Problem with gambling

JoeyA

Efren's Mini-Tourn BACKER
Silver Member
Gambling casts a very wide net. By that I mean, people from all walks of life have been known to gamble. Gambling can be done and is done on just about anything under the sun.

Toncam's reply to my post about my dad's penchant for betting on the horses prompted me to start this thread. Who knows, maybe in your stories or mine, someone who is getting ready to go down that road, might see themselves and make a different decision.

While my story about my dad's gambling on the horses seems almost tragic, it isn't and it wasn't, well at least it doesn't have that perspective to me. While we grew up so poor, my dad didn't always bet the ponies.
For many years we lived in "the country" and they didn't have any tracks there and everyone else that lived there wasn't too well off either.

I've enjoyed gambling all of my life. I may have won a little more than I lost but I book losers just like anyone else. If you aren't booking losers occasionally you're not gambling.

I guess I've been lucky most of my life. In fact, I know I have been fortunate to escape paying a heavy price for walking so close to the edge of many things.

It's not always the loss of money that sometimes accompanies gambling that hurts a person. Sometimes the bigger losses occurs in other areas like self esteem, family arguments, loss of time with family, friend arguments/loss of friends and sometimes just a bad reputation.

Last night I was playing some forty dollar 9 ball and played extremely well against another good, local player. It was fun and I haven't played that well in a long time. I seldom ever gamble at 9 ball but before I started I knew I had a few hundred dollars that was burning a hole in my pocket. I figured that I had a dozen barrels and that would last me the night. If I lost that I would simply quit. Fortunately, I started out super strong. As the night wore on I played progressively worse and my opponent played better. It was a fun night because I played so well and I didn't lose any money as I actually won a little in the process.

For me gambling at pool is just another dimension of pool. I don't currently gamble at sports betting, although I participate in some golf and football pools. Louisiana is known for gambling and you can bet on just about anything your heart desires. I tried the ponies for a little while but saw that I had no control over those things. Every now and then I would read the forms and get lucky or one of the seasoned veterans of the track would put a good tip on me but I could see that if I continued betting on the horses, I would just be paying for their room and board. Really, its been that way for me with just about everything. I've tried betting the sports but the vigorish eats a hole in your pocket in the long run.

I've always set a limit as to what I might be able to justify losing and I have never gone beyond that number. In other words, I don't borrow money from my friends to continue gambling and I don't bet more than what I can afford to lose.

I tell people that I gamble at pool because I enjoy it but if it disappeared overnight for the betterment of the sport I wouldn't miss it for a minute. I know that when I beat a good player, a bad player, or someone who just doesn't match up well, it's still a loss and losses don't feel good.

If you gamble ONLY what you can genuinely justify losing, then you should be OK but this thread is more about my personal experiences and I know others have had different experiences. So let's hear yours. Maybe you'll save a life or help someone manage their money.

JoeyA
 
I don't gamble because I trade for living (mostly futures contracts, but some stocks too). It's a controlled, semi-predictable environment in which there's no "house" you're betting against; it's just you and the other traders. The rules are extremely well thought out and enforced (the exchanges and the Securities & Exchange Commission).

Anyway, trading exposes the flaws in pure gambling (roulette, blackjack, etc.)...that being never being able to beat the house odds. Poker is okay, it's just too damn slow and depends too much on luck of the draw.

I have little to no interest in betting on the outcome of a pool match played by others. I can enjoy watching SVB vs. Orcullo just fine without a bet. My buddies and I will bet small change on our games just to make sure we stay focused.

Works for me. Each to his own.
 
I don't gamble because I trade for living (mostly futures contracts, but some stocks too). It's a controlled, semi-predictable environment in which there's no "house" you're betting against; it's just you and the other traders. The rules are extremely well thought out and enforced (the exchanges and the Securities & Exchange Commission).

Anyway, trading exposes the flaws in pure gambling (roulette, blackjack, etc.)...that being never being able to beat the house odds. Poker is okay, it's just too damn slow and depends too much on luck of the draw.

I have little to no interest in betting on the outcome of a pool match played by others. I can enjoy watching SVB vs. Orcullo just fine without a bet. My buddies and I will bet small change on our games just to make sure we stay focused.

