Got any tips to avoid problem gambling?

[Simmo!]

Hi all

I'm preparing a section for my websites that provides online gamblers with information on how to avoid problem gambling. Aside from all the usual links to the obvious places, I'd welcome tips from anyone as to what measures they take to make sure gambling doesnt become a problem or for managing their gambling activities. Also interested in stories that warn of the hazzards and problems created when it becomes an issue.

I want to create the section as a serious of articles/first hand experiences and i'll be happy to credit you for any ideas/tips if you wish, or to put it up anonymously. If you're able to help out, drop me a PM.

Cheers,

Simmo!

 

[jetset]

Don't forget the G4 guys, Simmo - they're doing some good and progressive work in this field of responsible gambling.

 

[KasinoKing]

Very good idea Simmo!
I'm sure this is a serious problem for many people.

My own personal problem is there's not enough hours in the week for the level of gambling I'd like to do!
Luckily my missus is quite tolerant of it - especially if she's watching telly.
If only Eastenders was on EVERY day and was 5 hours long...

On a more serious note, I'd be happy to supply some material for your consideration of inclusion in your articles.

 

[Simmo!]

Very good idea Simmo!
I'm sure this is a serious problem for many people.

My own personal problem is there's not enough hours in the week for the level of gambling I'd like to do!
Luckily my missus is quite tolerant of it - especially if she's watching telly.
If only Eastenders was on EVERY day and was 5 hours long...

On a more serious note, I'd be happy to supply some material for your consideration of inclusion in your articles.

KK - definately..i'm particularly interested in you because of your history and even more than that, how you can keep your stakes low without chasing your losses. And not only enjoy it, but seemingly win regularly!

If only Eastenders was on EVERY day and was 5 hours long

Ah you and me both


Cheers

Simmo!

 

[Oebro]

Here's a tip for you:

Never ever look in the Winner Screenshots section!

- every time I do I feel the need to deposit some hundred $ and play slots at $45 a spin. Off course I don't since I'm a poor bastard. I only deposit $20 and play $0.45 a spin, and off course that will never give me a +$1000 win, so I always end up feeling my life is so disappointing

JK, but seriously, looking to much at winner screenshots can lead to problem gambling I believe.

 

[Simmo!]

JK, but seriously, looking to much at winner screenshots can lead to problem gambling I believe.

I agree Oebro. And especially when the Meister or Bing has just posted! Avoid! (It also stops you being physically sick with envy!) Just check it when KK has posted

 

[Simmo!]

Don't forget the G4 guys, Simmo - they're doing some good and progressive work in this field of responsible gambling.

Hmmm.."G4" - is that the half of the countries in the G8 that made gambling illegal JetSet

PM sent.

 

[KasinoKing]

KK - how you can keep your stakes low without chasing your losses. And not only enjoy it, but seemingly win regularly!

Hey - less of the 'seemingly'!

But you hit the nail on the head there:
1st rule of winning regularly - NEVER EVER chase your losses.

I'll start writing something for you - but time is a real problem at the moment. Might have something ready by July. Am on holiday for 2-weeks soon (no gambling ), with 4 days 'free' - might just take my new toy with me.
No, not my vibrator - my laptop!

 

[Vesuvio]

JK, but seriously, looking to much at winner screenshots can lead to problem gambling I believe.

I agree. I'm sure immediately after Bryan posts a big win the casinos do show a noticeable rise in their profits. I doubt they'd stoop as low as to "flick a switch" for him, but it would be in their interests to do so.

Simmo, this was a link I posted on another thread, in case you missed it. I think BBC news has a few "problem gambling" stories. Obviously gamcare is one site to link to.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

 

[johnsteed]

JK, but seriously, looking to much at winner screenshots can lead to problem gambling I believe.

Yup...

Funny thing is, over the past while (EXCEPT for the past 2 weeks), I've been doing much better myself, completely overhauling whatever wasn't working for me over the past couple of years. Funny enough, I always skipped over the winner screenshots up until the past couple of weeks. It was starting to dictate my gameplay, and chasing those big wins has totally thrown me off my stategy. After todays hit (nothing huge, but $175 no less), for my own benefit, I'm going to be ignoring that thread (even if it's VERY tempting to look at).

I read about the other posters who are poking fun at KK's style of play, but I firmly believe in that turning a consistent profit, you have to go low (or rather, a very low percentage in regards to your overall bankroll). Build your bankroll, make records, and don't lose sight of your personalized strategies. I think that with KK sticking with low bets, it's much easier (well, not always if you're looking at others BIG wins) to stay in control and not get overly greedy. Personally, I'm still learning this art.

 

[johnsteed]

And especially when the Meister or Bing has just posted!

