Am I addicted? Are you?
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33 members have voted
For many years, I have visited Vegas. One to four times a year or so. But, for the past 2 years or so, I have been going to Vegas about nine times each year. Flying from Cali, which is easy. Yes, comped flights, rooms and food I have been lucky (or skill) and have won 15 out of 18 trips. Play their game of 4 hours a day give or take and really treat it as a business. Very aware of money management and never chase. I also see shows, go out for fine dining, walk the shops, golf, swim etc (Yes, I am blessed) NEVER do these trips interfere with work Family or social events. Oh, im a GREAT single Dad with a 6 year old. (15 days a month)
I would never lose the mortgage or anything close. I take what I can afford to lose ONLY! Craps only. Not going to throw money away at other table games. Not interested Cali casinos at all. No sports betting either. (In Cali)
Last trip was New Years and I just cant get my mind off it. (Ready to go again) Maybe because it was a few days ago or maybe because I am addicted? What do you think? Do you take trips like this? If lucky enough and able, would you take trips like this? But, big question is Am I addicted? Are you addicted? In general, Is this a problem?
I know many AP's that are addicted, lucky for them they play positive EV games. In my case I know 100% I'm not addicted, I wish, I was,(ok, probably not) I would put more time in and make more money. I can go months and not play or gamble on anything without giving it a second thought. I hate losing more then I like winning.Quote: mdsAddicted?
For many years, I have visited Vegas. One to four times a year or so. But, for the past 2 years or so, I have been going to Vegas about nine times each year. Flying from Cali, which is easy. Yes, comped flights, rooms and food I have been lucky (or skill) and have won 15 out of 18 trips. Play their game of 4 hours a day give or take and really treat it as a business. Very aware of money management and never chase. I also see shows, go out for fine dining, walk the shops, golf, swim etc (Yes, I am blessed) NEVER do these trips interfere with work Family or social events. Oh, im a GREAT single Dad with a 6 year old. (15 days a month)
I would never lose the mortgage or anything close. I take what I can afford to lose ONLY!
Last trip was New Years and I just cant get my mind off it. (Ready to go again) Maybe because it was a few days ago or maybe because I am addicted? What do you think? Do you take trips like this? If lucky enough and able, would you take trips like this? But, big question is Am I addicted? Are you addicted? In general, Is this a problem?
Only you can tell whether you're addicted or not.
Do you "want" to go, or do you "have" to go?
Are you reading bedtime stories and mentally there with your kid, or is your mind drifting to the shuffle and deal?
Do you find the idea of gambling to pervade your mind throughout the day?
You won't find the answer of whether or not your addicted here. I suggest reflection and introspection. Forget the consequences or how well you are or are not doing with your habits, that can disguise a potential problem. Just pay attention to yourself. The answer should become self evident with a little peek into yourself.
Quote: mdsI have been lucky (or skill) and have won 15 out of 18 trips.
If you had lost 15 would you still be so enthusiastic?
Doubtful. Going 9 times a year isn't an addiction, IMO.
3 times a week, yeah. I see the same people at my
local casino whenever I go. Those people are addicted.
Quote: teddysYeah, you are probably almost certainly addicted but you seem to have it under control enough that it won't be that much of a problem. Just be aware that you can fuck up things royally if you lose control and/or things go bad.
Totally agree, which is why I suggest figuring it out and addressing things now, while the grass is still green and the birds are still chirping.
Many addicts are completely fine. That is, until they're not. And then shit gets real ugly, real fast.
People tend to put additions in a box. There are so many different levels of addiction and everyone is different.Quote: odiousgambitThe test for you might be whether or not you still gamble if some of the issues you mention become reality; but you find you cant' quit. This might be as a result of not being able to gamble at the old levels, but needing to increase substantially how much you are betting and going on a losing streak, then trying to chase losses.
Addicted? Although I have always had a dislike for casinos, I have spent a lot of time in them. I go from my car to the blackjack table and back to the car as quickly as I possibly can, hopefully with a win. I don't walk around, I don't watch games for the sake of watching and I seldom eat there. No, I'm not addicted.
