Since I Stopped Gambling I've noticed....

Not advice I am seeking.. but some reflections for you all to reflect upon. Perhaps some of my thoughts will get you to think about how much you game.

1. While dealing, I hear the conversations. Whenever people talk about vacations, it all the same:

i. Player, "I just got back from vacation in: Florida, California, (any non-Nevada state)" every player, "Did you play at this casino" "How were the games there"
ii. One player mentions different casinos, gambling in different state, etc... a different player, "When I was there 'x' years ago I played there...."
The point I am getting at... is before I never noticed that. Since I stopped gambling, I notice that players CONSTANTLY talk about gambling while on vacation. Now, even though I personally quit gambling, I do not see gambling as wrong. I have my career because of people gambling. But I am able to reflect that people go to vacations to some of the nicest places in America and all they do is gamble. I have always said that if I went to Vegas, I would not gamble. There is too much to do in Vegas. Additionally, I am not going to travel nearly 2,000 miles to play games that I can play less than 20 minutes from where I live. Now, I am seeing people are traveling.. then having three-five days of 8-10-14 hour gambling sessions. People going on vacation and not getting tan.

2. Sportsbook.

i. I 100% will not bet on sports. Not even squares. When I bet on sports... I could watch any game.. any sport.. any teams.. could watch entire game and be entertained. Any other game during that time... no matter how "big" the game was.. if I did not have any action on it... I could care less. I could not watch a game without action on it. I thought that I would never watch sports again when I quit betting sports... but I am able to. Right now I am watching the end of Duke/Chapel Hill game. I'm enjoying..

ii. I still look at the lines.. but do not have desire to game. I have friends that gamble.. and they send me plays.. and ask for picks... I have noticed.. SuperBowl, I would have got DESTROYED.. and every other game.. I've been getting crushed. Not betting sports been smart decision.

3. Other finances.

i. I am looking at other ways to supplement my income. I am being more smart with money. Really worth not gambling.

WOW... UNBELIEVABLE!!!! DUKE COMEBACK!!!!!

WOW

But yea..

Not gambling Feels good

Keep up the good work, minnesotajoe. Reward yourself with something you want as an incentive to stop gambling. It's nice to go out and do something nice for yourself in lieu of the $x00 dollars you didn't lose at the casino.

My advice anyway.

You are so right about traveling to gamble. Having recently turned 21 I plan to visit Vegas for the first time this Summer. I'm going to take your advice and take advantage of the shows, the pools, and maybe even the nightlife and try to keep my gambling sessions shorter. This keeps the affect of compounding house edge down as well. From my experiences as a player I hear people talking about their trips to exotic locations, the Caribbean and cruises especially, and all they talk about is their gambling there and how they won/lost so much. If I'm going to spend $1000+ on a trip I want to enjoy it and not spend the whole time trying to get a win on the BJ table. That being said I do think that gambling can be a nice supplement to a trip, it can be a lot of fun to kick back and have some drinks(hopefully comped) on a low limit table. Much credit to you for staying away from the sports book. I don't bet sports but a lot of my friends do. They follow the teams and the lines all the time, and I consider them to be very knowledgeable, yet I am pretty sure all of them have lost substantially in the long run(yet they always seem to be telling me about their latest big win).

Whorehouses also serve booze but that is not what anyone is really there for.

So much else to do in Vegas.... Yes. AFTER you've won all the chips there is indeed so much else to do in Vegas.

This is interesting. keep it coming.

Quote: odiousgambit

This is interesting. keep it coming.

I'm sure your comment was addressed to those of more literary skill but what I was trying to get at is that although in fact no one really wants to win all the chips and all the casinos and then get a free drink and perhaps pick up a hooker to celebrate, these people who take trips and talk about gambling on their vacation enjoy gambling. Its not an ordeal, its how they want to spend their vacations and short trips and impromptu holidays. When they get in their cars on a Saturday morning the car itself starts to head for their local casino and they have to counteract the steering wheel to head to the car wash instead. Don't see in them a wasted life....they gamble and they probably gamble pretty well too.

Yep. There are plenty of people who go on vacations and don't gamble. Even I've been known to do that once or twice.

Bet you a dollar that you start gambling again :)

Quote: s2dbaker

Bet you a dollar that you start gambling again :)

Funny you say that.

I actually wanted to make a 20,000$ bet that I would go rest of the year without gambling (the bet being the exception)

My logic was... if I knew I was guaranteed a 20,000$ winner (by not gambling).. and if I did gamble.. in order to be +20,000$ I would have to win 40,000$ or more.. then I surely would not gamble. Unfortunately, I can not get somebody to legitimately take me on that offer.

Quote: FleaStiff

these people who take trips and talk about gambling on their vacation enjoy gambling. Its not an ordeal, its how they want to spend their vacations and short trips and impromptu holidays. When they get in their cars on a Saturday morning the car itself starts to head for their local casino and they have to counteract the steering wheel to head to the car wash instead. Don't see in them a wasted life....they gamble and they probably gamble pretty well too.

I do not see gambling as a wasted life. People enjoy different things. I've stated before, I do not see gambling as a BAD thing. It is just that I see and hear people that go on vacations to amazing locations.. and all they do is gamble. I can see if there is a promotion/tournament at a location that only is offered there.. then yes, the trip is for the gambling.

However, if I have the option, play Baccarat at my local casino.. or play Baccarat in Aruba.. or play Baccarat in Las Vegas.. or play Baccarat in Florida.... I will play Baccarat at my local casino. Additionally, if I personally had the extra income to be able to take numerous vacations from work and fly to Aruba, Florida, Vegas, etc.. I feel strongly in that I would be able to have more entertainment options than gambling.

I too have spent trips gambling. I have gone on a trip 600 miles each way... and if you exclude sleeping, I spent literally 90% of the time in casino. It is only after I stopped my gaming that I notice how often players mention trips and only discuss gambling

I've noticed that I like coffee, anyway.
I still like free-play games like at pinnacle or betvoyager.

Time in a Casino, be it the old Binion's in the 80's, ACNJ in the 80's, or Foxwoods/Sun in the 90's to 2000's was never ever wasted win/lose. The 21 tables near the Wolf Den on any Fri nite ws worth it alone... free for the table action.

Quote: FleaStiff

I'm sure ... no one really wants to win all the chips and all the casinos and then get a free drink and perhaps pick up a hooker to celebrate

Really?

Do you think the "no one" wants that?

Pshaw.

It's the Dream, baby, it's the Dream ...