This sick hobby (warning--quitting gambling rant)

[winbig]

Originally Posted by jetset

Play Station 3 is on a couple of ambitious Christmas lists presented to me, but I was reading this week that the damn things are priced at around $600?

Yes, and the going rate on ebay will (is) $1600

[Simmo!]

PS3 looks amazing from the game screenshots I've seen. But my experience of computer games is that playing solo gets boring after a while.

However if you are looking for a passtime that gives a similar rush to online gambling, then take up one of the FPS games in multiplayer mode on your PC. I had several years doing this in a "clan" playing Quake/Q2 and Unreal Tournament and I can honestly say that it was fantastic fun and had a sense of community and competitiveness that really got you involved.

I'm a bit out of touch with the latest FPS games, but I would seriously consider looking into this as an alternative form of entertainment. The thing about gambling is the "rush" of a good win. You get this with FPS in team and deathmatch games online. Recommended

These days you also have the MMORPG ("Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game") games which combine real money with multiplayer gaming. I've not played these but I can see the attraction.

Hey, maybe we should set up a server for one of these games and form some teams? We'd probably mostly be at the same level as each other now too Might form a nice occassional distraction with some community about it.

[KasinoKing]

Some great posts in this thread - especially Silcnlayc, Amatrine, Cynthia & VWM!

Pretty similar story for me (as I expect most of you know, as you've all read the 'How did I start' page on my site ); started on the 2p fruities at around 13-14yrs and gradually moved on to bigger & worser things - club machines. I lost count of the times I went down the town & blew £100 or more on these cash vacuums and called myself all the names under the sun on my way home, tail between legs. Total insanity - and I knew it.

When I started online in 2001 I quickly fell into the loss-chasing trap and started getting scary credit card bills. After about 4 months I knew where I was heading & had to make a decision: Stop gambling, or stop losing. I knew the former would be very hard, so I chose the latter, which is slightly easier. I became a 'bonus hunter' with a view to enabling me to carry on playing whilst hopefully chipping away at my gambling debit (or at least, not making it any bigger).

5-years later I'm still doing the same thing and I'm still winning (average 9 winning months in every 10). I paid off ALL my debts several years ago and my gambling has been entirely self-funding since 2002. And I'm still low-rolling all the way! I physically can not make myself do big bets - the thought of losing more than say $10-15 in one go sends shivers down my spine!
What I do is not rocket science, but it does need a fair amount of self-control, discipline & above all, patience! I do spend way too long on the PC, I know it. But TV bores the pants off me & while I'm winning I'm happy doing it.

Gambling is not suitable for everyone, it is dangerous & does wreck lives, so I urge anyone who feels they are losing more than they can afford or are comfortable with, to take action before it gets too bad. (Been there, done it, got the t-shirt, ain't going back!)

Admitting you have a problem & doing something about it is much harder than pretending it's not happening, so well done to Mr.Van and others like him - I wish you the very best.

[POlka78]

Originally Posted by Simmo!

PS3 looks amazing from the game screenshots I've seen. But my experience of computer games is that playing solo gets boring after a while.

However if you are looking for a passtime that gives a similar rush to online gambling, then take up one of the FPS games in multiplayer mode on your PC. I had several years doing this in a "clan" playing Quake/Q2 and Unreal Tournament and I can honestly say that it was fantastic fun and had a sense of community and competitiveness that really got you involved.

I'm a bit out of touch with the latest FPS games, but I would seriously consider looking into this as an alternative form of entertainment. The thing about gambling is the "rush" of a good win. You get this with FPS in team and deathmatch games online. Recommended

These days you also have the MMORPG ("Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game") games which combine real money with multiplayer gaming. I've not played these but I can see the attraction.

Hey, maybe we should set up a server for one of these games and form some teams? We'd probably mostly be at the same level as each other now too Might form a nice occassional distraction with some community about it.

Iam sure your advice is well-intentioned but for a compulsive person this would be like changing from crack to heroin. I played for years Fps on the highest competition level while i dont have any problem with gambling, only in it for the bonus , i stil look back at my fps phase as serious wasted time.

[Simmo!]

Originally Posted by POlka78

Iam sure your advice is well-intentioned but for a compulsive person this would be like changing from crack to heroin. I played for years Fps on the highest competition level while i dont have any problem with gambling, only in it for the bonus , i stil look back at my fps phase as serious wasted time.

