Addiction - or just a gambler?

[1819]

Unfortunately, it takes time to find a job in my field. I'm expecting (hoping) to have one by the new year, for now I am working at the same job that I worked my way thru school with. During the week I am crazy busy, but I have weekends off. The college I went to was an accelerated college, my course is typically 2 years but at this college it was just under 11 months - as you can imagine, that leaves a lot of homework needing to be done at home. I think I got so used to being crazy busy absolutely all the time that I now crave it in a way. I just need to find more constructive things to fill in my days off, as I will always have weekends off.

i spent alot of time in alberta. find a nice cowboy to spend your time with. j/k. the urge to play, itself, is not a problem and quite normal for many. what you described may be written off as reckless behaviour. not uncommon in college. it may also be the foundation for a problem. the fact that you have recognized a potential problem, and come forward with it, is half the battle. unfortunately nothing more than the generic advice can be given. ya know the whole play within your means line? you sound smart enough. only you know when it is a problem. forums like this are great places to vent but if there is a true problem nothing beats professional help. best of luck to you....

[tofu23]

But if person has a potential gambling problem, then I don't think that even edge derived by using bonuses will save him/her in the end. Bonus hustling requires self-discipline and being in control of risk and reward. Problem gambler would have difficulties playing these bonuses in efficient manner.

There was a group formed to assist addicted gamblers - not to stop gambling but to stop losing. It didn't get any Govt. support so it eventually petered out as a result of lack of funds.

The 'problem' with gambling is the "losing". One can gamble until the cows come and it is not deemed either an addiction or a 'problem' if the individual derives a profit (or does not lose).

Stop the losing - stop the 'problem'. Agreed that you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him bet a bonus wisely.

[NextToYou]

Even professional gamblers eg. online poker pros (professional in this case = making living through gambling) can have a gambling problem/addiction. The only difference in this scenario is that they don't suffer usual moneytary consequences from the problem so the problem is not actually a "problem" in a traditional point of view (losing house or so because of gambling problem) or at least the consequenses are not so visible.

But even in these cases where there is no financial problems involved, the gambling problem can cause health/social problems for these persons even though they may make very very good living at the same time from it. Controversial situation at least.

[dominique]

IMO if you play at the expense of anything else that matters a lot in your life, it's an addiction.

It's not necessarily a money situation, many people are addicted to Pogo, which is free.

If you do it to the point where you feel guilty, you are stepping over the boundaries. If you feel guilty towards family, your job, your finances, or yourself, it's time to cut down.

If you can't cut down at that time, you are addicted.

That's just the way I see it...

[jenn1381]

Thanks for all your replies, I have found them helpful! The past few days have definitely been spent soul searching.

I've come to the conclusion that I definitely am borderline addicted, and I need to make some changes. For now, no gambling at all until I get my line of credit and credit card both at zero. After that, I need to start using a pre-paid method to deposit and not instadebit, so that I can limit deposits to a certain (small) amount each month. When the bank roll runs out, I'm done until next month.

I do have a lot of guilt because of my gambling, while I've always paid my bills and rent on time and was never without a school book I needed, I know that I have probably neglected friends and family somewhat (i.e. can't do lunch because all the money is gone, don't want to go shopping because all the money is gone, etc.), and so it's time to make some changes! I've also been experiencing some major migraines lately, I believe in part from stress and constant studying, but also probably from watching those reels spin for way too long. Hopefully backing away helps in the physical aspects as well.

I'll still be around, but I think I might avoid the winner screenshots thread for a while. While it's neat to see such great wins, I know it makes me want to play even more.

Casinomeister sure does have a caring bunch, and I appreciate each of you that took the time to post.

[Jufo]

The 'problem' with gambling is the "losing". One can gamble until the cows come and it is not deemed either an addiction or a 'problem' if the individual derives a profit (or does not lose).

I would say that gambling addiction is more than losing. Like NextToYou pointed out there can be a skilled winning player who is totally addicted to playing, so he utilizes his addiction to make a profit. But the addiction can harm other parts of his life, so it becomes a problem that way.

However, people going to Gamblers Anonymous groups have usually lost heavily and this has caused problems in their life. I really don't believe there are many winning poker players there trying to get help to stop playing.

Stop the losing - stop the 'problem'. Agreed that you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him bet a bonus wisely.

I would actually say that losing at the beginning might be a saving grace if it discourages potential problem gambler to continue playing right at the start. But once a problem gambler hits a large win there will be no limit
how much he will lose because he always believes that some day he can repeat that win.