Gambling

Ruthanne

Ruthanne

Caregiver
Location
Midwest
Definition of gambling
noun1.the activity or practice of playing at a game of chance for money orother stakes.

2.the act or practice of risking the loss of something important by taking a chance or acting recklessly:If you don't back up your data, that's gambling.

What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?

Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you’re a compulsive gambler, you can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. You’ll gamble whether you’re up or down, broke or flush, and you’ll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can’t afford to lose.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you’ll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well. The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems: More: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/gambling-addiction-and-problem-gambling.htm





Gambling: Should there be any restriction of gambling? Is it a form of freedom, or an invitation to addiction?


 

I do like to gamble, but limit myself. I have only been in a casino 3 times in 7 years. I did do a lot of gambling back in the 80's & 90's. I learned to count the deck to play 21. I learned craps, made a little money at both.

Gambling can be a problem not unlike alcohol or drugs. As we have found out you can't legislate morals, Prohibition didn't work. Illegal drug control & prosecution doesn't appear to be working. Gambling is an 80 billion dollar business. I think that the less focus on the legality & more on the treatment is the best approach.
 
Roadwarrior said:
I do like to gamble, but limit myself. I have only been in a casino 3 times in 7 years. I did do a lot of gambling back in the 80's & 90's. I learned to count the deck to play 21. I learned craps, made a little money at both.

Gambling can be a problem not unlike alcohol or drugs. As we have found out you can't legislate morals, Prohibition didn't work. Illegal drug control & prosecution doesn't appear to be working. Gambling is an 80 billion dollar business. I think that the less focus on the legality & more on the treatment is the best approach.
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Thank you for your reply. I agree with all you said.
 

My wife and I have been casino fans for the past 20+ years. We spend only that which we can easily afford....usually about 6 or 7% of our annual income. We get free hotel rooms and meals, and go to the city for 2 or 3 days nearly every month...to gamble and visit the kids and grandkids. If a person is wise enough to limit their "addiction", it can be an enjoyable form of entertainment. Considering that something like a 3 or 4 day cruise can cost 5 or 6 thousand dollars, we get 25 or 30 days of "vacation" for less than that. About once a year, we also take a few days and go to Las Vegas....again, free rooms and meals, and the only extra cost is the airfare...reasonable with SW Airlines.

We're not hurting for income, and I would rather enjoy some of our money while we are still physically and mentally able, rather than just sitting around watching TV.
 
Don M. said:
My wife and I have been casino fans for the past 20+ years. We spend only that which we can easily afford....usually about 6 or 7% of our annual income. We get free hotel rooms and meals, and go to the city for 2 or 3 days nearly every month...to gamble and visit the kids and grandkids. If a person is wise enough to limit their "addiction", it can be an enjoyable form of entertainment. Considering that something like a 3 or 4 day cruise can cost 5 or 6 thousand dollars, we get 25 or 30 days of "vacation" for less than that. About once a year, we also take a few days and go to Las Vegas....again, free rooms and meals, and the only extra cost is the airfare...reasonable with SW Airlines.

We're not hurting for income, and I would rather enjoy some of our money while we are still physically and mentally able, rather than just sitting around watching TV.
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Sounds very sensible to me.
 
I was never into gambling other than buying occasional lottery ticket, and I mostly did that back when I was working, not so much anymore. I don't think any restrictions should be placed on gambling or any other things like alcohol, drugs, etc. Addictions come in many forms, sexual, shopping, hoarding, food, etc. If a person has an addiction to any of these things that's causing turmoil in their personal lives, then it's up to them to choose if and when they will control it on their own or get professional help.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I was never into gambling other than buying occasional lottery ticket, and I mostly did that back when I was working, not so much anymore. I don't think any restrictions should be placed on gambling or any other things like alcohol, drugs, etc. Addictions come in many forms, sexual, shopping, hoarding, food, etc. If a person has an addiction to any of these things that's causing turmoil in their personal lives, then it's up to them to choose if and when they will control it on their own or get professional help.
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Thank you. I agree with you.
 
No I don’t gamble or really drink but my husband knows men who gamble often. For some it’s a terrible addiction.
Its very unfortunate that these individuals drink and gamble. It’s not a good combination and many end up losing their entire savings. Some have been known to pour gasoline and light themselves on fire cause they are too in debt. It’s sad but as an adult one has to learn to take responsibility for ones own actions.
 
