Poll
6 votes (8.45%) | |||
3 votes (4.22%) | |||
8 votes (11.26%) | |||
10 votes (14.08%) | |||
5 votes (7.04%) | |||
4 votes (5.63%) | |||
19 votes (26.76%) | |||
6 votes (8.45%) | |||
7 votes (9.85%) | |||
3 votes (4.22%) |
71 members have voted
I've been playing craps every day now for over five years except when going out of town. And by every day, I typically play at multiple tables multiple times per day.
IE: I play a LOT of craps. I think the most number of simultaneous days I have actually physically been in Vegas without playing the game is MAYBE two. Usually I play at LEAST once every 8 waking hours. And frequently I play for an hour every four to five hours.
A couple of people have told me that they think I have a problem (just two people, really, but they are close to me), and so I'm going to do an experiment to see what happens when I try to quit playing cold turkey. To be clear, I'm not trying to deal with what I think is a gambling problem, just trying an experiment to see how long I can go without playing craps is all.
I have no idea how long this will last, but I will keep my status updated until the first time I play again. I'm curious who can guess how long I will last. I am going to do my best to not play as long as possible, but I have a serious craps habit, and I have no IDEA how long this will last.
I don't like any other games, but this only applies to craps, and not to other gambling. I will update if I play other games, but I'm saying now that other gambling is not the goal. It's just craps I'm going to try to quit playing for a while.
Quote:You won't last even a day 1 vote (100%)
...was that your vote?
Quote: DrawingDeadNo opinion, but if you don't mind me asking...
...was that your vote?
Votes are private. I don't know who made that vote.
Fair enough; with it being the first one up there, I wondered if you might have just cast a tongue-in-cheek possibly part joking vote against yourself.Quote: AhighVotes are private. I don't know who made that vote.
And I wouldn't know enough to even begin to form an opinion about what you should or will do.
The biggest net effect of me not playing for an extended period of time would be time that I could allocate to more productive tasks and possibly less time spent fooling around on this website and with other gamblers with idle talk of money changing hands. This website does compete with unproductive time spent gambling, and both are probably equal in negative effects on my productivity in general.
At this moment, however, I have no plans to stop posting on this website or to stop thinking about the game of craps or even playing free craps simulators or whatever else. Just real money real craps at real tables is all.
Quote: Ahigh
A couple of people have told me that they think I have a problem (just two people, really, but they are close to me), and so I'm going to do an experiment to see what happens when I try to quit playing cold turkey. To be clear, I'm not trying to deal with what I think is a gambling problem, just trying an experiment to see how long I can go without playing craps is all.
Good luck to you. I'm pretty sure more than a couple of people have mentioned that you might be doing things that will affect other parts of your life negatively. Spend more quality time with family and friends and hopefully your life will fulfill itself without the need for gambling.
ZCore13
Quote: sodawaterdoes this include the craps table in your house?
While it doesn't, I don't expect to be playing at home any more than I do now (which is about 4 hours total this year -- and that was just me dealing to my little boy and wife not playing myself).
Quote: BuzzardNot gonna vote. Just saying you should be spending more time with "YOUR WOMAN" and the kids. REALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been spending plenty of time with the wife and kids, but your thoughts are appreciated. Kelly and I have been watching HBO-GO frequently, and I've been attending Tony's hockey games. He is actually quite good at hockey (not my biological son: I was never any good at sports at all).
I might just play a game we're working on at the office here instead for lunch. We have a couple that are getting quite fun.
Which explains why you're not good at craps. j/kQuote: AhighI was never any good at sports at all).
Clearly you find craps play "compelling."
Approach this as you would quitting smoking: cold turkey, using will power.
Just to see if you can.
But I know what you're talking about. When I was working at Red 5 Studios, that was where it was the most obvious that there is a conflict of interest being someone who is a hard-core MMO player (IE: you dedicate ALL of your time to the game) versus you need some time to actually do productive things as well.
MMO's are sort of a weird variety where you are judged in many ways by how much time you devote to your play versus other games.
Red 5 Studios was an MMO company that was started by former Blizzard employees who worked on World of Warcraft. I was the most senior engineer at the company at the time that I left. They are still announcing that the game will be released soon, and all the original members that were there before me are gone except for the current CEO who was hired a few days before me (forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't think so).
FWIW I do hope they are worth something some day as I paid about $8,000 just to exercise my stock options in the company when I left. I have no idea if that stock will ever be worth anything though.
I never related to playing MMO's and I was never an MMO player. Half the reason I had to leave was just for lack of dedication to the genre of MMO games. I had no interest in MMO's. I played a while just to try to "understand" the MMO gamer, but I was never an MMO gamer myself.
With craps, the game is the most affordable game of pure chance there is. All games of pure chance have to be negative EV, otherwise they are no longer games of pure chance. Craps has stood the test of time for quite a while. My fascination with the game should not be that perplexing in my opinion. It's an awesome game for a gambler who wants to just take risks for fun.
I normally play after work too. Working through lunch was pretty easy. It's weird people think I'll either not last one day or I will last a week.
