Problem Gambling

[Gopi Passiflora]

Do you think I have gambling problems if I only gamble for fun (and comps), not expect to win big, and spend within a specified budget?

[Cindy Evanier]

4 minutes ago, Gopi Passiflora said:

Do you think I have gambling problems if I only gamble for fun (and comps), not expect to win big, and spend within a specified budget?

sounds like you have it under control if all that is true

[Gopi Passiflora]

Just now, Cindy Evanier said:

sounds like you have it under control if all that is true

 Thank you for the assurance!

[Beth Macbain]

7 minutes ago, Gopi Passiflora said:

Do you think I have gambling problems if I only gamble for fun (and comps), not expect to win big, and spend within a specified budget?

Nope! 

10 Signs of Problem Gambling

I knew people with gambling addictions when I lived in Las Vegas. I knew people who lost everything. 

What you're describing is gambling enjoyment, not addiction. If you start making excuses for going just a little bit over your budget, or making your bets just a little bit higher in order to snag better comps, run like hell, though. Don't ever be fooled into thinking you're being comped - you're paying for everything they give you.

Gamblers Anonymous is free.

[Gopi Passiflora]

1 minute ago, Beth Macbain said:

Nope! 

10 Signs of Problem Gambling

I knew people with gambling addictions when I lived in Las Vegas. I knew people who lost everything. 

What you're describing is gambling enjoyment, not addiction. If you start making excuses for going just a little bit over your budget, or making your bets just a little bit higher in order to snag better comps, run like hell, though. Don't ever be fooled into thinking you're being comped - you're paying for everything they give you.

Gamblers Anonymous is free.

Thanks as always for your input, Beth!

I'm in Las Vegas right now for the New Year celebration. I love going to Vegas mainly to dance at bars and celebrations, but since they're not open right now I play at the casino to kill time.

[Rolig Loon]

The casinos wouldn't be in business if they weren't making money, and they wouldn't be making money if players, on average, didn't lose more money than they gained. Speaking entirely for myself, I can only imagine gambling if it's for the pure enjoyment of the game, since I don't see any pleasure in losing money. It sounds like you feel the same way, in which case neither of us has a "problem".

[Tolya Ugajin]

1 hour ago, Gopi Passiflora said:

Do you think I have gambling problems if I only gamble for fun (and comps), not expect to win big, and spend within a specified budget?

I'm not an addiction specialist, but my experience with people asking questions such as this (mostly wiht drugs and alcohol) suggests there is more to it than just what you're saying.  For instance, if your "specified budget" is more than a mortgage payment would be...you need help.  If you only gamble for fun, but have that fun at the expense of spending time with family and your responsibilities, then you have a problem.

But, if your gambling is truly not causing problems in your life, no, you probably do not have a problem, you have a hobby.

If you seriously wonder whether or not you have a problem, then don't ask a bunch of virtual armchair therapists, speak to an actual mental health professional.

[Kimmi Zehetbauer]

When we hit the casinos --- we take a certain amount and once it's depleted, time to grab something to eat and head out. We think of it as entertainment, and not to try to deplete the casino's bank. If we do win something, it's a bonus and goes back in envelope for the gambling fund.

[Ceka Cianci]

A friend of mine a few years back had to do those classes for driving because she had an open container in her car..

She said that one of the things  they told in the class when people would say they didn't have a problem was..

If it affects your life in a negative way,it's a problem..

 

[Mollymews]

Nick "The Greek" Dandolos probably said it best when he said: "The next best thing to gambling and winning, is gambling and losing"

if we think this then we are a gambler

where gambling becomes a problem (and only then) is when it hurts others.  When we are responsible for putting food on the family table, responsible for paying the utility bills, responsible for paying the rent/mortgage. When we don't do what we are responsible for then we have a problem

when we are not responsible for others directly then we can still hurt others when we take no responsibility for ourselves. Others have to bail us out, pay our bills, feed and clothe us, put a roof over our heads, etc

when we gamble within our means then is not a problem. We might think that another person has a problem when after meeting their responsibilities they gamble the rest away

when that person is a gambler then gambling the rest away might be wasteful by our own standards, but is not a problem given that their responsibilities have been met

[Fauve Aeon]

6 hours ago, Ceka Cianci said:

If it affects your life in a negative way,it's a problem..

I’m in no way a professional but this feels correct to me. I also believe there is usually reason behind why people ask these kinds of questions. Are you doing any substitution behaviors in your lifestyle concerning gambling, for instance instead of doing other more meaningful things? But then I’m not a gambler (aside from SL Gacha) and IRL would be dashing about seeing the sights and shows in Vegas. I tried playing some of the games on one trip to Laughlin with friends for a long weekend. The personality changes they exhibited were really weird. 
The machines hold no appeal, I’d much rather play pinball.  I was very bored, even at the blackjack tables where people were playing together with a human dealer...so I slept late, went on a river tour by myself and stayed up late dancing in the club.