Yes it is addictive but in a different way and without the financial implications. I look back at my FPS phase as a lot of fun and I made some good friends out of it that I still have 6 years later More like changing from Crack to Caffeine IMO

[amatrine]

I can agree on both points. There are times I have taken a break only to get really addicted to some online game. Dont laugh , but the worst was neopets.
I originaly set it up for my daughter. Then I realized this was fun. They have casino games, auctions, challenges, and you can collect rare items, set up a store. Anyway, I would sit at my computer 12 hours straight playng this game, I used to have dreams at night about getting real magic paint brushes,lol. This went on for a year and a half to the point I had millions of neopoints, and I FINALY started getting bored of playing it. I then sold my neopoints, and got burned on the deal, they reveresed the paypal, and after that I never went back,lol I did make some freinds in my guild, that phone me to this day. There was also that short stent with pogo, but that only lasted about 6 months and I got bored. I can say when I was playing neopets and hit the big progressive on thier slot for a million neopoints I was just as excited as if I hit a million dollars,lol Back then when I played casinos I generaly only played MG and once in a while. I got in trouble the first time I realized RTG had nickle games. I thought wow I can play all day on a little bit of money. But it sucks you just as dry. $1500 a month playing nickles and never wining anything. I did better playing 200 a month mg, and at least I won sometimes . Anyway, I have an addictive personality myself , I smoke, and cant quit for the life of me. The computer itself has always been an addiction. I had a computer since the vic 20 came out. I remember being 12 years old playing video poker for the first time, ( not real gambling) and my brothers and I fighting over the computer to play it every night.
Then when the mini coomdore 64 came out, us fighting over that to play games. Then when BBS boards came out , the real fights began,lol
I guess thats why for me, I have to just hang up my computer every once in a while. If they didnt have online gaming I would not play so much. I lived in Reno, and didnt gable that much, I vist the indians about 10 miles away mabey three times a year. But When I can sit here in my pjs and play and not have to go anywhere and deal with a lot of people, parking issues etc, I can get carried away when Im bored to death. Im SOOO glad I start working tomorrow)) Of course I would be sick with a cold at the moment. But I wont let that stop me. I need this job for my sanity

Ama

[Casinomeister]

I've taken a number of your suggestions and uploaded a page on the main site. You can either bookmark this or send the URL to whomever it may apply to. Thanks all for your contributions.

If you think that there are other improtant links or what-nots that should be included, please let me know. Thanks!

http://www.casinomeister.com/quit_gambling.php

[MrVan]

i am sure many people will appreciate that ^^

[onemoorebaby]

I also have been feeling this way of late. I have an addictive personality and I also smoke and cant give up (patches, gum hynotherapy you name it I have tried it). I though have wondered if I stoppped the online gambling if I could quit smoking too. I smoke 90 percent of the time when i am spinning. This is disgusting I know but even if I have just put one out and I get freespins well i light one up without hesitation. Its even been nicknamed my "feature smoke".

I spend too much online and I do know that but I get such a thrill from it.

I started out when microgaming casinos first came out. I maxed my credit card in three days playing keno of all things lol.

I hated the slots as they were not like the land based ones here and had no features, That was until that snake charmer one came out (cant think what its called) then the slots online came into my life.

The free spins are what kill me. I play until i get them. Then i get them and play until i get them again and so on until i have nothing left. Its a vicious cycle. Come to think of it in all these years I have only cashed out ten times maximum.

My most recent win which was a jackpot at party casino for 8k. I was only betting 18 cents and i nearly sh&t.
I cashed out 3000 and guess what I did then, yep played the rest all back.

I got rid of all my credit cards and shut my neteller asking for it to never be opened again thinking that would slow me down but nope then i found ecocard which can be funded by money transfer. Then a group of my favourite casinos started accepting money transfer too and boom I was back at it full steam ahead again.

I do enjoy it and really wish i could deposit a certain amount per week and stick to it but I'm just not disciplined enough.

I recently put a whole heap of games on the computer I really like these sim ones where you make cities, zoos, circuses etc and I have spent a little more time playing them instead of gambling but of course something always pulls me back. Whether it be a complimentary bonus added to an account that I get emailed about or a too good to refuse bonus. In this last week i have had 13 comps emailed to me.

To all the players who are disciplined I really applaud you as its not easy.

[KasinoKing]

Originally Posted by amatrine

The computer itself has always been an addiction. I had a computer since the vic 20 came out. I remember being 12 years old playing video poker for the first time, ( not real gambling) and my brothers and I fighting over the computer to play it every night.
Then when the mini commodore 64 came out, us fighting over that to play games.

Wow! That takes me back!
I've still got my VIC20 & C64 in the attic - been there for donkeys years - I wonder if they still work...
(Also got a 486 with Windows 3.11 if anyone wants to make me an offer..?)

Good luck with the new job!