Gambling anyone?
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norway
Posts: 169
Gambling anyone?
I've been away from alcohol for quite a while, but sometimes I find myself being bored and spending time on sports betting sites. It gives me some adrenaline and passes the time, but unfortunately small $30-$40 bets crept up to hundreds, and over the course of September I lost about $5K which is stupid to say the least. Right now I blew $900 on a tennis match. It seems when one monster goes away, the other one takes its place. Anyone can relate or offer some tips?
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 664
I don't have any personal experience, but a few years ago, an old friend owned a HUGE house and had inheritance money in the bank... UNTIL she got into online gambling!
Now, she lives in a little two bedroomed house that had to be sold after all the money had gone
I am personally too mean with money to risk it, thankfully (tho always managed to spend it on booze ironically)
It sounds like your early in your 'gambling career' and if it was me, I would back out of it fast
Just my opinion x
PS Just reminded me actually, my friend used to drink a lot and then suddenly stopped - at the time, it never crossed my mind that she had problems with alcohol, but sounds like she also switched addictions.
Now, she lives in a little two bedroomed house that had to be sold after all the money had gone
I am personally too mean with money to risk it, thankfully (tho always managed to spend it on booze ironically)
It sounds like your early in your 'gambling career' and if it was me, I would back out of it fast
Just my opinion x
PS Just reminded me actually, my friend used to drink a lot and then suddenly stopped - at the time, it never crossed my mind that she had problems with alcohol, but sounds like she also switched addictions.
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 25
Originally Posted by FreddyBear 
I've been away from alcohol for quite a while, but sometimes I find myself being bored and spending time on sports betting sites. It gives me some adrenaline and passes the time, but unfortunately small $30-$40 bets crept up to hundreds, and over the course of September I lost about $5K which is stupid to say the least. Right now I blew $900 on a tennis match. It seems when one monster goes away, the other one takes its place. Anyone can relate or offer some tips?
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,444
I guess I'm lucky I rarely have much money left after essentials but I've never had the gambling bug, and it's more rife in my family than drinking.
I dunno, Marty - it seems to me trying to limit your bets must be a lot like trying to moderate your drinking?
There are recovery programmes out there for gambling just as there are for alcohol or drugs, Freddie.
D
I dunno, Marty - it seems to me trying to limit your bets must be a lot like trying to moderate your drinking?
There are recovery programmes out there for gambling just as there are for alcohol or drugs, Freddie.
D
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Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 25
Originally Posted by Dee74
I guess I'm lucky I rarely have much money left after essentials but I've never had the gambling bug, and it's more rife in my family than drinking.
I dunno, Marty - it seems to be trying to limit your bets must be a lot like trying to moderate your drinking?
There are recovery programmes out there for gambling just as there are for alcohol or drugs, Freddie.
D
I dunno, Marty - it seems to be trying to limit your bets must be a lot like trying to moderate your drinking?
There are recovery programmes out there for gambling just as there are for alcohol or drugs, Freddie.
D
Very similar , Hand and hand in my eyes. Why I think only thing you can do is quit if you can't control it. I can't... My buddy makes 35$ bets doesn't stress because its nothing. A couple losses doesn't set him back. Which is like people who can go to bar have couple drinks. I'm no expert but I think if you are alcoholic you'll have same mentality for sports betting.
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Join Date: May 2013
Location: North East, US
Posts: 2,310
I have no experience with gambling (cheap chick here 
) but I think you can swap out gambling for any activity we use to try and escape. I think most of us have done it. Be conscious of it and stop it before it stops you!
Side note: the replacement of the book maker for easy online gambling is a scary scary thing.
) but I think you can swap out gambling for any activity we use to try and escape. I think most of us have done it. Be conscious of it and stop it before it stops you!Side note: the replacement of the book maker for easy online gambling is a scary scary thing.
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norway
Posts: 169
Originally Posted by MartyTheDrunk
Started same way.... I told myself I would only make 50$ bets a game. I ended up down 750$ by 7PM on Sunday because I'm a loser and I finished a bottle of vodka by 4 o'clock. I then had bright idea of doubling down on Pitt for 1500$ got destroyed. Lost 2250$ sunday. To me I have been a ragin alcoholic my whole life and also a gambling addict. I woke up yesterday morning and for the first time in my life I was just sick of it. I realize now I want to lose, I don't get satisfied when I win because I don't feel the pain and rush I get from losing.
I've startef off my betting career as a poor student back in early 2000s, was a frequent visitor of offline booking shops. Won and loss tiny amounts like $20-$30 because had no more. Then from about 2004 I was too busy drinking and just placed a few accidental bets over the year for a few hundred which was nothing so it didn't bother me.
Alcohol recovery brought the old demon back. Drinking is a hell of a lot cheaper, but causes way more scary troubles. And yes, waking up, logging into the bank account and seeing the big holes in it is a b1tch.
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Southern U.S.
