General When A Person Is Addicted

[Tejas]

Have you ever known someone who is straight-up addicted to gambling? As in, they can spend an entire paycheck at a casino or track and then feel guilty when it's all spent? If you have, how did you try to help them?

I think we all need to watch out with this so our fun or extra income doesn't get out of hand.

 

[Rainbow Umbrella]

I do know someone who is an active gambler, but he doesn't seem to have an addiction to it. I believe there is a hotline number that could be called, but it depends on the state. Gamblers Anonymous has a lot of information that could be helpful.

 

[Ace of Spades]

Back in college, I knew someone who would place bets on our sports teams. I've never met anyone with such terrible luck in my life. I wouldn't say she was an addict, but anyone could tell she was definitely not a good gambler.

 

[Old Red]

Yes, Gamblers Anonymous is a good go-to for this. They should put the local number on the front door of every casino in the nation.

 

[Chandeler]

The only problem is that most people who are addicted to things don't realize that they have a problem. That is when others need to step in and make sure that they are being taken care of. So far, I'm lucky enough to not know anyone that has this problem, but I have a feeling it's pretty easy to let this happen.

 

[Ace of Spades]

The only problem is that most people who are addicted to things don't realize that they have a problem. That is when others need to step in and make sure that they are being taken care of. So far, I'm lucky enough to not know anyone that has this problem, but I have a feeling it's pretty easy to let this happen.

It's definitely a blessing! I think what would matter in this case is that the person has enough people around who care enough to intervene.

 

[lordcole]

Most people who are addicted will never own up to it. They will wonder why you are so much on their case when infact, they could be on winning streaks. When necessary, it is important to step in and help where necessary.

 

[aceofbass]

I have an uncle who was addicted for a long time. He once spent an entire month out of town, telling his family he was shopping for a new leather jacket, and somehow losing the funds he'd bring along for the jacket without actually finding one. He eventually got help, but it certainly can be scary. Like so much of life, gambling needs to be done in moderation!

 

[luckysam]

It is so bad when someone is addicted to gambling and no one else can do anything to help. Self-control is really important and it is sad that most gamblers fail to understand this. The lucky ones normally outlive the addiction but woe unto those who don't.

 

[BJPenn]

Of all the vices gambling may just be the worst. It can leave you with nothing and if you place bets with the wrong people much less than you even started out with. If you suspect someone has a problem talk to them and influence them to seek help. Even the worst gamblers can learn to restrict their gambling and that might be all the help they need.

 

[zohan]

I think people get addicted to gambling along the way. When they are starting out, it is normally just for fun but slowly they discover and try out new things and ultimately, this leads to addiction.

I know that there is a point of no return for a gambler and it is normally a long journey to get there. Self-control is normally lost to so many people.

 

[bienamie]

Addiction can be termed as a disaster in gambling. I know a few people who gamble for hours and end up throwing in all they own. I feel sorry for them but most times, they are people desperate to make a fortune.

 

[gizmotron]

I will post information regarding chemical changes occurring during gambling sessions, but I wanted to point out that the addicted gambling treatment world is lacking in expertise regarding magical thinking and common fallacies.

http://getgamblingfacts.ca/how-gambling-really-works/randomness/

RANDOMNESS Randomness Randomness means that something happens by chance, with no plan or purpose. In gambling, randomness means that no one can accurately predict what combinations or results will occur next. Casino games use different types of devices to make sure results are random. Examples include:
spinning a roulette wheel
shuffling a deck of cards
rolling dice
Over the years, countless gamblers have tried to develop strategies to help them predict what will happen next, but no such strategies exist. Randomness in gambling means that it’s impossible for gamblers to control or accurately predict outcomes. (See Gambling Psychology 101 for other common mistaken beliefs.)

And here is where they currently make their mistake. It's not necessary to predict the future in order to take advantage of opportunities that actually exist. In Blackjack the variable change causes an advantage by how the cards are played out. The deck turns to a mathematical advantage for the player if the player sees it and exploits it. Well guess what? I say there is also an advantage that comes and goes caused by the inevitability of coincidence. Randomness can't help but go into phases of opportunity, just like variable change in Blackjack. The cause is not mathematical. It's coincidental. But it requires the same observation of the conditions in order to exploit it.

People go through chemical changes that cause them to leave their logical brain center of the mind behind and go into stages or phases where they don't mind losing. Top that off with a little magical thinking, superstitions, and common fallacies and the gambler is lost before they even start playing. In fact those chemical changes start to occur while driving to the casino. It kind of reminds me of Pavlov's dog.