offers, but I do keep then in a folder in case I'm interested in going to the casino. I can't imagine the amount of money they spend on all of these mailings.
     
    My Longest Trip Ever
  6. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    I enjoy drinking too much to have a problem with it. Same goes for gambling. My wife and I will bring "x" with us and I keep the ATM Card. It's entertainment, but when we have a losing day I sometimes think to myself "we could have gone to NYC, seen a show and had (a modest) dinner". But here in Pennsylvania, I think the tax revenue exceeds $1 Billion annually, so it's here to stay.
     
  7. Rush

    Rush MIA

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    That's the rub. No one on here will think they have a problem. The story was the worst case scenarios. It's real easy for us to say, "I'm not like that, so I don't have a problem".

    How many times do you read on this site about a person griping over the $350 hold placed on their credit card for a rental car? If you are up against your limit that far, you probably should be paying down your debt, over going to gamble! How many people here have called in sick to gamble? How many have skipped a payment on something because they gambled that money away?

    We rationalize our losses by saying things like, "I only gamble what I can afford to lose", or "My losses are the cost of entertainment", etc. In the end, what's entertaining about losing money? It's a bad habit that most of us possess, no different than any other. If this was a board about drinking, we would say, "I'm not that bad". Same about smoking, drugs, or any other vice out there.

    Many, many times over the years, I have looked back and said, "Look what I could have done with that money I lost", yet I still buck the odds over and over. Rinse/repeat.
     
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  8. Cheetos

    Cheetos Low-Roller

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    I am unsure which addiction is worse, alcoholism or gambling. When I read the trip reports here and on another Vegas site It seems very blatant. Not in a good way. Just saying.
     
  9. stackinchips

    stackinchips VIP Whale

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    That's why I've almost completely quit hitting the local casinos (unless I happen to be driving right by and decide to cycle my FP offers). I use to take probably on average 1-2 trips a month to a local casino. Now it's closer to 1-2 a year. Instead I now take an extra trip to Vegas or if time doesn't allow, just pad the bankroll for the normal trips. It's simply different being in Vegas. There's an energy in the casinos, the gambling is much more enjoyable, and nearly everyone who is in Vegas had to at least buy a flight to get there, and pay for a hotel room. That financial barrier keeps the majority of the problem gamblers away. You go to the local and the parking lot is full of barely running vehicles, and there's a line of people waiting to cash their paychecks. You can just tell that half the people there shouldn't be there, and it's depressing. Add that to the vibe killer it is when their desperation makes them pissy or confrontational with others and it's just not fun.

    In addition to all of that, when I go to a local and dump some money, I just feel like I didn't get much in return other than a couple hours of entertainment. If I go to Vegas and drop some money, I may go home a loser, but I also get a nice room at a high end resort, many great meals comped, use of the spa and pool, etc. With my bankroll, even if I lost every penny (which has only happened once in many trips) it's probably about the same as the price tag I'd put on those items. At my local I used to have hundreds of dollars in comps that would just expire because there was nothing I would want to use them on...
     
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  10. win4me

    win4me VIP Whale

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    Heartbreaking personal story and very informative EMG, industry & "regulatory" article. Thank you for sharing!
     
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  11. wormhole

    wormhole VIP Whale

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    I had been going to Vegas for 3+ years when I first heard of GA. My first reaction was: What? Are you serious? It had never occurred to me that it could be a problem. I had never noticed the Problem Gambling brochures until I saw them mentioned on some gambling websites I found about that time. I discovered the semi local Indiana riverboats about this time (I was surprised to find they had open for 6 or 7 years and I somehow missed hearing about them).

    After having a couple of big wins in recent years at said riverboats, going on tilt a couple of times and paying more attention to the behavior of the regulars at them, I can see where it could be a big problem for some people.
     
  12. Iceicecool

    Iceicecool Low-Roller

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    I used to question people who would ask that question on this site why they were going to gamble if their credit card was maxed out, and every time they attacked me so I just leave people alone now. The thing about problem gambling is people have to come to the realization on their own.

    I used to work at a locals casino and seeing the same people every day blow money they don't have was just too much for me.
     
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  13. sabre

    sabre Low-Roller

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    Well, I agree with you. Anyone who pays a cent in finance charges or interest on a credit card balance and gambles is a fool.
     
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  14. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    You know.... I do tend to have more memories of the many small wins than I do of my major losses. Funny how the brain works.
     
  15. shokhead

    shokhead No big spender unless eating drinking having fun!

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    Gambling and drinking are alike. Some can drink or gamble with no problems and others can't stop after they start.
     
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  16. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Wow. Thanks for sharing this article. It was depressing but also informative. Most of the stats were not new but all of the discussion about the "near misses" was. In your mind you know the slot machines are rigged to pay out less but I appreciate knowing more about how much more of it is by design and how the odds of a symbol coming up in a reel can be much greater than when then come up in another. I will share this with my mom, who loves WOF.

    I enjoy slots and although I know of course that there is a house edge on VP too I now play VP almost exclusively as at least I know the odds. This article got me thinking though about all of the sounds of even VP games, e.g., the ding of the 8x, 10x or 12x UX multiplier can be alluring too.

    We all love Vegas and even AC, with its current woes, still has some charm for me, but I do worry about the sheer number of casinos now across the country that for many people are not just a short drive but a short walk away.
     
  17. MrCravat

    MrCravat Tourist

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    There's a saying..."Gamblers never lose,they nearly win" It's an addiction and the mini signs about contacting Gamblers Anonymous ( always in the smallest wrting ) are just there to cover the casino's a$$,who at best want you to win a little but lose a lot at best,and at worst could not give a damn
     
  18. siwst852

    siwst852 Low-Roller

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    Interesting discussion , I agree gambling can be addictive along with alcohol, drugs etc. It is sad that folks don't see they have a problem. I have friends who borrow money on their CC to go or skip paying bills. I just shake my head. It seems that VP for men is more addictive Suicide because of this addiction is more common that people want to believe.

    People know I enjoy gambling, I travel often and also enjoy nature and hiking, people often ask did you stop at the casino there? No I went to hike or cruise etc. I tell them Vegas is something special I do not gamble when I travel to other places.
     
  19. deansrobinson

    deansrobinson VIP Whale

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    ^-- same here.
     
  20. TOWNSVILLE

    TOWNSVILLE Low-Roller

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    l told our local Casino Hostess that l would not have enough turnover to get my Gold Card.She looked disappointed in my actions regarding gambling at that establishment.Then l explained that the money they thought that they should have received was spent on my last trip to Vegas.Point being,l had an international trip,great food,brilliant craft brews,good accommodation and plenty of interesting memories.My return to the local Casino was greeted by the staff as if l was some form of hero.Therefore, what l am alluding to here is,if you are going to waste your money gambling,make sure you get your value from it.Don't sit in the local and grind away if you can avoid it,also make sure you are enjoying yourself whilst doing so_Otherwise start to ask yourself some serious questions.Look at the other people around you at the Casino,form your own opinions,then compare,thats what l do.Good Luck to all.
     
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