Gambling problems!!!!!!

cab83_750 · 10-05-2008, 06:59 PM

Anyone ever dealt with gambling problems? Your own self? A sibling? A relative or friend? Can you share your experiences?

I recommended that seek help, but (I guess) just like drugs, "Oh, I don't have a gambling problem!"

Well, my response was, "OK, but the bank (that would be me) is closed for business permanently."

legion · 10-05-2008, 07:06 PM

I've had one experience.

My MIL was hired as a caretaker for a family friend's elderly mother with dementia. She discovered that the daughter (MIL's friend) was draining the mother's finances to go gambling (and screwing her siblings out of any inheritance). She ended up quitting because she felt she could not be the person that enabled this behavior. Daughter was pissed that she had to put her mother in a nursing home (cutting into her gambling "budget"). The daughter has not spoken to my mother since she quit.

It's an ugly disease. In some ways worse than drug addiction because "it's just money". They refuse to see their problem because it's not a physical addiction.

tabs · 10-05-2008, 07:27 PM

My diease is collecting spoons. It boarders on a sickness, an obession where I have to have a new spoon every week. Every week till I am broke. Oh well they just might be my saving grace at the end of the day, at least I will be able to make some money on them.

The other diesase is Buffeteering....I gotta get a fix of Belagio King Crab Legs, Sushi, Ceviche, 4 types of fish, Shrimp, Prime Rib, creamed spinich, PEI Mussles, Marinated muscles, smoked salmon, Leg of Lamb, Cream Brulle, Flan, Apple Crumb pie, Cheese Cake, and Water melon, That was what I had last Thursday at the Buffet...all for $21.50. Oink Oink Oink...

Gambling ya gotta be kidding..I ain't given em blood suckers my dinero....I am too afraid that I will lose it all in the Stock Market.

TerryH · TerryH's Garage

I play online poker 6 hours a day. I don't know about gambling problems.

Heel n Toe · 10-05-2008, 09:02 PM

I knew a retired Army colonel (WWII vet) who was spending serious money subscribing to magazines trying to win the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes. Didn't make sense to me... but then, gambling of any type has never appealed to me.

I've never even learned how to play poker... seemed too much like algebra, I guess... and I hated that stuff.

Come to think of it, the colonel was a recovering alcoholic, though... I guess that could explain some of it... perhaps he was exchanging one addiction for another.

johnco · 10-06-2008, 04:07 AM

the wife of a friend got 450k insurance money after her brother was killed in an accident. 3 years later she's not only broke but 39k in debt borrowing 3k a pop to gamble with against the house they paid cash for. sold the house and the 39k left after the sale lasted 3 months. now she works a full week, gets paid monday night and is broke tuesday by noon. he gives her money for rent... poker machine. they get 6 months behind at times. gives her money for 3 months medicine for his epilepsy, she gets 30days worth and poker machines get the rest. she spends her paycheck ,his paycheck, his $550mnth SSI or disabilty check, her son's $650mnt SSi or disablitly check, the utilities and rent money, etc., etc., etc. all stay at the casino she walks to since they don't have a car, bicycle or anything.. her father invites her to go to the casino with him. she has to pay the gas to get there and give him money to gamble with but she goes every time. he has already spent his entire paycheck there earlier that week. her mother drives in from out of town every tuesday morning to take her to breakfast.. at the casino because she gets paid monday night. she shares her money with good ole mom as they gamble it all away and leave broke. if she happens to win a couple times.. that only means she stays gambling a little longer until it's all gone. her father borrowed 50k from his brother to repair his house and car after the hurricane supposedly. that lasted almost 2 whole weeks. he had no problem sitting there sometimes 2-3 days without leaving the casino once. I'd rather watch someone blow it all on drugs and booze than leave it in a poker machine. the buzz would last longer and get more for the money. an entire family of idiots

Mo_Gearhead · 10-06-2008, 06:32 AM

QUOTE: "Well, my response was, "OK, but the bank (that would be me) is closed for business permanently."
______________________

From this, I assume the person is close to you?

I think some people are just 'hard wired' (brain) to enjoy the rush when they win. When losing, they ignore those losses and those feelings and just assume the winning will come again ...it's a cycle. Ignore the down side, enjoy the up side.

If indeed it's a family member and they will listen to reason(?) they probably need professional help. Your move of cutting off the funds (while good for your sanity) will most likely just send them in search of other sources of funds.

Good luck.

Danimal16 · 10-06-2008, 06:49 AM

Had and employee with the bug. Got him some help. He says he struggles with it. Gamblers Anon really helped him. I attended a few sessions with him. You sit silently in the back. Learned a few things that others have touched on the board. One thing is that the Addicted Gambler is usually a pretty intelligent person, which blew me away.