Posts: 1,030
FreddyBear, I got addicted to online gambling (cards) from Dec 2010-April 2012. Had 7 weeks clean in early 2012, then decided I could play 'just one' and cycle began again. I lost my rent 3 times, maxed out my credit cards, borrowed money from friends and so on.
It got to be where my life was uncontrollable. I was stressed out and panicked every day, and yet would get back on the computer for the adrenaline rush and to distract myself from all sorts of things I didn't want to deal with. I finally told my family what was going on and started going to gambling addiction meetings. Being around other people from all walks of life (many who lost their jobs or were sent to prison for stealing from work) saved me. You are definitely not alone in this addiction and there is plenty of help out there.
You can free yourself from this awful cycle. I promise you that life is so much more sane and peaceful without gambling. I never worry that my bank account is going to be in the red from a spree or that I'm not going to have enough money to pay my bills. I've paid back all my friends and am working on paying down the credit debt.
I'm rooting for you. Feel free to pm me anytime if you want to talk about this more.
It got to be where my life was uncontrollable. I was stressed out and panicked every day, and yet would get back on the computer for the adrenaline rush and to distract myself from all sorts of things I didn't want to deal with. I finally told my family what was going on and started going to gambling addiction meetings. Being around other people from all walks of life (many who lost their jobs or were sent to prison for stealing from work) saved me. You are definitely not alone in this addiction and there is plenty of help out there.
You can free yourself from this awful cycle. I promise you that life is so much more sane and peaceful without gambling. I never worry that my bank account is going to be in the red from a spree or that I'm not going to have enough money to pay my bills. I've paid back all my friends and am working on paying down the credit debt.
I'm rooting for you. Feel free to pm me anytime if you want to talk about this more.
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 261
I am an alcoholic/addict, and along with that, I have a gambling problem too. Basically, I have an addictive personality. I can confirm what other people have said about gambling. It can be just as destructive as any other drug. In treatment, they repeatedly warned us about cross addictions, and how we could easily go from alcohol to drugs to gambling or even to sex.
Since I'm in California, Las Vegas is only an hour plane ride away. I haven't visited Las Vegas for about four years now, but with the presence of local Indian casinos or other city casinos, it's been more difficult. I've managed to stay away from all casinos for about 6-7 months now. Any time any of my friends want to go to Vegas or a casino, I either politely say, "No, Thanks" , or I offer an alternative activity. Even if I tell myself that i'm going to watch, it never turns out that way. I have to remember that I really have no business in a casino. Most casinos usually promote drinking and smoking, which I have no business doing either.
Anyways, treat gambling like any other drug. It is just as vicious and sneaky.
Since I'm in California, Las Vegas is only an hour plane ride away. I haven't visited Las Vegas for about four years now, but with the presence of local Indian casinos or other city casinos, it's been more difficult. I've managed to stay away from all casinos for about 6-7 months now. Any time any of my friends want to go to Vegas or a casino, I either politely say, "No, Thanks" , or I offer an alternative activity. Even if I tell myself that i'm going to watch, it never turns out that way. I have to remember that I really have no business in a casino. Most casinos usually promote drinking and smoking, which I have no business doing either.
Anyways, treat gambling like any other drug. It is just as vicious and sneaky.
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Chicago Burbs- Illinois
Posts: 202
I didn't realize it until I got sober but when I was calling in a few bets to my bookie I felt that pull/rush/compulsion and it was very unpleasant. I can't say I did anything crazy- put down some cash on football Sundays only but I've cut it out completely now. I know that feeling, its similar to that pull toward the liquor store, the rush when I'm getting something- very very dangerous IMO and not worth the life risks.
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Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: NC
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I am on day 7 of quitting drinking and have recently started gambling again. I've found the rush I get is a substitute, and has helped me fill the void. Except on nights like tonight when there is no game on TV. I miss it and can't wait for Thurs night football, to the point that I thought about drinking tonight. It does help me get through the weekends, but I realize it's a dangerous substitute. I have enough experience that if it gets out of hand, I'll quit that too.
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Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Australia
Posts: 11,351
Freddy, im actually amazed i read this as i too have exactly the same problem. I have swapped 1 demon for another . It has always been this way for me .:-( i hate having an addictive personality .
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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I couldn't make it a day, I'm now on day 3 for quitting alcohol but had to make bets, already maxed out my account on Patriots I am pathetic. Alcohol hasn't given me much problems these first 2 days of sobriety except for not sleeping in over 48 hours but gambling is really tough. I just hope this doesn't make me drink Sunday will be my first big test.
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I watched that clip. I don't know if I relate. I get the rush from winning. Hate losing with a passion. It's the (arrogant) idea that I'm smarter than the oddsmakers that keeps me going. And also it makes a game I normally wouldn't care about interesting.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Nutmegger
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One of the guys in my addiction group in rehab was there for counting cards in Vegas, they treated it no differently than any other addiction. Something to consider...most addictions cause activity in the same pleasure center of the brain, love/sex, food, booze, drugs, gambling....so being aware that one issue could trigger another is helpful in early recovery.
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