Aaarrrrgggghhh!! The absolute horror of having to go through +126 pages loaded with their wins. And then to go to 32Red today, and get slaughtered on the Power Video Poker... That's it, break out the Grand Cru Chateaux '56... I need a pick-me-up, where's Mrs. Peel?

 

[Simmo!]

I need a pick-me-up, where's Mrs. Peel?

Not in South Korea thats for sure

Actually I'm as interested in players strategies as anything. Its going to be a fairly detailed section so strategies, advice, stories, even information on session timings, cashout targets etc - anything you think will be of interest.

Thanks to those who have been PM'ing me and Emailing...some very interesting links. Also interested in players "take" on how they would decide if they had a problem or not.

Cheers

Simmo!

 

[Vesuvio]

Actually I'm as interested in players strategies as anything. Its going to be a fairly detailed section so strategies, advice, stories, even information on session timings, cashout targets etc - anything you think will be of interest.

I'd personally go for replacing it all with a huge pink "DON'T GAMBLE" sign modelled on the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but it might not help with the affiliate income

Seriously, I think trying to completely avoid gambling would be best for most people with a problem. It's hugely difficult to gamble "sensibly" (an oxymoron?) and not chase losses, even for the non-addicted.

The alternative would be to introduce them to bonus hunting. I know a lot of bonus hunters started out with a gambling problem, but when you get used to the grind of bonuses you're less likely to go on tilt & have a better understanding of how casinos work (i.e. the player loses without the bonus!). You can become addicted to making money instead of gambling & the boredom is generally a good thing (KK's the only person I know who manages to combine bonus whoring with having fun :notworthy ). But it is still playing with fire...

 

[caruso]

Here's a tip for you:

Never ever look in the Winner Screenshots section!

That may qualify as the single best piece of advice I've ever read here. Quite superb.

 

[caruso]

Actually I'm as interested in players strategies as anything.

OK, so you want to set up an ostensible "problem gambling" page - but fill it with "winning strategies" BS?? Get the GA candidates a-clickin', then fill 'em with crap about how they can identify "trends" and "patterns", and learn how to recoup their losses?

Fah. Big brownie-points bust out on this one, Simmo.

If you want a "problem gambling" page, I can write it for you.

But methinks you wouldn't like what I'd write.

 

[caruso]

I'd personally go for replacing it all with a huge pink "DON'T GAMBLE" sign modelled on the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but it might not help with the affiliate income

Biiiiinnnngooooo.

 

[Simmo!]

OK, so you want to set up an ostensible "problem gambling" page - but fill it with "winning strategies" BS?? Get the GA candidates a-clickin', then fill 'em with crap about how they can identify "trends" and "patterns", and learn how to recoup their losses?

Fah. Big brownie-points bust out on this one, Simmo.

If you want a "problem gambling" page, I can write it for you.

But methinks you wouldn't like what I'd write.

Caruso...I think possibly you are confusing "gambling strategy" with "game strategy", the latter of which i am not interested in on this. You honestly thought i was going to suggest that a potential "problem gambler" should play a particular slot to recoup their losses???!!!!!! Give me some credit!

What i'm trying to do is to categorise the advice. There are people who have problems yes. But there are also people who are already headed for problems and people who could develop problems. There are also those that can balance their enjoyment of gambling with their willpower. People from the former two categories could possibly fit into the latter with the advice of others and maybe a gambling strategy. What I am trying to do is provide some sort of 3rd party direction for each category.

Personally, I've got my own "gambling" strategy whereby i can enjoy it without ever reaching into the money i cant afford to gamble with. It involves having several things in place (two bank accounts, one debit card, restricted online banking, specific casinos that have done things i've requested etc) first, but it works for me. I'll write it up for the site.

Incidentally, has anyone told you how rude you can come across sometimes? I follow that you didn't fully understand my post, but either way, if you have nothing constructive to contribute, why post at all? The title of the thread is quite clearly "Got any tips to avoid problem gambling?". If the answer is "no", then fine, but why waste your time trying to antagonise people?

Cheers

Simmo!

 

[bing]

Best advice really is Dont Gamble. I have posted some nice screenshots in the Winner Thread, but you also need to remember with big wins come even bigger loses. I am sure I am overall down much much more between gambling in Vegas and gambling online then I have ever won. Just play within your means and be satisified with your wins. Your not going to win $10,000 off a $2.25 bet but your not going to have the $15,000-$50,000 loss that comes when betting $45 a spin or playing $5 coin video power poker. So keep your expectations in check with the amount you are playing and never ever play above your means.

 

[Simmo!]

Best advice really is Dont Gamble.