When the addiction starts to get in the way of paying bills or being a parent or whatever, is when it becomes a "Problem".
There's a difference between an addiction and a problem addict. As long as you don't cross that line - and know where the line is - it's not a problem.
Quote: 1BB
Addicted? Although I have always had a dislike for casinos, I have spent a lot of time in them. I go from my car to the blackjack table and back to the car as quickly as I possibly can, hopefully with a win. I don't walk around, I don't watch games for the sake of watching and I seldom eat there. No, I'm not addicted.
the way you said that, You sound like a recovering drug addict LOL
Quote: AxelWolfthe way you said that, You sound like a recovering drug addict LOL
Ha ha. No, I just don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from casinos. My wife and I have met some addicts in conjunction with our volunteer work and we never would have known by their appearance. I sympathize with them, especially the veterans.
If you date a woman and end up thinking about her alot. and want to see her often, are you "addictied"?
So you have gone to vegas 9 times a year.......big deal...that is not an addiction. That is just you wanting to go to a place that you enjoy and win money at the same time. If you lost everytime you went there....you would say "screw these free rooms and flights...i am paying for it with my loses". All of a sudden it wouldnt be an "addiction"
You have california casinos close by....and you have discipline enough to stay away...an "addict" would find something cool about the ca casinos/
Doesnt sound like an "addiction"
Now it can turn into one.....dont get me wrong.
But people who long to get on a plane and get away from their hum drum life....and go to vegas and pamper themselves with shops and fine dining, and gambling.....THAT is a normal reaction to a carrot waived in front of your face by the casino.
Your post indicates that your "hobby" does not interfere with your personal life - as a father and provider. Much like myself, you take only what's earmarked for gambling and do not dip into funds that are designated for other essentials. As long as you're having fun, not losing money that is essential for other obligations, and it's not detracting from your ability to live a fulfilling and productive life, I don't see any problem with it.
Everyone needs a hobby, and many males that I know of have equally or more expensive hobbies - boats, cars, hunting, fishing, etc.
My two cents worth...
However a reak addiction involves consequencest to your body should you be without the addicting item
So a drug addict may have mental issues like insomnia, depression, or physical issies like tremors, stomach pain, headaches when the addicting item is withheld.
Its funny, even in hollywood the word "addiction" has become so fashionable. Some guy gets caught cheating on his wife...and all of a sudden its not his fault....he has a medical condition....he is a "sex addict. He goes to the sex addict clinics that seem to be available nowadays to the hollywood elite. Allowing the guy to avoid giving up half his possessions to a wife claiming infidelity.
If you cant concentrate or do you job because gambling is on your mind, and you give up your precious time with your child to select gambling instead....then you have an issue. But I read nothing to indicate real addiction.
1. It doesn't matter how many trips you have won on; it matters how much you are up or down. Depending on your betting patterns, it is not difficult to be up for most trips, but to be down a bunch total.
2. You are playing craps. That is a -EV game. That means that if you are ahead, you are just lucky. You will eventually lose it all, and then some. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you understand it. If you just say it, but deep down you think that you will keep winning, you may have a problem.
3. As long as you understand that you are playing a game that you can't beat in the long term, it's just a matter of how you spend your entertainment budget. If you'd rather spend it at a craps table than spend it to lie on a beach in Hawaii, I don't see anything wrong with that. Different people enjoy different things.
As for whether or not you're addicted -- that's not really well-defined. It's not a medical condition like cancer, which you either have or you don't, and can be verified with medical tests. It's generally defined by the effect that it has on your life. In short, if it's not a problem, you're not addicted. If it's a problem and you still can't stop, then you're addicted.
BTW, I go to Vegas about as often as you do, also flying in from Cali. I get everything comped and have a good time while I'm there. I don't have a wife or kids and my income situation is pretty good, so my tolerance for short-term swings is quite high, and I know the house edge of all the games I play, and I know how much I play, so I have a pretty good idea of what my long-term losses will look like. I'm happy with that number as an entertainment budget, so I just go there and have fun and don't worry about it.