Works for me. Each to his own.
(HERE, HERE!)
JoeyA
 
My problem is, I don't like spots, especially ball spots. I tend to play everybody even. I definitely book my share of losers that way but, it's for fun, and I don't ever gamble with money I'm not already prepared to lose. Doesn't hurt me a bit, and it's more fun that way if I end up on top playing a good player with no spot. I guess it wouldn't kill me to try to get some weight sometimes though.
 
All I gotta say to that is.

Belmont park
Race 3
#6 saints alive (***** bet)
Foot on the gas and don't look back..


Just jokin just jokin..
 
Not everyone is born .........

With a horse shoe in the ass . Some of us have real issues behind obsession and compulsion that will drive us to make unwise choices. The EGO is the issue in most cases and it drives us to do unrealistic things.Some , very few ,but some ,can gamble with logic , intuition , and skill .God bless em. I am not one of those so I really ,really , really have to keep myself in check and just not gamble . I am however going to buy a lotto ticket today .....:thumbup:
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20-questions

As a side note I do have friends who can casually drink too.I am just not casual about many things . Some do ,Some don't , Some Over DO , I over do alot so I watch the things that I do .

Joey , we have talked about this before . You use your head and have alot of control and wisdom that the average person who gambles just does not have.
 
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I play poker for a living and I've seen countless people lose everything they ever cared about. Not money, but friends, family and sentimental items. Its tragic when it happens, but that's the way it is for some. Peoples personalities sometimes get in the way, and can only get their buzz from bigger and more outrageous bets.

Only other thing I've put money on is pool. Never bet on sports, or other pool players. I put down what I can afford to lose in pool, and only put money down if I can control the outcome ie I've got to be playing.

Its sad to see people spiral out of control with gambling addiction. The best advice I ever got was don't risk losing money that you don't have or can't spare. I think playing poker 7 hours a day since I was 18 made me grow up in a way. It knocked some sense into me when I would lose big money, but I saw it as a valuable life lesson and a stepping stone on the way to becoming an adult.
 
I've never had a problem with gambling....

..had a few problems with losing sometimes...
 
I learned a good lesson watching my Dad gamble. He owned an ice and fuel business back in the 1940's to the mid 1970's. He had about 100 ice stops, mostly bars, but some meat and fish markets and a few homes. He would have some kind of sports bet with the owner or customer of just about every bar we served. He probably bet $1000-$2000 a week just on sports. $2000 a week in the 1950's was pretty high gambling. After the ice route was done each day at about 2 pm he would go play cards, bowl, or play pool until the bar closed.

The cards, bowling, and pool he almost always won, but the sports betting he gave what he won back. Why? Because he bet with his heart, not his head. Even when he lost heavy he would always give my Mom her money for the week to run the house. As far as casinos and clubs with tables down the basement...he never...gambled that way. He was pretty connected back then and delivered and set up one-arm bandits and other casino type games.

So I learned to bet with your head, not your heart, bet on your own skill (pool and such), don't bet in casinos or the like, and never bet more than you can pay-off W/O sweating it. Following those rules I've been lucky over the years to make a lot more than I've lost. I'm a bit of what gamblers call a nit. I call a nit someone that won't let you steal from them. Johnnyt
 
I learned a good lesson watching my Dad gamble. He owned an ice and fuel business back in the 1940's to the mid 1970's. He had about 100 ice stops, mostly bars, but some meat and fish markets and a few homes. He would have some kind of sports bet with the owner or customer of just about every bar we served. He probably bet $1000-$2000 a week just on sports. $2000 a week in the 1950's was pretty high gambling. After the ice route was done each day at about 2 pm he would go play cards, bowl, or play pool until the bar closed.

The cards, bowling, and pool he almost always won, but the sports betting he gave what he won back. Why? Because he bet with his heart, not his head. Even when he lost heavy he would always give my Mom her money for the week to run the house. As far as casinos and clubs with tables down the basement...he never...gambled that way. He was pretty connected back then and delivered and set up one-arm bandits and other casino type games.

