Didn't realize just how "addicted" I am...

[labeled]

I mentioned back when I started the thread that I was definitely at the point where it was habit to have a casino open in the background on the computer, and that it was part of my routine to throw money away. Since then, I've reined that in. For me, it really is more of an expensive hobby than a problem. Cutting back on deposits hasn't been a big deal at all - since around Christmas I've deposited $100 instead of probably 700-800.

It was easy, so obviously that's good. I'm glad I started this thread, it really did make me assess the part of gaming that was fun and the part that was just something I did every day. And when you look at it that way - why the hell would anyone just toss money out the window if it's not fun? (Seriously, with the way my luck was running that's all I was doing.) At least land-based are fun even when you're down.

I do play free play/free chips pretty often, though - that seems to be a good reminder of how tight the slots are for me lately, rather than an enticement to play for real, but obviously I wouldn't recommend that for anyone that does have a legitimate problem. I really wouldn't recommend the free chip option, because as we all know, the generous free chip casinos are usually the shadiest ones, so I'd hate for someone to think their luck was running hot and deposit at one of them. (I have found that I really like the BetSoft 3D slots, some of those have some awesome features, too bad there don't seem to be any legit us-facing betsoft casinos.)

Anyway, too long/didn't read: Nope, not addicted, but yes, was spending too much on a hobby that doesn't give anything back, really.

 

[Mousey]

I mentioned back when I started the thread that I was definitely at the point where it was habit to have a casino open in the background on the computer, and that it was part of my routine to throw money away. Since then, I've reined that in. For me, it really is more of an expensive hobby than a problem. Cutting back on deposits hasn't been a big deal at all - since around Christmas I've deposited $100 instead of probably 700-800.

It was easy, so obviously that's good. I'm glad I started this thread, it really did make me assess the part of gaming that was fun and the part that was just something I did every day. And when you look at it that way - why the hell would anyone just toss money out the window if it's not fun? (Seriously, with the way my luck was running that's all I was doing.) At least land-based are fun even when you're down.

I do play free play/free chips pretty often, though - that seems to be a good reminder of how tight the slots are for me lately, rather than an enticement to play for real, but obviously I wouldn't recommend that for anyone that does have a legitimate problem. I really wouldn't recommend the free chip option, because as we all know, the generous free chip casinos are usually the shadiest ones, so I'd hate for someone to think their luck was running hot and deposit at one of them. (I have found that I really like the BetSoft 3D slots, some of those have some awesome features, too bad there don't seem to be any legit us-facing betsoft casinos.)

Anyway, too long/didn't read: Nope, not addicted, but yes, was spending too much on a hobby that doesn't give anything back, really.

Good for you! I'm in a similar situation.

I remember well how much fun it used to be (those of you who have begun online gambling since the UIGEA have no clue LOL) and current deposit/withdraw hassles and fees have totally changed what was once fun to a chore. We're in the negative before we even spin a reel or deal a hand of VP, and being restricted to (basically) one software and only 3 or 4 casinos all using the same software royally sucks. I'm now just about sick of RTG. No offense to our accredited casinos - I'm just tired of playing the same ol' same ol' and having no variety.

As for addiction.... A recent conversation with a fellow who wanted to talk while waiting in a doc's office (I don't know what it is... I take a book, I don't like talking to strangers, but there's always someone who feels compelled to reveal their soul to me -- the man talking to me hated any and all alcoholic beverages because they're addictive - he was there with his brother who had a bad liver and was an alcoholic)... as I told him... Yes, alcohol can be addictive, as can other things. But, there's a great deal of difference in a person wanting one more beer or highball and one who is needing one more beer or highball.

edited to add:
If anyone NEEDS that next spin, or maybe your gambling is out of control... check out the Quit Gambling link.

 

[mrmark21]

I think that having a budget and not going over is the most important thing of all.

Slots are fun, but they can quickly become the exact of opposite of what they are supposed to be when you're loosing, which is entertainment.

