Addiction Tags And Why's...??
By SpitFire179
@SpitFire179 (2536)
Canada
July 25, 2008 5:34am CST
Alright, my question is why is it that say in gambling, your told you have a problem if you like to gamble a lot and lose your money, BUT if you gamble a lot and win a lot of money often, you never hear ''i think you have a problem''
Now i don't gamble much, and never with real money, because i'm chicken, but one day i will just for the heck of it, but i was watching poker tournaments on tv and thought this up, watching Doyle Bronson on the tube i couldn't help but wonder if he's ever told that because he plays so often and invests so much money into his gambling that he has a problem, yeah i highly doubt it...
But, no matter what you will always hear that someone has a gambling problem if they didn't hit the jackpot and play often, and apparently, now their even starting into play money sights like pokerstars, even though your not gambling with real money, you have a problem, because something you enjoy is being done often... what's what all about????
3 people like this
4 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jan 10
Hi Spitfire,
I know this discussion is old but that is a rocking good observation!
It is quite true that people only get blasted for gambling when they lose money. Generally, all gamblers get blasted because all of them lose money!
Unless you have a rare affinity in this area or are an expert conman, you will ultimately lose more than you win. So once you start losing, "you have a problem". Otherwise, it is just like a job where you make money gambling lol.
I don't gamble myself because I see the futility of it. I am sure it would be fun when I am winning but what comes after?
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
11 Jan 10
Well it's like you see those people on television playing poker and getting all kinds of praise for it and what not, and it's not just poker, it's all different kinds of gambling.
But the truth is that they get the "wow go you's" and everyone else gets the "your an idiot!"
But i dunno it was just a stupid thought that popped into my head.
I don't gamble because it bores me, and well i know that once i got started i wouldn't be able to stop myself if i got on a winning streak.
Can you imagine being up 400k and then losing it all cause you got too gutsy and couldn't put the cards down?
My hubby plays cards at home on the computer on a free poker site, and I'll tell you, real money or fake, you can become addicted. I can't get him off that damn thing.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jan 10
Oh but I do love those gambling shows HAHAHAHA. The players normally exude such charm and poise that the uninitiated would dream to be like them.
But well, reel is not real.
I think it will only bore when we are losing lol. When we are winning, it feels great. Yes blowing everything at the very last can really blow our mind the wrong way... when people think they are on a winning streak, they tend to go Double or Nothing...
Then again, if you can gamble "smartly', i.e. once you recoup your capital, leave it aside and just play with your winnings, gambling may be profitable... till you lose. I still believe that even if you gamble smartly, you will ultimately lose more than you win. If you look at probabilities, the casinos always win.
Playing cards occasionally for fun is fine... just try not to get addicted. I normally have card sessions when we go visiting over the new year. We do play real money (though not that much) and it is always fun when I win something. But I do go in with the mentality (gamblers will tell you it is a wrong and unlucky mentality lol) that okay, here's $100 I have set aside to give my friends. If they win it all from me, I am happy for them since I gave them 100 bucks more. But if I win from them instead, well that's cool too haha. 
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
25 Jul 08
Gambling is a problem because its addictive and you can lose a lot of your cash. People have lost houses, businesses and other asserts through gambling. Women married to gamblers have great difficulty living because so much of their spouse's money is used up in gambling.
Gamblers always talk about winnings and hardly ever talk much about their losses.
The fact is, because of the odds you play with, you lose more than you win.
And, if you're addicted, then you can lose your shirt.
Thats about the size of it.
The odds are against you, you lose more than you win.
1 person likes this
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
26 Jul 08
I wasn't trying to understand weather or not gambling is bad or why it's classified as an addiction, i rather was trying to understand why the pro's aren't classified as addicts but those who lose a lot often are.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Jan 10
Oh yes, it can grow to become a terrible addiction that has been know to break families and destroy lives.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
30 May 09
You have a really good point. I don't think that people who gamble a lot and win, are reported to anyone, because the recipients of that money, and the people benefited by that money don't think it's a problem. LOL Think of all the problem gamblers who have lost. Do you think those to whom they've lost their money think they have a problem? I don't. Again, this was a very interesting question.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Anything you do that jurts your ability to pay your bills or feed your kids, is an addiction. Gambling is something I like to do, go to the casino, have a little fun. I could go every day if I could. Where I lived they had casinos everywhere and we used to take 20-25 dollars and go play the nickle machines, just an outting for the day or evening. I have won a bunch on the poker machines, as to win/loss I could not tell you where I stand, i know many of times drop in a 10 dollar bill get 500 back, gambling is fun, and so you lose 20 dollars if it does not hurt you in living the rest of your life there is nothing wrong with it.
1 person likes this
@SpitFire179 (2536)
• Canada
26 Jul 08
i wasn't trying to understand why or how gambling is classified as an addiction, i was rather trying to understand why the pro's aren't classified as addicts, and those who go and gamble often and lose a lot are.
1 person likes this