Well, there is a restriction on gambling in the State of Hawaii. If a resident of this state, say, buys a ticket to a lottery in another state, they must have personally been there to buy it. And if they win, they must personally to go pick up their winnings. Someone who lives in another state sent me the option to send money to have the opportunity to win a prize for a fundraiser. If I did that and won, I'd be in trouble, both for gambling and and not declaring the money that I won on income taxes (because I would have admitted I gambled, and that's illegal).

So, is this a bad thing? Well, even though for Hawaii Las Vegas is known as the ninth island, there's lots to consider. As far as a lottery, I would consider that, maybe. But as far as having hotels have gambling, do we really want to be a gambling destiny? Absolutely not! Do visitors come to Hawaii to go back to where they came from as pasty white as they arrived because of spending their vacation in a casino? Or are they here to enjoy the sun and surf? So, as far as restrictions in that sense, I am all for it! And we all know what kind of people end up running these kind of places. I don't want that!

But there is a little trick here for churches to do their Bingo Games. A lady taxi driver told me about it, because that's her pastime with her friends. They pay money to play the bingo games, but it's considered a donation because EVERYONE wins something. Just some win more than others. Pretty tricky, huh?
 
Two or 3 times a year I visit my sister in Louisiana and we spend a day at the boats in Shreveport-Bossier. We take $50.00 to lose at the boats and enough to eat somewhere nice and then go back to her home. We usually break even but we have been known to come home with an extra $100.00 or so. That's our limit and we leave. I can't believe the folks at the ATM's getting money to keep playing! Its a nice day to be together, people watch and maybe see a movie if we have time. That's it for my gambling except I will buy a powerball ticket there before I head back to Texas. Worked too hard for my money to risk more than that. Its just entertainment for us and part of our ritual when I visit. I put flowers on mama and daddy's graves and come back home.
 
Ms. gamboolgal and I like to play the pokerzzzz when we come home to Texas on vacation twice per year.

I was registered for the Seniors World Series of Poker next month out in Vegas, but Ms. gamboolgal's mother broke her hip last week, so vacation plans changed as she had to get home to Texas to see her Mom now.

Poker is just a hobby for us. I play with discretionary money and overall, I am a small winner at poker. But not enough to pay for the travel, hotels, meals and other gamboooling that goes on.

Part of the appeal is the chance / gamble. That is for sure. In poker, you can use people reading skills, math and odds if your inclined and care to do so, but the chance and gamble element is always there. If it was not, I would not play.

So for us, it is entertainment.

Golfing, Sailing, Raising horses, restoring old cars, shooting/hunting, fishing, gardening, exercising at fancy gyms, doll collecting, tennis, going to sports events, buying and selling things on eBay, gourmet cooking, wine cellars, and fancy restaurants, etc... are all hobbies and things that I know folks like to do. I say good on'em !

We are planning to retire next year, and will be making Road Trips to look for Lake Property and we'll stop off for some poker. Can't wait to not have to be working 7 days per week for 10 months per year !

gamboolman & gamboolgal...:semi-twins:
 
gamboolman said:
Ms. gamboolgal and I like to play the pokerzzzz when we come home to Texas on vacation twice per year.

I was registered for the Seniors World Series of Poker next month out in Vegas, but Ms. gamboolgal's mother broke her hip last week, so vacation plans changed as she had to get home to Texas to see her Mom now.

Poker is just a hobby for us. I play with discretionary money and overall, I am a small winner at poker. But not enough to pay for the travel, hotels, meals and other gamboooling that goes on.

Part of the appeal is the chance / gamble. That is for sure. In poker, you can use people reading skills, math and odds if your inclined and care to do so, but the chance and gamble element is always there. If it was not, I would not play.

So for us, it is entertainment.

Golfing, Sailing, Raising horses, restoring old cars, shooting/hunting, fishing, gardening, exercising at fancy gyms, doll collecting, tennis, going to sports events, buying and selling things on eBay, gourmet cooking, wine cellars, and fancy restaurants, etc... are all hobbies and things that I know folks like to do. I say good on'em !

