Gambling addiction?

[rghy2]

I have struggled a little bit with a gambling problem. I've never used bill money to gamble, but I've taken cash advances against credit cards and will often gamble away all the money in my checking account. I was even thinking about blacklisting myself from the casinos in missouri where I live, but my husband actually talked me out of it because I don't go that often and it's kinda like my therapy. I have a brokerage account I use for savings and a 401k that I've never been tempted to touch for gambling, because it's only once I'm in the casino that I get stupid with my money. What I've done now though to keep it from being a problem is called my credit card company and asked them not to allow cash advances on my credit card and as soon as I get paid I will pay my bills and put all my extra money except for $200 towards extra debt payments (student loans and a wedding loan, not gambling debt). That way if I do go to a casino I only have 200 to lose for 2 weeks.

As far as whether or not poker is gambling... I think that all depends on how you treat it. If I go to a casino to play poker, but the tournament ends or the table closes, I will be very tempted to go play in the casino, so that doesn't help my addiction. If you treat poker as a form of gambling by playing above your BR, or making stupid calls "just one time", than poker is gambling. If you practice good BR management and stick to what you can afford, or even better, grind out a BR from freerolls and work your way up, well then I think all poker players have a gambling addiction to some degree, but it isn't a problem.

[666LIZ]

I have struggled a little bit with a gambling problem. I've never used bill money to gamble, but I've taken cash advances against credit cards and will often gamble away all the money in my checking account. I was even thinking about blacklisting myself from the casinos in missouri where I live, but my husband actually talked me out of it because I don't go that often and it's kinda like my therapy. I have a brokerage account I use for savings and a 401k that I've never been tempted to touch for gambling, because it's only once I'm in the casino that I get stupid with my money. What I've done now though to keep it from being a problem is called my credit card company and asked them not to allow cash advances on my credit card and as soon as I get paid I will pay my bills and put all my extra money except for $200 towards extra debt payments (student loans and a wedding loan, not gambling debt). That way if I do go to a casino I only have 200 to lose for 2 weeks.

As far as whether or not poker is gambling... I think that all depends on how you treat it. If I go to a casino to play poker, but the tournament ends or the table closes, I will be very tempted to go play in the casino, so that doesn't help my addiction. If you treat poker as a form of gambling by playing above your BR, or making stupid calls "just one time", than poker is gambling. If you practice good BR management and stick to what you can afford, or even better, grind out a BR from freerolls and work your way up, well then I think all poker players have a gambling addiction to some degree, but it isn't a problem.

If you have taken cash advances to PLAY THE GAME....I say you have a problem with it.....If you cant have credit cards because u MIGHT take out cash advances....I Say you have a Problem with it.......YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT MONEY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE.......IF you have LOANS then YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE.....

[rghy2]

If you have taken cash advances to PLAY THE GAME....I say you have a problem with it.....If you cant have credit cards because u MIGHT take out cash advances....I Say you have a Problem with it.......YOU SHOULD NEVER PUT MONEY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE THAT YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE.......IF you have LOANS then YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE.....

I've taken out cash advances to play table games/slots, not poker. And we live in a society that revolves around debt. Almost everyone has student loans or a car loan, even a mortgage. It just doesn't make sense to say if you have any form of debt you don't have money to gamble. People use money for shopping, video games, sports tickets, etc. all the time and carry some form of debt. I choose to gamble and I don't really do it that often. My husband spends more on video games then I do on gambling. And I do have a credit card, and it's not even maxed out! I travel quite a bit, so it's good to have a credit card for that. And that's the point, the money I put in the middle, I always can afford to lose, I would just feel really guilty afterwards. My bills have always gotten paid, and I put extra towards my loans every month, and haven't even made a smaller payment than I planned on because of gambling. Actually, I hit a royal flush for 5k this year, so I'm actually ahead financially because of gambling. I just didn't want to see my addiction develop into a real problem, so I've made some proactive choices.

[tturne01]

I've taken out cash advances to play table games/slots, not poker. And we live in a society that revolves around debt. Almost everyone has student loans or a car loan, even a mortgage. It just doesn't make sense to say if you have any form of debt you don't have money to gamble. People use money for shopping, video games, sports tickets, etc. all the time and carry some form of debt. I choose to gamble and I don't really do it that often. My husband spends more on video games then I do on gambling. And I do have a credit card, and it's not even maxed out! I travel quite a bit, so it's good to have a credit card for that. And that's the point, the money I put in the middle, I always can afford to lose, I would just feel really guilty afterwards. My bills have always gotten paid, and I put extra towards my loans every month, and haven't even made a smaller payment than I planned on because of gambling. Actually, I hit a royal flush for 5k this year, so I'm actually ahead financially because of gambling. I just didn't want to see my addiction develop into a real problem, so I've made some proactive choices.

