Comments on: Blackjack and Texas Hold’em Poker Almost Ruined My Life – How to Get Gambling Addiction Help

By: Orlando

Orlando — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:45:48 +0000

The words “professional” and “poker” do not even go together; poker is gambling, it is not a profession or a sport. The media has simply spun things to legitimize poker in the minds of the public. Every so-called “professional” poker player is a gambling addict – staking other players, engaging in high-risk betting in other things (like the outcome of other poker matches, sports, stocks, etc). They generally spend they’re “bankroll” very quickly on things that simply fund the casino & gambling industry; they’re sense of money is warped by the large sums that they bet / win/ lose at the poker table. Thus, even though these poker “pros” have cash flow, they really can’t hold onto it for very long and or really tabulate their profits; they mostly reinvest in poker games. Furthermore, the “professional” poker economy is a small mostly closed loop, pretty disconnected from the rest of the economy and relies on so-called “fish” (bad players, vicitims) to bring more money into the mix. Bottom Line: there is no such thing as professional poker. It’s really a very dubious and questionable way to make a living; certainly not admirable, certainly not contributing a lick to society or the betterment of humankind. Anyone who has the idea of a “professional” poker justified in their mind is pretty pathetic and tragic.

By: Di

Di — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:47:37 +0000

Cindy Lu. I suggest putting yourself on the EXCLUSION LIST with the Gambler’s Commission. I was there also. Completely in the same situation. My mortgage was less than the amount I lost two year’s ago on slots. I had to refinance. My husband threatened divorce and insisted I put myself on the Exclusion list. I am now banned from any casino in my state. They took my picture and I had to sign tons of documents. Sure I could still go but I enjoy using the cards the casinos give you to get the freebies as well as free slot dollars, etc. Since I can’t use my card because I will then get caught I don’t go any more. I took over a year to get that urge out of me. I’m better now…. except I have another addiction now… Ebay!

By: Cindy Lu

Cindy Lu — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:14:09 +0000

I have an addiction to gambling. where I live there are Indian Casino’s everywhere I use to drive by one everyday to go to and from work. It only took one time for me to go in there and I was addicted. I played the slots. At first I could put $20 dollars in there and win $40 dollars then get up and leave,but it got harder and harder to do that. I’ve won alot of jackpots from $1,ooo to $5,000. I was really hooked then I could’nt stop I wanted to win more and more. Then I went on the losing streak you think its going to hit just one more spin it’s bound to hit but it does’nt then before you know it you have lost $100 dollars then your whole paycheck its horriable. I had to quit my job so I would’nt have to drive by there anymore. I’m trying to quit and it is very hard. If I don’t have any money I can’t go. That why I found this web site trying to find ways to KICK THIS ADDICTION TO GAMBLING. Thanks for listening.

By: Joe Cada

Joe Cada — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:49 +0000

Its better to have self control. In my country there was a bank employee with a high rank that had access to the money, he took 100.000 euros and went to the casino. Lost all of them, then tried to commit suicide. He didnt succeed and now he lives with those debts…

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:22:21 +0000

Thanks for highlighting the effects of online gambling. In my country the government has started with state owned casinos which is in my opinion really bad.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:25:17 +0000

I think that signing up for a program that can offer you some counseling regarding this issue will certainly help.

There was an old saying that gambling is not a problem unless you are losing money!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:51:13 +0000

Wiwi: It’s not for me to say whether you are on the road to addiction or not. Poker can be seen as a sport, as there are many people who play simply for the challenge of the game. There are others who play professional poker and do quite well at it, and addiction is not a problem for them. Then there are people who don’t know how to handle gambling in any respect.

My advice for you is that if you decide you want to play, then be able to honestly assess your motives, abilities, and reasons for playing. If you ever feel the need to take a break, then take a break. If you can’t bear to go away from the game and feel you need to play, then you may in fact be addicted.

Best of luck

By: Wiwi

Wiwi — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:59:44 +0000

Hey I wanted to ask you a question mybe you can help me… I am 18 and I play texas holdem my mum is frustrated and she doesnt want me to cause she said it can turn into an addiction and I BELIEVE it can. But when I play I dont play for the money and we only play like $10 and use 2k chips for example and its only once a week. I like the feel when ur in though hands trying to get reads on your opponent, trying to calculate their bet patterns and pot odds. Do you think I am on the road of becoming an addict cause I mostly want to take it as a “sport” and I realy like this game cause I think it does require skill compared to other gambling games.