So I learned to bet with your head, not your heart, bet on your own skill (pool and such), don't bet in casinos or the like, and never bet more than you can pay-off W/O sweating it. Following those rules I've been lucky over the years to make a lot more than I've lost. I'm a bit of what gamblers call a nit. I call a nit someone that won't let you steal from them. Johnnyt

I think a nit is someone who has to have 9-5 the best of any game to play. I personally know players who might play the 8 better than someone but refuse to play because to them that would be to much of a gamble.
 
I think a nit is someone who has to have 9-5 the best of any game to play. I personally know players who might play the 8 better than someone but refuse to play because to them that would be to much of a gamble.

:D I wasn't that bad. But I did like to have a little bit of an edge. Johnnyt
 
Me personally i havent bet much on pool at all in my lifetime outside of like social bets like $10 or whatnot. I mainly shot dice and still will on occasion but im much more disciplined now than i ever was before, i will walk away quicker now when i sense things starting to turn and it dont bother me as i know it will still be there tomorrow.
Now this is where the casinos get most people as they are in town for only so long and want to play as much as they can which is their downfall.

But anyway, i have seen so much destruction coming from gambling, its pitiful. At least two people i had contact with committed suicide, and thats only the two i know about. I have seen countless guys lose businesses and familys and you name it, its possibly the strongest addiction going today.

I could go on and on about it, but i think everyone gets the general idea. Some of the worst cases are people who are exposed to gambling and win for the first time, these are the ones who are at the most risk for hurting themselves, especially if they have an addictive or compulsive personality. That win never leaves their mind and they will always try to repeat it and this is where they begin to destroy themselves.
 
Gambling

Gambling casts a very wide net. By that I mean, people from all walks of life have been known to gamble. Gambling can be done and is done on just about anything under the sun.

Toncam's reply to my post about my dad's penchant for betting on the horses prompted me to start this thread. Who knows, maybe in your stories or mine, someone who is getting ready to go down that road, might see themselves and make a different decision.

While my story about my dad's gambling on the horses seems almost tragic, it isn't and it wasn't, well at least it doesn't have that perspective to me. While we grew up so poor, my dad didn't always bet the ponies.
For many years we lived in "the country" and they didn't have any tracks there and everyone else that lived there wasn't too well off either.

I've enjoyed gambling all of my life. I may have won a little more than I lost but I book losers just like anyone else. If you aren't booking losers occasionally you're not gambling.

I guess I've been lucky most of my life. In fact, I know I have been fortunate to escape paying a heavy price for walking so close to the edge of many things.

It's not always the loss of money that sometimes accompanies gambling that hurts a person. Sometimes the bigger losses occurs in other areas like self esteem, family arguments, loss of time with family, friend arguments/loss of friends and sometimes just a bad reputation.

Last night I was playing some forty dollar 9 ball and played extremely well against another good, local player. It was fun and I haven't played that well in a long time. I seldom ever gamble at 9 ball but before I started I knew I had a few hundred dollars that was burning a hole in my pocket. I figured that I had a dozen barrels and that would last me the night. If I lost that I would simply quit. Fortunately, I started out super strong. As the night wore on I played progressively worse and my opponent played better. It was a fun night because I played so well and I didn't lose any money as I actually won a little in the process.

For me gambling at pool is just another dimension of pool. I don't currently gamble at sports betting, although I participate in some golf and football pools. Louisiana is known for gambling and you can bet on just about anything your heart desires. I tried the ponies for a little while but saw that I had no control over those things. Every now and then I would read the forms and get lucky or one of the seasoned veterans of the track would put a good tip on me but I could see that if I continued betting on the horses, I would just be paying for their room and board. Really, its been that way for me with just about everything. I've tried betting the sports but the vigorish eats a hole in your pocket in the long run.

I've always set a limit as to what I might be able to justify losing and I have never gone beyond that number. In other words, I don't borrow money from my friends to continue gambling and I don't bet more than what I can afford to lose.

I tell people that I gamble at pool because I enjoy it but if it disappeared overnight for the betterment of the sport I wouldn't miss it for a minute. I know that when I beat a good player, a bad player, or someone who just doesn't match up well, it's still a loss and losses don't feel good.

If you gamble ONLY what you can genuinely justify losing, then you should be OK but this thread is more about my personal experiences and I know others have had different experiences. So let's hear yours. Maybe you'll save a life or help someone manage their money.