I have no idea how long I will last, really. I figured I could make it through lunch, which I did.
I have NO IDEA if I will start jones'n hard because I never really tried to stop before. LOL. I have plenty of games to play for free though if it's really just entertainment. I haven't played any games yet, just been wasting time on this forum and working. so far to fill in the gaps.
I have gone for vacation for a few days, and I usually do play as soon as I get back. So it will be interesting to see how this is going in a few days.
Quote: BozI never judge so you do whatever you feel is right. Best wishes in whatever decisions you make.
I do judge. If you actually want to quit, it should be easy. I voted six months... If I'm wrong, then you actually didn't want to quit.
Quote: FinsRuleI do judge. If you actually want to quit, it should be easy. I voted six months... If I'm wrong, then you actually didn't want to quit.
Yeah, this isn't a result of my thinking that I have a gambling problem. Other people have expressed that to me, but I don't think I have a problem! But I do want to know how long I can go without playing craps. I may have an addiction to the game of craps and/or to attempting to skillfully throw the dice that is independent of gambling! But I honestly don't think I have a gambling problem.
If I'm more addicted to the throwing aspect, I will likely begin to play at home again. I've stopped playing at home at all.
We'll see. If I start gambling on some other game, that would be a hint. I have no urges to go to the casino except to play craps at this point. There's no question I want to play the game, but it's not about gambling, I don't think.
Rather than thinking of quitting cold turkey, maybe cut the expectation down to just getting through a day at a time. Or, maybe just say you'll play only once or twice a week, and have those times more or less scheduled. Craps, like any gambling, can be addictive & I'm very aware of that. Right now, I have to make gambling trips, which limits my time at tables. I go once a month, now, because that's all I can basically afford. But, on those trips I'll play 8 sessions. If I had a casino across the street, I'd limit my play to, like, 2 sessions/week.
I'd have to. Put some limits on your play, limits you think you can live with. That way, you can still play some craps & feel free of excessive play. IOW, a sense of self-control. I don't think "all or nothing" is the way to go.
I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to gambling. I don't think it's a problem because I gamble for extremely low stakes and it doesn't affect my home life.
Is every addiction a problem? I don't know...
Anyway my vote is 3 days IF you are a junkie or addicted, you can make it 3 days, then......
I hope I'm wrong.
Not only are you not going to quit, but you don't even want to quit. I know some people think a public statement, promise or discussion, will be the thing that 'forces' them to quit. But the problem is you cannot be 'forced' or shamed into quitting. If you really want to quit something, regardless of what it is, that is a decision involving only yourself and it is a discussion in which you are the only participant that really matters. It's not a discussion, nor poll, for a public message board. But regardless, I sincerely hope you find what you are searching for, Ahigh.
Quote: NokTangThere is no such thing as losing the addiction. I quit for some 13 years and sure enough, once a casino was within easy reach there I was. It's an addiction you will have to live with the rest of your life. You can as I did quit, even forever. But it's there and you simply have to have the willpower to avoid the temptation. Good luck.
I would argue that if you don't do something for 13 years, that you aren't addicted to that thing.
Quote: FinsRuleI would argue that if you don't do something for 13 years, that you aren't addicted to that thing.
Tell that to the former heroin users / junkies and hard core alcoholics who, having finally stopped, now attend NA and AA regularly to fight the urge to use / drink.
Quote: MrVTell that to the former heroin users / junkies and hard core alcoholics who, having finally stopped, now attend NA and AA regularly to fight the urge to use / drink.
I would say those people are former addicts who are worried about becoming addicted again...
Quote: FinsRuleI would say those people are former addicts who are worried about becoming addicted again...
Actually, that is an addict in remission.
http://www.asam.org/for-the-public/definition-of-addiction
"Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission."
PLaying craps is like anything else in life, there are times when to much is to much.
If you like golf and you play 36 holes today and that is fun, then again tomorrow and that
is fun, you do it everyday, maybe it is not as much fun.
I understand you play alot and at many different places per day, i could not do that, if i tried i would
quit the game in a week. Not saying you lose more than you should, that is your business and i am not
saying lose more often than you win , but when a person has bad days, i think going to a number of casino's
with the same affect would drive me batty. When i was out there in February, i had two bad days in a row,
and i think i played at maybe 5 places total. I had to quit for several days.
I play at one place, try to get a handle ont he table, the dice and my shot for the day, if it works ok, if not
i go back home and relax.
I give you credit for wanting to play so much, but you may be placing an awful lot of pressure on yourself.
My playing partner here plays 8-12 hours a day when he plays and it may be 3 days in a row, When it goes
badly, he is a wreck, his shot is a wreck and he loses a ton.
Take a break, and take care of yourself so you can enjoy this game again.
Dicesetter
Quote: AhighYeah, this isn't a result of my thinking that I have a gambling problem. Other people have expressed that to me, but I don't think I have a problem! But I do want to know how long I can go without playing craps. I may have an addiction to the game of craps and/or to attempting to skillfully throw the dice that is independent of gambling! But I honestly don't think I have a gambling problem.