I like playing the slots, wouldnt play anything else, I know they have the highest house edge and that casinos love them because they are the biggest money makers... But I like playing them, so spend afternoons low rolling for hours (when I'm the only one at home) and don't go outside the budget which is generally $200 a week. That's playing all the platforms as well

Breaks are a good thing. You will know if you're hooked by taking a break

 

[Simmo!]

Breaks are a good thing. You will know if you're hooked by taking a break

Agree 100%. I am on one at the moment. Here's a tip I learned to help: before you take a break, identify what you are going to replace it with (in my case I bought some books on my favourite subjects from Amazon) then every time you would have gambled, do that instead.

Works for me anyway


PS. That's how I quit smoking too. Got a cheap step machine and put it by my desk. Instead of nipping out for a smoke, I did 100 steps and gradually ramped that up to 500 before I realised my knees were f*cked.

 

[mrmark21]

Agree 100%. I am on one at the moment. Here's a tip I learned to help: before you take a break, identify what you are going to replace it with (in my case I bought some books on my favourite subjects from Amazon) then every time you would have gambled, do that instead.

Works for me anyway


PS. That's how I quit smoking too. Got a cheap step machine and put it by my desk. Instead of nipping out for a smoke, I did 100 steps and gradually ramped that up to 500 before I realised my knees were f*cked.

My thoughts exactly Hard to take a break a habit without replacing it with something else. Gambling is habit forming, just another vice.

I've been playing video games. Not much different to slots though

 

[immortality]

Boredom is one of the reasons why most people gamble, this and loneliness, I had a 3 week break from playing recently, but slowly (I do mean slowly) I have deposited a little more than intended. I have realized this and I will not be spending as much as I did this week again.

I agree simmo, finding another subject or hobby that interests you just as much as gambling is the way to go, for me that would have to be a house move to where the most sexiest man alive is from (his name is Johnny)ahhh be still my bleeding heart :sob:

 

[hoff1985]

I would love to give my opinion to the whole case...

I'm only 28, but i've been through an interesting gambling career...

First of all: It was NEVER that critial that i wasn't able to pay my bills, but there were times, were gambling was the most important thing for me, and i deposited more and more, until i realized that i never cash out... I got once up to 18'000$ in a casino on the Playtech X-Men slot (always raising the bet, starting from 1$). But in the end i didn't cash out at 18'000, not at 10'000 and not at 100. At that point i realized that i will never win,b ecause i always continue to play.

I totally stopped for 1 year, and then i decided to try it again, since that moment it works well. I will definitaly not say that i'm not a "junkie" or a "crazy gambler" anymore, sometimes i do very stupid bet's, so i'm still 100% a gambler,but a controlled one.

I do only small deposits (but sometimes more often) and always when i reach a couple of hundred (starting at 200$ - 300$) i immediately flush it out or cash it out and continue with a couple of bucks...

I'm still crazy about every goddamn video slot on our planet, and if i just stay at home without any social programs i can't watch tv without having my ipad next to me and play some slots, but everything is controlled and casinos are not taking over my life, it's more of a crazy hobby that sucks a lot of time of course, but it's fun, i love it. And even if i lose some serious amounts sometimes, it's all calculated and i only play when i can afford it.

But if i would have never experienced that mind-changning moment when i blew 18'000$ and then made a break, i think i would never have been able to change...

That's my story

PS: I think 99% of gamblers are crazily addicted, otherwise we wouldn't do it again right? Because we know the odds. We would stop immediately after a big win, but we don't, because we want more and we love the sound of these cool slot machines ))

 

[nisosbar]

Agree 100%. I am on one at the moment. Here's a tip I learned to help: before you take a break, identify what you are going to replace it with (in my case I bought some books on my favourite subjects from Amazon) then every time you would have gambled, do that instead.

Works for me anyway

Personally, I have replaced much of that time with physical activity and exercise.

When I start on a diet/exercise regime, I start small, so as not to feel overwhelmed and hopeless. It typically will take me, initially, 30 minutes every other day. As I get stronger and lose weight, I expand that to 1 hour and then 2 hours - sometimes longer on nice days.

