Gambling can get you drowing in debt

[jeffstrikesback]

One thing I would definitely advise is to not use credit cards if you go to the casino. The problem is not only with the gambling itself and the addiction that can happen, but that it is a very expensive habit.
I can testify that it can take only minutes to run through $100s of dollars. That is why I think nobody should ever use cash advances or even take credit cards to a casino should you ever go.
I am one of those people who use gambling in order to escape the regular day to day but have made a commitment that if I do find myself going, I will not take any credit cards with me.
Anybody else in this boat or had gambling run up their debt?

[justplaintired]

Nope not here, but my brother in law could easily get in trouble that way. I don't even think a Casino should be take a cc from someone who's gambling, for their room, but not for gambling. Here in Indiana you can't even buy a lottery ticket with anything but cash, no debit card, no cc, nothing but cash. Probably a good thing too. i don't gamble but DH does, not alot, but if he could have bought lottery tickets with a cc he probably would have.

[One Half Full]

I handicap horses. (Yes, me). I have never really put any money on any. 2 bucks maybe. For me it is fun and I am happy if I make 6 bucks on a dollar bet. I like Horse handicapping and consider it an art form. You really have to sit down and study it, not just "think" you have a shot. Handicapping takes a lot of years to do properly and I just started about 2 years ago, so I am no where near ready to bet on the big money races. It is a totally different kind of gambling than "casino" gambling. It is really depends on knowledge of racing and horses and so on. I like long shots, (of course) I would never bet on a favorite. Most of the times a favorite wins, so its a sucker bet. If I see the favorite on the morning line, and my own research confirms that no other horse has a chance, then I don't bet. Sometimes "Rags to Riches" wins. A long shot. She paid a lot. I imagine some people are hooked on it. Its a game to me, not a form of income.

On the other hand, I absolutely don't trust things like power ball. It is based on a computer running through a lot of numbers (I do play maybe 10-20 bucks per year just cause "it's fun"). Same with things like slots. I hate them. I went to a casino once and the guy I was with kept on giving me quarters and telling me to "give him luck." It was not logical. That's nutty. I dont believe in supernatural forces like "luck." It is a mechanical computer powered cylinder going around or something. I did not like it at all. Horses are actual living beings and some are faster than others. Its a totally different game. You make an educated guess and are either wrong or right. Luck is not even in the equation.

I like Poker a bit. And have won a few hands. I don't like big stakes game, just penny ante, or playing with beans or something. I won a lot one night, but it was just pennies.

[Flamingo]

Our state allows gambling and I have gone maybe 3 times during the past 10 years. Each time either breaking even or winning a bit. I can get up and walk out; many can't after they win something. A lot depends on whether or not you have an addictive personality.

All you have to do is look at a casino when you arrive or walk in and you realize it's not there because it loses money. It's glitz, glammer and noises suck you right in. What really turned me off was the History Channel back in January of this year doing a program on slot machines and how they are made. Do you know that each slot machine is programmed not to give out more than it takes in? It was all explained how that is done during the building process of the computers inside the machine. There is no hot or cold machine; it's all random amd computerized. You are basically throwing your money away. Our good friend's mother, who is in her 80's, lost over $20,000 last year at a casino and they keep sending her trash trinkets and freebies to keep her coming back. Legally they cannot stop her because she is of sound mind. She just got sucked up in the attention and glitz at the casino as many seniors do - it fills their time and takes their SS checks and savings. She keeps going and losing and the family has no way of controlling her money.

The best thing to do is avoid casinos or go now and then when you can spare losing some extra cash cause your odds are more for that than winning.

[WantToBeDebtFre]

Or the best thing is to have a wife that won't let you gamble all the money away

My husband wants to gamble on everything all the time. He asked me last week if he could play online. He wanted to play in a tournament so bad for real money but there is no way I would let him. He's lost money big time in the past playing online and there's no way I want that to happen again.

Why does he like to lose so much? I'm not a gambler so I'll probably never understand. It's probably because sometimes he does win quite a bit of money and he thinks he's ahead but I know he's really not.

[epiphany]

Or the best thing is to have a wife that won't let you gamble all the money away

My husband wants to gamble on everything all the time. He asked me last week if he could play online. He wanted to play in a tournament so bad for real money but there is no way I would let him. He's lost money big time in the past playing online and there's no way I want that to happen again.

Why does he like to lose so much? I'm not a gambler so I'll probably never understand. It's probably because sometimes he does win quite a bit of money and he thinks he's ahead but I know he's really not.

I like to play blackjack when I go to Vegas and am really quite good at it. At least, I know when to stay..etc. However, I will play cheap tables and either walk away 20 dollars down having played for several hours or like 40 dollars up. I get nervous after I win or lose a few bucks and don't want to lose so I get up from the table and try again later. Even if I lose the 20, it is worth it for the entertainment.

That was not the case when I first turned 21. I lost constantly cause I never got up from the table..I lost what was a lot to me at the time but I never lost a fortune...prolly only because I didn't have a fortune to begin with.

I go to Vegas about four times a year just for work now and sometimes don't even gamble at all...I'm just too tired.

ep

[Flamingo]

Or the best thing is to have a wife that won't let you gamble all the money away

My husband wants to gamble on everything all the time. He asked me last week if he could play online. He wanted to play in a tournament so bad for real money but there is no way I would let him. He's lost money big time in the past playing online and there's no way I want that to happen again.

Why does he like to lose so much? I'm not a gambler so I'll probably never understand. It's probably because sometimes he does win quite a bit of money and he thinks he's ahead but I know he's really not.

Lots of people have "addictive personalities" where they like to gamble, take risks, smoke, drink alcohol to excess, take drugs, drag race on the streets, just to name a few things. That does not mean the person is bad, it's the genetic line-up. Also, many people like to escape from daily reality by gambling and it can become addictive, especially with a big win. Some can stop there; others feel that there could be more and losing it all does not stop them - they have to continue for the thrill of the big win. Most average gamblers don't write down their wins and losses and they finally wake up when the family is ready to lose the house with all the borrowing they've done. You are aware ofo a problem on the rise; if you think it can become larger, now is the time to intervene. Thankfully you can see it; some family either doesn't see it, ignores it or because it is hidden from them until it is too late.

[One Half Full]

Lots of people have "addictive personalities" where they like to gamble, take risks, smoke, drink alcohol to excess, take drugs, drag race on the streets, just to name a few things.

You are right, and that addictive behavior can also be channeled into things other than "vices." You need an addictive personality to do anything that needs to be repeated again and again. The thrill gotten from gambling is caused by the same brain chemistry (seratonen) that causes anyone to do anything well. Most "work -aholics" know this to be the case.

Being addicted to "vices" is a totally different thing than being addicted to doing the best in your field. Taking, risks and smoking and drinking are also apples and oranges. Anyone who does something new, like starts a new business, or puts capitol into something, or creates a piece of writing or art is "a risk taker." If this were the case, then every sports figure, explorer entrepreneur, or creative artist is an addict.

[94mom]

At times too we all feel like if we could just win some money and take care of the debt life would be so much better. Or we "deserve" to win after all the financial issues we have been through. Unfortunately, in most cases we walk away broker than we were before we entered the place. Thats just my take.

[CATCHMEIFYOUCAN]

There are winners out there, you know! Sure, I admit, I'm an addict and I never got help when I filed BK - I never will. Now that the BK ordeal is over, I can definitely vouch that I am in more control than before. Just my 2 cents.

Catchmeifyoucan

[nkthen]

My advice is never even touch gambling. Gambling will slowly suck you in...