Thats the obvious advice and for some, should possibly be a goal. But if someone turned to me and said "Don't Gamble" and walked off, that isn't going to work. It needs a lot more than that IMHO.

Plus it may not necessarily be what's required. Its possible to gamble and have fun without running into debt or social issues.

So keep your expectations in check with the amount you are playing and never ever play above your means

Thats more like it. But all an "addicted" gambler will hear is "bleurgh bleurgh bleurgh"

I'm trying to go a bit beyond the "common sense" approach here and i need info/experiences/ideas etc to present it properly so it may have some effect. Every gambling website and their dog says "dont gamble more than you can afford" etc etc. Just needs something a bit different and a bit more interesting to present it i feel.

 

[caruso]

And bingo, Bing.

Simmo: if you want a gamblers' problem page, what you do NOT stock it with is loads of frills and spills and funny stories about gambling. That is the absolute last thing you want. You want a big, fat sign which says "Do not gamble", repeated everywhere, links to gamblers' help sites and lots of smart advice of what to do and what NOT to do, preferably from past problem gamblers and how much they lost.

You do NOT want the Hood3000 System and "money management", cashout out targets, stop-losses and other John Patrick-style nonsense.

And you want more stuff like this - you hear it? I can probably get my hands on a copy of the show if you want:

Link Removed (invalid URL)

Superb and tragic stuff about what gambling does to people. Stick that on your site, I dare you.

Sorry if I come across as harsh, but system tosh always gets my hackles up.

 

[Simmo!]

And bingo, Bing.

Simmo: if you want a gamblers' problem page, what you do NOT stock it with is loads of frills and spills and funny stories about gambling. That is the absolute last thing you want. You want a big, fat sign which says "Do not gamble", repeated everywhere, links to gamblers' help sites and lots of smart advice of what to do and what NOT to do, preferably from past problem gamblers and how much they lost.

That's what i was asking for in post #1 (although the "big fat sign" bit in moderation and as a "suggestion/option" rather than a "command").

You do NOT want the Hood3000 System and "money management", cashout out targets, stop-losses and other John Patrick-style nonsense.

Yes - i stated that above when i differentiated between "game strategies" and "gambling strategies".

And you want more stuff like this - you hear it? I can probably get my hands on a copy of the show if you want:

Link Removed (invalid URL)

Superb stuff about what gambling does to people. Stick that on your site, I dare you.

Sorry if I come across as harsh, but system tosh always gets my hackles up.

I read this earlier and did "dare" to stick it on my site earlier today - well a link to it. Although i should add that I feel its typically negative in the way that gambling journalism tends to be. But this is the sort of thing I'm after.

PS. What made me laugh was the bit at the end where he pulled a roulette number up for a lucky punter who won 200 on air.

Sorry if I come across as harsh, but system tosh always gets my hackles up.

Maybe it does, but that's no reason to disrespect other people you don't even know. Apology accepted - "must try harder" in future

 

[Simmo!]

Oh by the way, Vesuvio, thanks for the BBC link. I saw that this morning and it's actually what prompted this idea in the first place funnily enough

 

[KasinoKing]

Hmmm.. opened a can of worms here, Simmo!

This is a very tricky subject.
Just saying 'Don't gamble' to people simply wont work IMO.
I have a gambling 'problem' - I know I do.
I gamble online just about every single day of the year. (Just done 5 hours!)
I can't stop myself. Every day when I get home form work the first thing I want to do is turn my PC on and start playing.
But the thing is - I do profit from it. It is hard, but with self control I really do make profit 9 out of every 10 months.
Regarding the comments in above posts about my 'style' - they are all spot on. After 4-years I still only play minimal bets. Why? Because I hate losing! My target each and every month is not to win big - it is just to not lose.
If I spend 100hrs gambling in a month and come out with $5 profit I am very happy, if I've lost $5 I'm extremely pissed off!
All people like you and I can do is give advice and support - whether people take any notice of it is completely beyond our control.
I'm not a preacher, but please everyone - just be careful and have fun!

 

[elscrabinda]

A start to reducing problem gambling would be for affiliates to not gush all over a 'fantastic' casino saying how great it is, making it sound so much better than any other casino and publishing the poisonous garbage that comes out from casino publicity departments. Show me an affiliate who's not guilty of these things and I'll believe them when they say they want to reduce problem gambling.

Any time I've seen affiliate sites deal with the issue of problem gambling it is simply done to reassure all their addicted punters that because their losses aren't as big as the real sad cases featured, they must be ok.

 

[nafanny29]

1. Online casinos win... 2. good bonus hunters win.. who loses?? 3.the poor sod who hasnt got the capabilty, knowledge or skill to win. and no.3 covers no.1 and no.2 ten times over.