Advice on quitting gambling?

Quote: TIMSPEED

I would say I am hooked just as bad as you...
except I found the answer...
Video Poker..
I play STRICTLY video poker..and right now I only really play triple play SuperTimesPay for nickles. I can put in my "quota" for maintaining "Diamond" status (to get the perks I want) and still have a small edge OVER the house (might have a losing trip, MAYBE a losing month, but never a losing year)

I played the over 100% payback machines at Palace station last week and got creamed, I never got better than a full house. It is annoying to get killed on a + EV game.

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

It’s been nearly one month since I’ve done any gambling…not much to brag about, I know, but just wanted to encourage you and tell you that it is possible to take a breather and break the cycle. Good luck!

I think if you've gone a month that's awesome. See if you can make it to six weeks and see how you feel. I use to play a lot of online poker, 30+ hours a week easy. If I wasn't playing I was thinking about playing later. I took a break for a while and that kind of broke the strong desire to do it. I look back now and wonder what the big attraction was. Good luck.

Mark

Quote: minnesotajoe

I refuse to join GA or go to a GA meeting or self exclude myself from casinos. I would purchase literature, read online articles, watching movies/videos on gambling. Perhaps shared stories. Anything out there.

Buddy, this website is gamblers anonymous.

Sportsbook - I don't think this is rigged. You just picked a crappy game.

Horseracing - Yeah this is definitely rigged. I spoke to someone who use to work at the tracks helping the jockeys. He said the jockeys have money on the spreads and sometimes will throw a race. I still place a few bets, but only on my own strategies which have won more than they have lost over the life the strategy.

Craps - my dearest love, it is nothing but bitter sweet poison.

BJ - no hope here. Did you read my story about my bachelor's party gambling synopsis. How the heck do I win when I don't follow basic strategy and lose when I do. Probability and karma who knows....

Baccarat - annoys me. Go play a slot machine instead.

Poker - too many bad beats and bankroll is an issue.

I remember a couple of bad losses and I swore off gambling for months. Then I came back for some recreation. That's how you have to look at it. Recreational fun. If it's a profession, you'll hate it. All professional gamblers and crews hate gambling. It's a job and suppose to emotionless to be good at it.

There are ways to stop gambling. How about you give me all your excess money? That'll help you stop. You could lose it all in the casino. Or you could give it to me and I'll enjoy it. No wait that would be greedy. You can give it the WoV forum. Or hell, just lock up your money in bonds. You can let me gamble with your money too and I'll return you principal + interest, but only if I am up. =) <sorry devil on my shoulder talking again>

You need to find something else ti occupy your time and urges. Sports, women, fitness, home repair.....?

I hate to say it. Sometimes the best cure is just losing it all. You'll blame yourself for the stupidity. It takes a great tragedy to get through to some of us. Choose the less dramatic route.

Quote: TIMSPEED

I play STRICTLY video poker..

Recently, I've been playing STRICTLY high limit slots.

Gotta rethink that one ...

Quote: Asswhoopermcdaddy

You need to find something else ti occupy your time and urges. Sports, women, fitness, home repair.....?

I think I 'm gonna go with this one. Anything you really like to do besides gambling. Could even be a good, too good to put it down book ?

I've been going with women.. but only problem is that I take out girls that work at casinos (which I am trying to avoid.. I want a teacher so bad).. and these girls want to gamble at times... and other girls that I take out know that I work at casino.. and they want to try it out. So it's like... :/

There's nothing wrong with gambling. It's the losing that gets you.

Don't bet unless you have an edge, and everything will be fine.

You are correct the "losing" is the main part. However you not only can lose money but you also lose the "time" you could have spent elsewhere. Sometimes it probably doesn't matter but perhaps long term - whether it's with your family, on your job, or doing things you should have been doing - the side effects can be very sad.

I suspect there are many who can afford the money-side but it ruins their marriages or loses them their jobs.

There's nothing wrong with gambling per se - although some people might argue this - it's when it takes resources that you should be using elsewhere, money, time, health.

Re: charliepatrick- I've never considered the "time" aspect of gambling. I must admit you are 100% correct. You have made me re-examine my entire gambling career.

While gambling has provided enjoyment throughout my life, I wonder where, or what I would be if I never place a single bet?

Look at it from a cost/benefit point of view: is your gambling worth the cost?

Not just money, not just time, but also the loss of self control which many seem to suffer as gambling becomes their primary activity.

People in general like to exert control over their environment; when they lose the ability to control their own behavior, then confusion, desperation, and lying to oneself are the result.

Be honest: if you can't control your gambling, if you cannot discipline yourself, then your gamblling will likely gain control over you.

You'll have lost more than your money: you'll have lost your self respect.