[legion]

I've seen it before. The studies say that gambling addicts are getting their biggest endorphin rush when they're losing, which explains much of the behavior. They basically play until they're kicked out.

My first two times at a casino I left with more money than I went in with, not a lot (like $20 and $100, respectively), but once I was up I stopped playing. Ever since I've left when I hit my budgeted loss limit. I usually play penny slots and drink the "free" drinks. I consider it an entertainment budget and try to stretch it as much as possible.

Had a family friend that had a gambling addiction. She cleaned out her retired mother's bank accounts. Then she pulled her mother from her nursing home so that she could spend her social security and pension checks at the boat. The mother passed away and she got very desperate. She ended up destroying her marriage and dying penniless.

Had a project manager at work that had a gambling addiction. We went to Vegas for a conference. About a day and a half in, I stopped gambling because I was enjoying watching him lose so much. I had budgeted for $200 of gambling during the week (I was young and didn't have much money.) I spent like $40. He lost $2,000, then had his wife wire him another $4,000, which he also lost.