Gambling Addiction

[sk66rc]

I've made some references in other threads to the enjoyments of casual gambling... I see it as an entertainment... I've been involved in some poker tournaments... Over all, I guess I see the gambling as it was "supposed to be" seen, harmless entertainment... And when I say harmless, I'm strictly talking about myself & few friends I know...

I was bored one day & I came across this article when I was reading stories on line - http://www.fsaprotocol.com/Gamblers-Story.html - ... Then it dawned on me, I've heard somewhere lonely people were more likely to gamble & end up becoming a gambling addict... So I did little more digging & came across this article... - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...jected-people-frivolous-money-try-fit-in.html...

I guess I'm lucky in a sense that I only look at playing poker as a simple entertainment... Some people go fishing & by other's standards, may be little too much... Some people like drinking... My vice is playing poker... I just hope I don't end up like the guy in the story...

 

[Nicolelt]

I remember going the horse track and seeing guys with their paychecks and betting on ponies. Kinda sad.

 

[sk66rc]

I remember going the horse track and seeing guys with their paychecks and betting on ponies. Kinda sad.

Yeah, I know what you mean... I've seen too many of people like that in casino, too... I'm usually not judgmental but I've seen people in high stake areas & I know they don't belong there... They're betting with money they don't seem to have or at least they can't afford to loose... Luckily, those scenes are the reason that keep me grounded & keeps me from going nuts...

 

[TheRealCallie]

I never understood gambling. Why would you risk your money like that? Yes, you could double/triple/whatever your money, but it's such a huge risk. Especially if you have a family. I'll buy the occasional scratch off lottery ticket, but that's for the kids to scratch off. lol

I suppose part of it stems from the fact that I don't buy anything unless it's pretty much essential...at least not for myself (I do enjoy buying gifts for others).

 

[sk66rc]

I never understood gambling. Why would you risk your money like that? Yes, you could double/triple/whatever your money, but it's such a huge risk. Especially if you have a family. I'll buy the occasional scratch off lottery ticket, but that's for the kids to scratch off. lol

I suppose part of it stems from the fact that I don't buy anything unless it's pretty much essential...at least not for myself (I do enjoy buying gifts for others).

Like I said in the other post, I see it as an entertainment... I'm really not looking to make a living out of doing it... Just like going to a movies, in which at the end of it, you really don't gain anything... Different people have different ideas of having fun... And I'm not doubting or putting down any other forms of entertainments... The way I see it, as long as I have & be able to keep a healthy out-look on gambling & keep it as just a form of entertainment, I don't see any difference between that & going bowling... Or even going to see a nascar race... How much fun can you have watching bunch of cars driving in a circle or throwing a heavy ball at bunch of plastic pins? I'm not saying YOU personally but you get the general idea... Or even sporting events like boxing? How sadistic do you have to be to watch 2 people beating the crap out of each other & call it a "fun"? Again, I'm just using these as an example sake but you get the idea... I guess I'm lucky in a sense that seeing & being around few people like that kept me away from seeing gambling as anything other than just that, a form of entertainment that shouldn't be taken too seriously & just a way of having fun for few hours... And if I get lucky, I might just walk away with few extra bucks in my pocket...

 

[TheRealCallie]

I should have added a disclaimer saying my "you" was generalized also. Lol, sorry about that.

 

[beautiful loser]

"I never understood gambling. Why would you risk your money like that?"

Same way I feel about strip clubs. Although one isn't risking money, they are flat out losing it like a bunch of idiots. When my buddies used to frequent them and I told them it was a waste of time, they laughed. But guess who laughed last, when they had to come to me to borrow tools because they had no money to buy their own? **** morons.

 

[Cavey]

I see nothing wrong with gambling. Like all things in life, be it food, alcohol, drugs, sex - hell, even video games; it's only a problem when you can't exercise willpower.

I used to bet money on the horses regularly and I viewed it solely as a form of entertainment, not as a money making venture. I never wagered more than I could afford to lose and I derived a lot of enjoyment from it.

I barely even consider poker to be gambling. In the long run, Poker is far more a game of mathematics and skill than it is dumb luck.

 

[sk66rc]

I should have added a disclaimer saying my "you" was generalized also. Lol, sorry about that.

No worries... I just didn't want people to think I'm "shaming" people for occasional gambling for entertainment purposes... Like a lot of stuff in life, I do believe in moderation with a right attitude is the key... Problem I have is when people actions, or their addictions and/or their problems, start of affect others in negative ways...

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I see nothing wrong with gambling. Like all things in life, be it food, alcohol, drugs, sex - hell, even video games; it's only a problem when you can't exercise willpower.

I used to bet money on the horses regularly and I viewed it solely as a form of entertainment, not as a money making venture. I never wagered more than I could afford to lose and I derived a lot of enjoyment from it.

I barely even consider poker to be gambling. In the long run, Poker is far more a game of mathematics and skill than it is dumb luck.

Well... Old school poker players will tell ya they play the players & cards hardly come into play... Doyle Brunson once said, and I'm paraphrasing, if nobody knew he didn't look at his cards, he could beat any player 70% of the times without even looking at his own cards... Younger crowds now a days, they're more of mathematical players... There's that 8/4/2 statistic rules, lol...

 

[johnny196775]

If you can afford to lose it and you had fun why not gamble.

 

[sk66rc]

If you can afford to lose it and you had fun why not gamble.

I usually try to put little bit of money aside from each paycheck for that purpose... After all the bills have been paid & done everything I need to do, food & gas in the car & etc, out of the money I have left over, I'll put little bit on a side to have fun with... I guess most people do the same though what they do with it might be different... Doesn't everybody have a little bit of "entertainment fund" set aside?