Quote: LarrySpeople use the word addiction ...such as "i am addicted to chocolate".
.
The word addiction is way over used. As soon as
you say the word, you're a victim. Powerless over
what you think you're addicted to. Baloney. There
are addicts, but everybody who likes lattes isn't
addicted to them just because they think they are.
Quote: AxelWolfthe way you said that, You sound like a recovering drug addict LOL
you are right. A person seeing the sights, spending tome to smell the flowers, doing other things is less likely to be an "addict"
a person that goes right to the addicitve item with blinders on and leaves with the same blinders is more addictive behavior than not.
I am not saying he IS an addict. I am saying using that particular behavior as proof that he is NOT an addict is off the mark.
Quote: tournamentkingThere seems to be a tie between having gambling on your mind much of the time, and being addicted to it. I think that's likely true. That's why people who post often on gambling oriented forums are addicted to both gambling and the forums. We can't get enough of it so we chat about it when we're away from casinos. And yes, people who won't admit to this have the biggest problems. PhD.-type rationale, line item excuses, and pointing fingers in every direction but the right one is a sure tell.
Totally dissagree. If someone spends alot of time in a garage fixing a car in their spare time...is it an addiction?
It depends on the restrictions on their spare time
If wife says "i made reservations for dinner tonire",...AND YOU SAY " i will eat a frozen dinner and stay on the gambling website"...then thats an obsession
If your child is playing in the school baseball game and you choose to stay home and post on a gambling board...then that is an obsession
If you take off days from work so you have more time to enter gambling posts...then that is an obsession
If yoU want to spend every minute of your time cheating on your wife....thats obsessive behavior, bad morals.....but NOT and "ADDICTION"
But if you have free time and would rather not watch Breaking Bad, or Weeds or the Tonight Show....and rather post on a gambling board...that is neither an obsession or addiction.
Quote: LarryS
If yoU want to spend every minute of your time cheating on your wife....thats obsessive behavior, bad morals.....but NOT and "ADDICTION"
Tiger say's....not every minute, only the minutes between golf rounds.
So I guess he was obsessive, not addicted.
What if you gamble online, while reading the forum, and streaming breaking bad in the background?Quote: LarrySTotally dissagree. If someone spends alot of time in a garage fixing a car in their spare time...is it an addiction?
It depends on the restrictions on their spare time
If wife says "i made reservations for dinner tonire",...AND YOU SAY " i will eat a frozen dinner and stay on the gambling website"...then thats an obsession
If your child is playing in the school baseball game and you choose to stay home and post on a gambling board...then that is an obsession
If you take off days from work so you have more time to enter gambling posts...then that is an obsession
If yoU want to spend every minute of your time cheating on your wife....thats obsessive behavior, bad morals.....but NOT and "ADDICTION"
But if you have free time and would rather not watch Breaking Bad, or Weeds or the Tonight Show....and rather post on a gambling board...that is neither an obsession or addiction.
. You have ADDQuote: AxelWolfWhat if you gamble online, while reading the forum, and streaming breaking bad in the background?
NO, NO absolutely not Ask anyone that knows me, I am fairly calm unless someone is doing/being stupid. I cant stand it when people are always moving around, I'm like just chill. I do think Djatc has ADD. Mission possibly as well.Quote: Transcend. You have ADD
Quote: LarrySbeing able to multi task, or enjoying multitasking is no more ADD, as spending free time on a gambling board is an "addiction"
Multitasking is pretty much ADD... just because you can doesn't mean you should... And studies have shown you are much better off not multitasking it adds undue stress and each task you do you don't do as will if you did them separately.
telling your boss that there is a study....blah blah blah....wont work
In this bad economy, with high unemplyment...how are companies doing so well with the stock market at all time highs?...Because the cut payroll and on top if that have people doing more with less. And if that means multi-tasking...well then thats what you have to do to keep your job. And companies are not seeking out people with ADD in order to get the best workers.
labeling someone as "addicted" or having "ADD'..........IS SILLY...when you have no medical basis for making that diagnosis. ...and shows ignorance of what those conditions really entail.