If I'm more addicted to the throwing aspect, I will likely begin to play at home again. I've stopped playing at home at all.
We'll see. If I start gambling on some other game, that would be a hint. I have no urges to go to the casino except to play craps at this point. There's no question I want to play the game, but it's not about gambling, I don't think.
With all due respect... This is what you said. "I am going to TRY to take a break from playing. Yesterday I was advised not to play and I ignored the advice and lost a large sum of money playing craps. It put me in a bad mood to lose this money even though I tried my best not to let it affect me, and I realized that I let this loss negatively affect myself and other people around me. Today, I'm still sore about this loss, and other people are not talking to me as a result of the sequence of events unfolded after this happened".
You do have a problem. Again, im not attacking you just trying to make you see there is a problem here. You have started on the right path. I think. Im not a medical doctor, LMFT, MA, PHD or even a dds! I want you to succeed. Be strong. You wont go to a casino and play for no money! will you? (Not that you can anyway) Admit you have a gambling problem maybe only with craps. For now. Next month or next year it might be 21 or slots I don't know. You already have admitted you have something going on. From my heart, I wish you the best. You can do it but it will be a battle to do this yourself. It has been done before so go for it. As I said before I give it til the affect of "losing the LARGE sum of money" wears off. A week, month or a year but you will be back to the tables unless you get outside help. My opinion only.
Well I have an addiction to candy but so far I've managed to go cold for 2+ weeks. I will try to keep it going.
I went to see Vince and asked him for some food at the Mexican Restaurant (Mi Casa) he said, "sure no problem, how much?" I said "twenty five." He wrote me up and I went and had steak, chicken, and shrimp fajitas with a virgin margarita. I tipped $5/20% for the tab bringing my cost for the visit to $2.
I then went and watched people play craps, but I didn't play at all. I watched for maybe thirty minutes. Jordan was playing, Paul, Suzie, Carlos, Lisa, and Marc were dealing. Some new player was playing too who learned on bubble craps. Diana was on box when there was someone on box.
I still don't feel that I have a problem at all. I read all the responses on here and I must admit that I don't feel like any of it applies to me at all. I had no problems watching and not playing.
Buzzard pointed out that I could be spending more time with my family. I wanted fajitas and I skipped lunch to go to Happ Controls. But I could have done better if I had gone to see my step-son play hockey I suppose. They have pizza over there, and I wasn't really feeling like eating pizza so much. So that was part of the equation too. But I know Buzzard would be saying I should have spent the time with my family. They will be home in a few minutes though.
I don't anticipate any problems making it to the 24-hour point. That's 5/40 or 12.5% that will have guessed wrong if I make it that far. Most people felt I would make it that long though, and I've gone a day before no problem.
We'll see how far I get!
It's staying away at a particular moment. That moment is when every rationalization of why it's okay to go ahead and do something that you pledged to stop doing is working to overcome your will.
If a demon were manifested at such a moment, he's not yelling, "Do it do it!", he's whispering quietly "Why not, my friend?"
Of course, I'm just talking about cigarettes which I quit 10 years ago.
Quote: AhighAs far as addictions, I do have an addiction to sodas and sugar. That's for sure. And I would definitely benefit from stopping that, and that would definitely be much harder than stopping my craps playing habits.
Why not at least attempt to quit both?
Quitting something that no. 1) you enjoy and no. 2) you do a lot of must be super hard for anybody so I have sympathy with your plight but I do say this.....
If you feel like you are just going through the motions and not fully investing yourself into your play, why do it at all? Just try and not got o casinos AT ALL for maybe 1 week, see if it gets easier or harder and move on from there.
Sodas and sugar, now that is harder as almost everything has some form of sugar inside.....just be strong and try to look the other way when your family might have a sugary beverage.
All the best to you!
Now that is a statement of truth if i ever heard one.
dicesetter
Ahigh, like you could not eaten on the way, or brought something in. I know I have no right to say it, but that has never stopped me. When I read that I thought of Face and his son.
What the F*** were you thinking ????????????????????????????????????
Quote: MrVTell that to the former heroin users / junkies and hard core alcoholics who, having finally stopped, now attend NA and AA regularly to fight the urge to use / drink.
As a Chief Shop Steward, I saw all sorts of people lose their jobs to addictions. I mean go from making 80K a year to trying to get a minimum wage job. High school education at best, and trained in Telecommunication, but limited opportunities outside that world, and usually blackballed within. I mean you lose a CWA job and hiring people know you got fired for cause. To be honest you have to fire yourself at AT&T or local Telco.
Management had to dot every i and cross every t., They miss a step and back to square 1. As for addictions, Josie and I had a friend name Bo who lived in our basement for a year. 40+ years old, and fighting a drug addiction. Broke up with a GF because she drank one night a week. Great mechanic, landed a job at a dairy repairing diesels, bough a jeep, I mean I was sure he would make it. As sure as I could be.
A year later busted for selling drugs. lost job. living in a motel in East Colfax Avenue. AHIGH has a tuff road to travel. Hope he makes it. Added him to my prayer list. I know, I know, but just in case there is a God.