We are planning to retire next year, and will be making Road Trips to look for Lake Property and we'll stop off for some poker. Can't wait to not have to be working 7 days per week for 10 months per year !

gamboolman & gamboolgal...:semi-twins:
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I hope you enjoy your retirement and trips.
 
terry123 said:
Two or 3 times a year I visit my sister in Louisiana and we spend a day at the boats in Shreveport-Bossier. We take $50.00 to lose at the boats and enough to eat somewhere nice and then go back to her home. We usually break even but we have been known to come home with an extra $100.00 or so. That's our limit and we leave. I can't believe the folks at the ATM's getting money to keep playing! Its a nice day to be together, people watch and maybe see a movie if we have time. That's it for my gambling except I will buy a powerball ticket there before I head back to Texas. Worked too hard for my money to risk more than that. Its just entertainment for us and part of our ritual when I visit. I put flowers on mama and daddy's graves and come back home.
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Sounds like a good time with no regrets! :)
 
Olivia said:
Well, there is a restriction on gambling in the State of Hawaii. If a resident of this state, say, buys a ticket to a lottery in another state, they must have personally been there to buy it. And if they win, they must personally to go pick up their winnings. Someone who lives in another state sent me the option to send money to have the opportunity to win a prize for a fundraiser. If I did that and won, I'd be in trouble, both for gambling and and not declaring the money that I won on income taxes (because I would have admitted I gambled, and that's illegal).

So, is this a bad thing? Well, even though for Hawaii Las Vegas is known as the ninth island, there's lots to consider. As far as a lottery, I would consider that, maybe. But as far as having hotels have gambling, do we really want to be a gambling destiny? Absolutely not! Do visitors come to Hawaii to go back to where they came from as pasty white as they arrived because of spending their vacation in a casino? Or are they here to enjoy the sun and surf? So, as far as restrictions in that sense, I am all for it! And we all know what kind of people end up running these kind of places. I don't want that!

But there is a little trick here for churches to do their Bingo Games. A lady taxi driver told me about it, because that's her pastime with her friends. They pay money to play the bingo games, but it's considered a donation because EVERYONE wins something. Just some win more than others. Pretty tricky, huh?
Click to expand...
I rather like Bingo!
 
Today is my wife's birthday and like we always do, we'll head down to the local casino this morning for breakfast and a bit of gambiling. We'll probably do the same when my birthday rolls around. Other than that, we might go a few more times in a year. We mostly just spend the morning there and get back in the afternoon. It's a nice change of pace for us.
 
I've never been interested in gambling except an occasional lottery ticket.
I went to Vegas once but didn't gamble. I was more interested in the lights and glitz.
 
HazyDavey said:
Today is my wife's birthday and like we always do, we'll head down to the local casino this morning for breakfast and a bit of gambiling. We'll probably do the same when my birthday rolls around. Other than that, we might go a few more times in a year. We mostly just spend the morning there and get back in the afternoon. It's a nice change of pace for us.
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Sounds like a nice time HD!

hearlady said:
I've never been interested in gambling except an occasional lottery ticket.
I went to Vegas once but didn't gamble. I was more interested in the lights and glitz.
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I don't gamble much either any more/
 
I never have been much of a gambler.

When I was in my teens and early 20's I used to shoot pool for money and play nickle dime poker but that's pretty much it.....nowadays other than weekly lottery tickets I haven't gambled in many years.

There's a big glitzy looking casino just twenty minutes from home and another one about 20 miles away and I've never been in either one.
 
If you restrict gambling, what's next and where do you draw the line?
BTW, 'restrict' is a mushy, vague word. Gambling is already illegal in all but a few states. BUT.. many states allow Casinos for certain owners and/or sell lottery tickets.
Many are fatally allergic to nuts. Do we ban their sale and growing? Or shellfish?
More children 0-4 drown in bathtubs than die from guns... don't you love little children?!?
 
A few years back before the economy got so bad we often would go to Atlantic City. We got free rooms, a little slot play, and a buffet and we didn't have to gamble much in order to be invited back. Then they started to cut back on their freebies. We haven't been in quite sometime. It was fun while it lasted. I enjoyed the penny machines and while the hubby played a few other games I would go out on the beach with my metal detector. There had been times when I found more than he won.
 

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