Just because someone eats mcdonalds fries every days doesnt mean the person is addicted to those particular potatoes.
Just because someone has the ability to multi-task.....doesnt mean they have a medical condition ADD that is a real burdon to people and their families.
Got all that smacked right outta me as an ATC. All gone. Just ask anybody who knew me when. I started out as an FM Midnight DeeJay (was actually on an early training report), ended up as Attila the Honey telling pilots where to go (yes, MA'AM!...heeheehee).
Re-learning the chill. Aaahhhhhhh....
Quote: LarrySTotally dissagree. If someone spends alot of time in a garage fixing a car in their spare time...is it an addiction?
It depends on the restrictions on their spare time
If wife says "i made reservations for dinner tonire",...AND YOU SAY " i will eat a frozen dinner and stay on the gambling website"...then thats an obsession
If your child is playing in the school baseball game and you choose to stay home and post on a gambling board...then that is an obsession
If you take off days from work so you have more time to enter gambling posts...then that is an obsession
If yoU want to spend every minute of your time cheating on your wife....thats obsessive behavior, bad morals.....but NOT and "ADDICTION"
But if you have free time and would rather not watch Breaking Bad, or Weeds or the Tonight Show....and rather post on a gambling board...that is neither an obsession or addiction.
And trying to correlate repairing cars to gambling activities including continuous lengthy gaming forum posts, is another sure tell.
It depends on the restrictions on their spare time
If wife says "i made reservations for dinner tonire",...AND YOU SAY " i will eat a frozen dinner and stay on the gambling website"...then thats an obsession
If your child is playing in the school baseball game and you choose to stay home and post on a gambling board...then that is an obsession
If you take off days from work so you have more time to enter gambling posts...then that is an obsession
If yoU want to spend every minute of your time cheating on your wife....thats obsessive behavior, bad morals.....but NOT and "ADDICTION"
But if you have free time and would rather not watch Breaking Bad, or Weeds or the Tonight Show....and rather post on a gambling board...that is neither an obsession or addiction.
Quote: tournamentkingAnd trying to correlate repairing cars to gambling activities including continuous lengthy gaming forum posts, is another sure tell.
also....having a doctorate in pharmacy gives my comments a little more weight on a medical question over someone like yourself who is best suited to be silent on the subject rather than trying and failing to recognize "tells".
just within the last 9 months have gotten off of the merry go round & have taken time & I really realize that yes I was (am) an addict even though I kept my life in check until one day, one moment my life as I knew it fell apart before my eyes. To this day, all I can truly account to that is the addiction. Which I would have & probably would still tell you that I was not addicted. My game of choice was vp & craps & being into the math of it all. I spent years between Reno & vegas & still struggle because that was where my life was literally. It creeps upon you. I kept all finances in check & had no issues with that, never lost my home or anything like that. I looked at it like a business venture, an extra mioney making venture. So I would suggest taking some time off from going & doing then see how you feel. Only you can know . To be honest, I would , could slide backwards in a heartbeat if I could put my life back together & get back on the merry go round as that was the best part of living, the best days of my life. I dream of it. It defined me.
I have no desire to really continue on living daily & struggle but I have stayed away on my own choice. So I take pride in knowing that I can do that. I hope this helps !!
Quote: mdsAddicted?
For many years, I have visited Vegas. One to four times a year or so. But, for the past 2 years or so, I have been going to Vegas about nine times each year. Flying from Cali, which is easy. Yes, comped flights, rooms and food I have been lucky (or skill) and have won 15 out of 18 trips. Play their game of 4 hours a day give or take and really treat it as a business. Very aware of money management and never chase. I also see shows, go out for fine dining, walk the shops, golf, swim etc (Yes, I am blessed) NEVER do these trips interfere with work Family or social events. Oh, im a GREAT single Dad with a 6 year old. (15 days a month)
I would never lose the mortgage or anything close. I take what I can afford to lose ONLY! Craps only. Not going to throw money away at other table games. Not interested Cali casinos at all. No sports betting either. (In Cali)
Last trip was New Years and I just cant get my mind off it. (Ready to go again) Maybe because it was a few days ago or maybe because I am addicted? What do you think? Do you take trips like this? If lucky enough and able, would you take trips like this? But, big question is Am I addicted? Are you addicted? In general, Is this a problem?