JoeyA

JoeyA,
My experience with gambling was as a youth and it wasn't gambling like I'm sure you understand it. It was gambling to me because I didn't have but a few barrels to fire on but it was pool and although I didn't know much about what I was doing I could beat the people I was playing so that made it hustling. The winnings made my life a little easier so I viewed it as work, just not so hard as mowing the grass with a push mower so I quickly began to like it.

I didn't enjoy a match up to test skill. I wanted your money. My policy was not to take too much just bits from a lot of people and that worked well for a long time.

As an adult I've come across a few friends that act so ugly when they gamble that its totally turned me off to it. I've seen a side of it that turned me off but I don't hang out with those two so much and lately I've wanted to match up and I know that is exactly what I need to do to test my nerves and abilities. So I'm going to sneak off somewhere and quietly try my hand again when I get my mind right.

I never took any money in a place I wasn't willing to part with. This way I knew I was right and could fight down to dead broke, shake hand go home a whipped dog.

But I did my gambling as a kid and I'm new to this new found "matching up". I wasn't playing for as much as if it mattered. I think for me the attitude has to be right. If the attitude of the match up is right I'm not so opposed to it because really I am playing myself and would even enjoy it, but the minute that someone starts acting sharking I would just as soon pay up if I owe it and head to the house. I just don't have time for the drama and I'm not going to play for more than I can forget.

My hat is off to you if you've managed a good gambling career. I do think that its a way that pool rooms can garner business by installing bleachers and putting email blasts out on match ups and this gives people a way to back players and create action which can be good for business.

Nice thread I will read the rest later.
 
There is no such thing as winning more than losing. It is an illusion created by the gambler to justify his need to gamble. The best he could ever hope for is to eventually draw even and that would be so rare as to be non relevant. The history of the cue sports bears this out.
 
There is no such thing as winning more than losing. It is an illusion created by the gambler to justify his need to gamble. The best he could ever hope for is to eventually draw even and that would be so rare as to be non relevant. The history of the cue sports bears this out.

Most of the time I agree with you...but not this time. If you watch who you play and are honest with yourself as far as your speed money can be made. Money management is almost as important as how you match up. Never go all in no matter if you think you have the nuts as big as coconuts. Each time you win invest in something. With me it was buying cars, boats, and bikes. Fix and flip. Later on in life I took my winnings and bought a racing Greyhound pup. I did this for about 10 years ending with over 150 dogs that I sold for a huge profit. I started making money from the 2nd pup I bought. You can't keep playing for more than 20% of your roll or you will get bit sooner than later. A lot of people call me a nit...and I'm fine with that. I got the cash. Johnnyt
 
There is no such thing as winning more than losing. It is an illusion created by the gambler to justify his need to gamble. The best he could ever hope for is to eventually draw even and that would be so rare as to be non relevant. The history of the cue sports bears this out.

I'm ahead! I've kept records on my match ups and I'm happy to report I've made some $$$ playing! I'm not talking millions but on the other hand I'm not talking a couple thousand either! My secret, like all the other experienced people here, play only what you can afford! NO MORE!!! also, playing and learning not to make the mistakes is key!
 