I think there is some wisdom in what he is saying about being in debt and gambling. I think it comes down to discipline and responsible playing. If you can implement proper Bankroll management, then I would say you are not really gambling.

[666LIZ]

I've taken out cash advances to play table games/slots, not poker. And we live in a society that revolves around debt. Almost everyone has student loans or a car loan, even a mortgage. It just doesn't make sense to say if you have any form of debt you don't have money to gamble. People use money for shopping, video games, sports tickets, etc. all the time and carry some form of debt. I choose to gamble and I don't really do it that often. My husband spends more on video games then I do on gambling. And I do have a credit card, and it's not even maxed out! I travel quite a bit, so it's good to have a credit card for that. And that's the point, the money I put in the middle, I always can afford to lose, I would just feel really guilty afterwards. My bills have always gotten paid, and I put extra towards my loans every month, and haven't even made a smaller payment than I planned on because of gambling. Actually, I hit a royal flush for 5k this year, so I'm actually ahead financially because of gambling. I just didn't want to see my addiction develop into a real problem, so I've made some proactive choices.

No dear NOT everyone has Loans and Credit Cards and Such LOL theres only 2 things in this world worth FINANCING Homes & Cars (cars not so much if you manage yourself right). I have NO Credit Card Debt and I have NO Student Loans and I have NO Credit Card Advances and if I want to go shopping...IF I CANT PAY CASH or by my DEBIT Card I DO NOT NEED IT! If I want or need anything I save and pay cash because dear the financial market is way down from stocks to jobs to housing market. We could potentially see a economic downfall that could take everyone for a loop. You said it best in your statement "We live in a Society that revolves around debt.". Whoms fault would that be??? And if EVERYONE thought like that LOL where would this world be?

[rghy2]

No dear NOT everyone has Loans and Credit Cards and Such LOL theres only 2 things in this world worth FINANCING Homes & Cars (cars not so much if you manage yourself right). I have NO Credit Card Debt and I have NO Student Loans and I have NO Credit Card Advances and if I want to go shopping...IF I CANT PAY CASH or by my DEBIT Card I DO NOT NEED IT! If I want or need anything I save and pay cash because dear the financial market is way down from stocks to jobs to housing market. We could potentially see a economic downfall that could take everyone for a loop. You said it best in your statement "We live in a Society that revolves around debt.". Whoms fault would that be??? And if EVERYONE thought like that LOL where would this world be?

Really, you don't think student loans are an acceptable form of debt?? A college education isn't worth financing, but a car is? Because that's the only way most of my generation is able to pay for college. We don't all have rich parents that could pay for it.

[666LIZ]

Really, you don't think student loans are an acceptable form of debt?? A college education isn't worth financing, but a car is? Because that's the only way most of my generation is able to pay for college. We don't all have rich parents that could pay for it.

ROFL.........There are way too many "Free Grants" out here to be paying for college first off. And Second off I worked nights and weekends to pay for college. Third off rich parents psh if you only knew what kind of life I actually had but you go on and be judgmental because someone called you out and the first action to take is defensiveness I clearly understand. Guess that proves my point on everything Ive said because "IF" you have a gambling addiction you are willing to "JUSTIFY" your spending because you are always looking for that "ONE" big "WIN" and as you stated in other posts you had "ONE" of those already this year. Yet I promise Bankroll Management is something you terribly lack otherwise you would "NEVER" take a cash advance out to put up when the "RISK" doesnt outweigh the "REWARD"

[rghy2]

ROFL.........There are way too many "Free Grants" out here to be paying for college first off. And Second off I worked nights and weekends to pay for college. Third off rich parents psh if you only knew what kind of life I actually had but you go on and be judgmental because someone called you out and the first action to take is defensiveness I clearly understand. Guess that proves my point on everything Ive said because "IF" you have a gambling addiction you are willing to "JUSTIFY" your spending because you are always looking for that "ONE" big "WIN" and as you stated in other posts you had "ONE" of those already this year. Yet I promise Bankroll Management is something you terribly lack otherwise you would "NEVER" take a cash advance out to put up when the "RISK" doesnt outweigh the "REWARD"

I have to say, your response looks way more defensive than mine. Actually it looks like you're attacking me to make yourself feel better about something in your life are insecure about, and maybe it's finances. Maybe you grew up in a really poor family that made bad financial decisions and you don't want to be compared to them. Who knows, all I know is that I've been living on my own since I was 17 and after 3 1/2 years of working full time and going to school part time I chose to become a full time student because I just didn't have enough time to be a successful student and make it out of college by the time I was 30. I also don't play to win, I play because I enjoy gambling, and I treat any money I gamble with as gone before I start playing with it. Also, I don't think the term "Bankroll Management" applies to true gambling, it's a term I apply to poker, and it's actually something I stick to very consistently.