Quote: corvetteracingOnly you can know if you are addicted. Reflect upon yourself & ALL of your relationships in life (not just with humans) take your life as an overall into retrospect & try not going for a b it try not playing for a bit. See how you feel then. You will have a bit more self reflection at that point. I know,
just within the last 9 months have gotten off of the merry go round & have taken time & I really realize that yes I was (am) an addict even though I kept my life in check until one day, one moment my life as I knew it fell apart before my eyes. To this day, all I can truly account to that is the addiction. Which I would have & probably would still tell you that I was not addicted. My game of choice was vp & craps & being into the math of it all. I spent years between Reno & vegas & still struggle because that was where my life was literally. It creeps upon you. I kept all finances in check & had no issues with that, never lost my home or anything like that. I looked at it like a business venture, an extra mioney making venture. So I would suggest taking some time off from going & doing then see how you feel. Only you can know . To be honest, I would , could slide backwards in a heartbeat if I could put my life back together & get back on the merry go round as that was the best part of living, the best days of my life. I dream of it. It defined me.
I have no desire to really continue on living daily & struggle but I have stayed away on my own choice. So I take pride in knowing that I can do that. I hope this helps !!
Now here is a from the heart and real answer. Thanks!
Most alcoholics will say that they are social drinkers. Most gambling addicts will claim they are social gamblers.
Its hard to be certain what they "know"
Most of the time it takes intervention of a family member ofr friend. Much of the time it takes hitting some sort of a "bottom" to make someone realize it.
Its great if you can see yourself going on that direction and put some brakes on it.
Its great that you can recognize that "addiction" is possible if you keep going down the path.
Its a rare person that can step back and look at behavior in a rational manner when it feels so good to keep going down the path.
you hit bottom." But by then you have burned all your bridges and ex-friends and relatives will not believe anything you say.
30+ years as Chief Shop Steward with AT&T and seen it all. Most technicians have high school education at best. AT&T provides the training. When I retired in 2000 base salary was $900 for day tour, 10% more for off tours and OT generally available. Union job, but you can be fired. Just have to work at it to do so. I always told techs, AT&T ain't firing you, you are firing yourself.
Seen lots of different addictions lead to dismissal despite my best efforts. Dallas Gibson- religious fanatic. Toy Mantoya - could not get to work on time Gerald Sampson- body odor.
Always amazed at what passes for addiction and what is perfectly acceptable. My brother-in-law was big Colt Fan. $600 for season tickets, plus parking, beverage and food etc. Always on me about gambling addiction WTF. 1969 and I would take $20 to track about 40 Saturdays a year. Bet $2 a race and splurge whatever I was up on last race. Fun to occasionally stick a $100 bill in baby's diaper without telling Josie.
But he was a community supporter of " our team " while I was a bum. Go figure.
quiz here
Answer 7 or more and you're likely an addict. I answered 9, and I've admitted to this forum before of my ins and outs with addiction.
Being an addict is okay as long as it is not harming anyone, in my view. For example, if you have a million dollars in your bank account, and you spend 6 hours a day playing $10 craps, you're an addict, but if you still have a job, still have good relationships, and all of that, you likely aren't harming anyone though you're definitely an addict.
On the other hand, if you are on welfare and am spending all of your disposable income on scratcher's, you're likely an addict too with much more terrible consequences.
Quote: boymimboFor example, if you have a million dollars in your bank account, and you spend 6 hours a day playing $10 craps, you're an addict, but if you still have a job, still have good relationships, and all of that, you likely aren't harming anyone though you're definitely an addict.
How do you figure that you're definitely an addict in this case?
What if you spend those 6 hours a day watching TV or playing video games? If you have 6 hours a day of leisure time, are you saying that if you spend it all doing the same thing you are an addict, but if you mix it up then you're not? Or is gambling a special case here?
