What have I lost besides money
Boy, what a thread! I wonder if I am wandering down the same path!
Gambling never interested me at all until I won two small jackpots in Vegas about twelve years ago. We made Vegas an annual trip and I would win some and lose some, but not to a great extent. Then when Biloxi got going and it was only eight hours away by auto, we would save the plane fare and go there. It didn't take long before we were being comp'd for everything and I would win some and lose some, had my favorite machines, but I always gambled more than I told my husband (or myself) I would. I was a frequent visitor to the ATM's. I went from cashing out immediately and pocketing the winnings to pocketing some and having a "let it ride" mentality with the rest, although in the winter of 2003 I walked away with enough to buy a new car which I am still driving. Of course with the tragedy down there we haven't been since last summer. The internet gaming is totally different. The first time I tried it years ago I won back what I lost after about two hours of play, cashed out and felt lucky to get out break-even. Two years later I became a member at Intercasino and with my first deposit of $90 and their $90 monthly matchplay I had Fat Cat up to $25,000 over the course of three days and two evenings. I ended up cashing out $15,000. That and more has all found its way back to the casino. Now I have trouble hitting the cashout button always thinking that I can build it back up to a big one. But back to the original question, what have I lost? Well, for one thing when I play the "games" in the evening on my laptop while we watch TV I have lost time that I could have put to better use. As far as why I gamble, I don't know. I don't have any other bad habits. I don't smoke, don't drink, never did any kind of drugs, don't have an eating disorder or anything like that. I just like to gamble. And the money I spend is my own money, and I don't have to feel guilty that I should be saving it to help parents or kids, because that isn't an issue for me. It's probably to beat bordom, and to "get away" with something that is my own little secret that doesn't hurt anyone but (maybe) me.
What I have learned here is that I'd better be very careful that it doesn't turn into an addiction, and for that I am truly grateful for everyone's posts.
I can go to the Hard Rock (Native American) casino in Tampa and be happy spending $50 - $100, win or lose, and the same on the gambling boats.
I never bet on anything but slots, and sometimes video poker. But the internet casinos are more addictive, not sure why. I am going to learn how to get all those extra bonuses that everyone talks about so I can play more with the casino's money than with mine. Thanks everyone for being so candid. You all gave me plenty to think about.