After 50 plus years of hanging around pool rooms, card rooms, any place you could gamble, knowing big gamblers and little gamblers , smart people and suckers , Cheaters and experts
There are not many winners.
I have only seen a couple of people out of the thousands and thousands of gamblers I have met whos life style did not affect their children or family or parents in a negative way.
The worst examples were surprisingly not the losers , it was the guys who were "slick" and made money at it.
No matter how hard some of them tried , most didn't try at all , but a few did , to keep their business from their kids , eventually, the kids tried to be like dad.
Most ended up trying to fill shoes that were way bigger in their minds{and in the dads minds} than in reality and when they failed , they went to drugs, alcohol , suicide or prison, to escape.
The best gambler I ever met had three children and a wife, 2 went to prison all 4 became dope addicts and the 3 kids all died very young from drugs.
He was always very anti drugs and alcohol. {Go figure}
I used to gamble and one day I realised I didn't like the guy I was when I gambled , I started looking for that change in other people and guess what , everyone I have watched changes when they gamble, with some people it is almost imperceptable , until they get stuck real bad or get in a bad game.
It's there though if you look and listen .
Gambling is a vice and every vice has to be paid for in my mind.
If you don't pay for it , someone you know will.
One poster said he was the type gambler most people would call a nit,
He is the majority of gamblers everywhere, they hear about someone turning a toothpick into a lumberyard and chase that dream all their lives.
{ I did it too}
I chased a guy they called stutterman for almost 2 years until one day my wife said I was like a prostitute to him and the idea of winning his money, I almost got sick that she would feel that way about me.
Once I thought about it , she was right, that's exactly how I was acting.
To me , the worst that could happen is that you actually do score big.
I have seen about a dozen people in 50 years make big scores and all but 1 I know for sure ended up real bad.
I think all the one lost was his family. {to some people that is a small price to pay }.
We all have one finite resource we are born with, our time.
Everything in this world takes up your time.
We are all free to spend it however we choose for the most part.
I wish I could get back all the time I spent on barstools and in poolrooms and card rooms, I can't , so I can only hope someone younger who reads this understands what I am trying to say .
Enjoy life , there is nothing wrong with playing pool or cards or having a beer, just don't give your whole life to it like so many of us have.
When you toss the gambling illusion in there , it's just another reason to not be able to walk away.
 
After 50 plus years of hanging around pool rooms, card rooms, any place you could gamble, knowing big gamblers and little gamblers , smart people and suckers , Cheaters and experts
There are not many winners.
I have only seen a couple of people out of the thousands and thousands of gamblers I have met whos life style did not affect their children or family or parents in a negative way.
The worst examples were surprisingly not the losers , it was the guys who were "slick" and made money at it.
No matter how hard some of them tried , most didn't try at all , but a few did , to keep their business from their kids , eventually, the kids tried to be like dad.
Most ended up trying to fill shoes that were way bigger in their minds{and in the dads minds} than in reality and when they failed , they went to drugs, alcohol , suicide or prison, to escape.
The best gambler I ever met had three children and a wife, 2 went to prison all 4 became dope addicts and the 3 kids all died very young from drugs.
He was always very anti drugs and alcohol. {Go figure}
I used to gamble and one day I realised I didn't like the guy I was when I gambled , I started looking for that change in other people and guess what , everyone I have watched changes when they gamble, with some people it is almost imperceptable , until they get stuck real bad or get in a bad game.
It's there though if you look and listen .
Gambling is a vice and every vice has to be paid for in my mind.
If you don't pay for it , someone you know will.
One poster said he was the type gambler most people would call a nit,
He is the majority of gamblers everywhere, they hear about someone turning a toothpick into a lumberyard and chase that dream all their lives.
{ I did it too}
I chased a guy they called stutterman for almost 2 years until one day my wife said I was like a prostitute to him and the idea of winning his money, I almost got sick that she would feel that way about me.
Once I thought about it , she was right, that's exactly how I was acting.
To me , the worst that could happen is that you actually do score big.
I have seen about a dozen people in 50 years make big scores and all but 1 I know for sure ended up real bad.
I think all the one lost was his family. {to some people that is a small price to pay }.
We all have one finite resource we are born with, our time.
Everything in this world takes up your time.
We are all free to spend it however we choose for the most part.
I wish I could get back all the time I spent on barstools and in poolrooms and card rooms, I can't , so I can only hope someone younger who reads this understands what I am trying to say .
Enjoy life , there is nothing wrong with playing pool or cards or having a beer, just don't give your whole life to it like so many of us have.
When you toss the gambling illusion in there , it's just another reason to not be able to walk away.

An inspiring post, book collector. Thank you.
 
If you gamble ONLY what you can genuinely justify losing, then you should be OK but this thread is more about my personal experiences and I know others have had different experiences. So let's hear yours. Maybe you'll save a life or help someone manage their money.

JoeyA

Joey, just so you are aware, I am fully in support of a new bill being brought up before the house !..This new bill makes it a FEDERAL OFFENSE to participate in any game of pool or golf, WITHOUT having a sizable wager involved !...How ya like them apples ? :p

SJD

PS..If it passes, all the 'no-gamble nit's' will be doing hard time, instead of just taking up space and wasting oxygen !...
...I love it ! :cool:


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