My employee uses his family to keep him completely away from money. But he says that he measures his sobriety day by day. It is a real stunner of a problem that can destroy the person and their family.

lendaddy · 10-06-2008, 06:50 AM

Isn't your average investor just a socially acceptable gambler? AAPL comes to mind.

Heel n Toe · 10-06-2008, 11:18 AM

What about lotteries? Some people blow money on that.

Some comedian once said the definition of a lottery is 147 million stupid people making one stupid person look smart.

legion · 10-06-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

QUOTE: "Well, my response was, "OK, but the bank (that would be me) is closed for business permanently."
______________________

From this, I assume the person is close to you?

I think some people are just 'hard wired' (brain) to enjoy the rush when they win. When losing, they ignore those losses and those feelings and just assume the winning will come again ...it's a cycle. Ignore the down side, enjoy the up side.

If indeed it's a family member and they will listen to reason(?) they probably need professional help. Your move of cutting off the funds (while good for your sanity) will most likely just send them in search of other sources of funds.

Good luck.

There was a study done a few years ago. Gambling addicts felt most "high" when they were losing. It was the idea that they were down but had the chance to "win it back" that got them off the most.

masraum · 10-06-2008, 12:17 PM

I worked in a Bingo hall that had some electronic slots when I got laid off after the dot com crash in 2001. I've never seen anything like it. They couldn't even win money, and yet there they'd sit day in, day out spending tons of cash. Irrational Zombies.

If they don't want help/don't want to change, then you can't make them.

Good luck.

Danimal16 · 10-06-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

If they don't want help/don't want to change, then you can't make them.

Good luck.

That was another thing that I learned, just like an alcoholic. And even then it haunts them for the rest of their lives. Sad situation. Some make it, some don't.

Oh Haha · 10-06-2008, 12:32 PM

Funny story:

My oldest sister has beenplanning to go to San Diego to spend some time with an old friend. The friend's husband helped with the details for the trip and it was supposed to be a secret. Well, somehow the cat was let out of the bag and her friend found out. Now, with it out in the open, my sister told her friend that she has always wanted to go to Vegas and since they are so close.....or there is a casino close by, something like that.

Her friend told her she had herself banned from most of the casinos because she is a gambling addict. Wah,wah ,waaaahhhh.

I have been to a casino exactly once, with my in-laws, when my wife and were first dating.

I took $100.00 and gave it back in about an hour on the slots. Never have been back.

I work too hard for what money I have and I can't see just blowing it on gambling. I don;t even play the lottery. Yeah, yeah, you can't win if you don't play. Whatever.

I would rather spend the cash on Porsche stuff or at least get something in return.

My oldest sister lives on the Michigan/Canada border and they built a casino across the river in Canada. (Apparently, my sis likes to visit it quite often. )Last time, she walked in and won $800.00 on the first slot. She was so happy to have won she left the casino and bought herself some piece of jewelry or something.

johnco · 10-06-2008, 04:43 PM

I must admit. I do buy powerball and lottery tickets. usually $2-4 a month but sometimes I get stupid and double that when the powerball is over 100mil. just think of all those fine cars I could buy if I could break that gambling habit and save that $2-8 a month I blow on such lousy odds. then again... I think about my odds of winning if I don't buy a ticket. no matter how bad the odds are, someone wins mega millions now and then, why couldn't it be me. in fact, I know someone that won 4 million right here in town. at least I'm not blowing it on cheap beer and strippers. for anyone who thinks spending $1 on such high odds is as stupid as you can get. if I would happen to luck up, beat the odds and win 100mil or so like others do all the time, the party is on me.

Rondinone · 10-06-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnco

I must admit. I do buy powerball and lottery tickets. usually $2-4 a month but sometimes I get stupid and double that when the powerball is over 100mil. just think of all those fine cars I could buy if I could break that gambling habit and save that $2-8 a month I blow on such lousy odds. then again... I think about my odds of winning if I don't buy a ticket. no matter how bad the odds are, someone wins mega millions now and then, why couldn't it be me. in fact, I know someone that won 4 million right here in town. at least I'm not blowing it on cheap beer and strippers. for anyone who thinks spending $1 on such high odds is as stupid as you can get. if I would happen to luck up, beat the odds and win 100mil or so like others do all the time, the party is on me.

I hear ya. Powerball over $50mil and I start buying tickets. What the heck I can afford it and 35% goes to the schools.

I can't stand slots, but I do like blackjack. Lucky me I don't have the addict gene, so I have no trouble walking away when I lose a bunch or win a bunch.