Really, for me the telltale signs of harmful addiction are:
(1) Using the activity as the "go-to" as an escape from stress.
(2) Missing events as a result of your activity (ie work, school, family events)
(3) The activity causes emotional, physical, or financial stress.
(4) There is guilt or remore felt before, during, or after the activity.
Quote: boymimboIf you spend 6 hours of leisure time watching TV and can't do anything else, you're likely an addict. It doesn't harm anyone, but you're still an addict.
I guess, my point here is, you are going to spend your leisure time doing what you enjoy. If you only enjoy one thing, I don't necessarily think that makes you an addict.
I know people who eat Chinese food every day. It's all they eat. It's all they like. Now, I, personally, couldn't do this. I like variety. I like lots of different kinds of food, and I want to eat something different than I ate yesterday. But, I understand that not everyone is like this. It's not necessarily addiction. Some people just like routine.
Again, if you have 6 hrs of leisure time per day, I don't see much difference between someone who spends all 6 hours gambling, and someone who watches a movie for 2 hrs, gambles for an hour, works out for an hour, watches an hour of TV, and plays video games for an hour. You might say that the second person has more varied interests than the first, but that doesn't make the first person an addict.
Now, if the first person is skipping out on his responsibilities order to fit in his 6 hrs of gambling, then I'd agree that there might be a problem (although the problem might just be laziness, not addiction) But if it's just free time, and the money is insignificant... I don't see what the big deal is.
Quote: boymimboOn the other hand, if you are on welfare and am spending all of your disposable income on scratcher's, you're likely an addict too with much more terrible consequences.
That's the key word to me. I'm a big fan of Dr. Drew and he always defines addiction as "continuing use in the face of adverse consequence." It may not be a clinical definition, but it works for me.
yeah..there is over a billion of them..................IN CHINA
Quote: LarrySyeah..there is over a billion of them..................IN CHINA
I'm pretty sure that there is other food available there. I've never been to a country where ONLY native food was available.
I don't understand how people eat the same thing every single day. So boring....
Quote: AxiomOfChoiceI guess, my point here is, you are going to spend your leisure time doing what you enjoy. If you only enjoy one thing, I don't necessarily think that makes you an addict.
I know people who eat Chinese food every day. It's all they eat. It's all they like. Now, I, personally, couldn't do this. I like variety. I like lots of different kinds of food, and I want to eat something different than I ate yesterday. But, I understand that not everyone is like this. It's not necessarily addiction. Some people just like routine.
Again, if you have 6 hrs of leisure time per day, I don't see much difference between someone who spends all 6 hours gambling, and someone who watches a movie for 2 hrs, gambles for an hour, works out for an hour, watches an hour of TV, and plays video games for an hour. You might say that the second person has more varied interests than the first, but that doesn't make the first person an addict.
Now, if the first person is skipping out on his responsibilities order to fit in his 6 hrs of gambling, then I'd agree that there might be a problem (although the problem might just be laziness, not addiction) But if it's just free time, and the money is insignificant... I don't see what the big deal is.
Looks like you're self-defining the word addict mingled with excuses. When it comes to addiction to gambling very few will ever admit to it, even if they're able to do so in an anonymous setting like this. Just reading the word generally raises an addict's blood pressure. When they feel they have to define it and redefine it, all they're doing is looking for the one explanation (excuse) that makes them comfortable. The rest is for "everybody else".
In fact one defense mechanism addicts use is to make up their own defition of addiction so that they dont qualify
According to one person here....if I spend time taking care of my ill mother, and miss work, or school, and if its a physical and financial burden on me....then I am somehow addicted to being a caregiver.
If someone goes to a prostitute for the first time and feels guilty before, during and after....they are addicts
And if someone plays golf on weekends to deal with stress, then they are addicted to golf.
There isa study that a short brisk walk outdoors during lunch break can reduce stress.....is that addicting bahavior
this is what happens when people pull definitions out from their behind
people can act compulsively, like a-holes, selfishly, rudely, uncaringly.....doesnt mean they are "addicts"