That's time spent on something healthy and productive which results in something that serves as a kind of life satisfaction multiplier, since good health is so basic to just about every other life metric. Rather than gambling, which is so much fun, but really not soul-affirming or at all vital to the body, mind or spirit.

I also give gaming its place - a fun diversion for a couple times a week.

 

[Simmo!]

I totally stopped for 1 year, and then i decided to try it again, since that moment it works well. I will definitaly not say that i'm not a "junkie" or a "crazy gambler" anymore, sometimes i do very stupid bet's, so i'm still 100% a gambler,but a controlled one.

I do only small deposits (but sometimes more often) and always when i reach a couple of hundred (starting at 200$ - 300$) i immediately flush it out or cash it out and continue with a couple of bucks.

Did you find that stopping for a year (well done by the way!) made it much easier to return to smaller bets? One of the things I've noticed is, as you start betting bigger, it's hard to go back. A break seems to do the trick for me, at least temporarily.

 

[hoff1985]

Did you find that stopping for a year (well done by the way!) made it much easier to return to smaller bets? One of the things I've noticed is, as you start betting bigger, it's hard to go back. A break seems to do the trick for me, at least temporarily.

Yes, totally. I mean it was hard in the beginning, because you're used to do big bets = big rewards... But after a year it felt so much easier to return to small bets (because the big bets were not directly in my mind because it was over a year ago i've played with them).

What is still very tough for me is to stay on the bets. I mostly do bets between 0.80 and 1.20$, sometimes when i really win a packet i go up to 2$ (rarely), but never more. And this is not always easy, but because i always flush everything out when i win over 200$ in short time, that always leaves me onyl between 30-90$ in my account and i just then continue with 1$ bets. If i would have 400-500$ in my account without cashing out i would probably play riskier. So i kinda have my own control system. Of course, sometimes i get weak and i bust out, but i think that is normal, most of the time i can stand strong, because i have too. I play OFTEN and A LOT, so i couldn't afford it if i just always chase the big wins and would never cash out "small victory's".

 

[immortality]

Did you find that stopping for a year (well done by the way!) made it much easier to return to smaller bets? One of the things I've noticed is, as you start betting bigger, it's hard to go back. A break seems to do the trick for me, at least temporarily.

I have noticed this too Simmo, my brother can't play any game under £1 bets, so I've tried to avoid playing any more than £1 a spin
(unless my balance soars over a certain amount with my initial deposit), I think it's more to do with the rush that you get when hitting those bigger wins whilst playing big bets, low rolling just doesn't cut it when these wins are experienced.

Gambling has never really been a problem for me, yes I will admit there were times I got carried away, I'm sure most will relate, but I haven't let it take over my life, I believe it's then and only then it becomes a problem.

 

[michielm1]

the most dangerous imo, is the fact that:
(first i sketch an average financial situation)
if you make for example 2500 euro before taxes, after all bills payed incl food for the month, gas in the tank, 50 clothes, 250 on the savings account for if something in the house or car breaks, and you have left 400 euro (probably about 250).

if you have the 400 euro cash in your hand, you know what you had to do to have this. this 400 euro you can spend on clubbing, dope, the mrs, vacations etc.
but you like to gamble... ok thats no problem, but if you buy something from this money in a store, you think wow i had to work a month to get this... better take good care of this.

put it in a casino and even if you're well up, you still piss it away... why... you dont see it as money anymore. you put it there and you already calculated it as a loss. so when you piss away a plus of your 400, you piss away 2 whole months of your hard work...

keep that in mind when you click that left mouse button

 

[mrmark21]

Did you find that stopping for a year (well done by the way!) made it much easier to return to smaller bets? One of the things I've noticed is, as you start betting bigger, it's hard to go back. A break seems to do the trick for me, at least temporarily.

I don't bet big, instead lowrolling for ages, but can speak for my sister when I say that a break made it much easier for her to return to smaller bets. We would go to the pub together and she would spend $200 every second day making $5 bets... She noticed how well I was doing with staying under a dollar (mostly coming out even) and started betting lower.