Guys I might be done gambling.

[stealthyburrito]

i know your pain, on the drive home from the casino, i have thought, would it really be so bad to veer off the road and have a 70 mph collision with that wall? Probably wouldn't feel a thing and I wouldn't have to worry about the stupid sh!t I have already done and probably will do in the future if i don't get my sh!t together. (trying to maintain some hope) What's SB? the superbowl?

I have only briefly thought about it and will not do it.(kill myself) It is not worth it. You might want to tell your family about your problem. Hopefully they will understand. Mine does not, but i have to get over this with or without them.

bro just step away from the grind if you're thinking like this. those thoughts will snowball and only get worse.

you needs someone's help, whether it is your family or not.

[OmgUrMom]

trust me when you leave your first meeting you will be like
WTF WAS THAT
WHAT A F**KING WASTE OF TIME
THOSE PEOPLE ARE F***ING NUTS

But as you think about what was said it will start to make sense
Go back the next day and typically you will still think
WTF WAS THAT
WHAT A F**KING WASTE OF TIME
THOSE PEOPLE ARE F***ING NUTS

Go again
you will know if you belong

i couldn't help but

I think I sort of understand what you are getting at. I do plan on going to one of these, it is hard for me as i know it will be very nerve-racking. I get sweaty palms just thinking about it. It's something i need to do though.

[stealthyburrito]

Ok guys, this is starting to worry me. I'm a mother - imagine what your mothers' would do if they could hear you talking like this. I don't care if your momma is a busted crackhead - it is NEVER worth it to even think like this about such an insignificant amount of money. I realise right now the dollar value seems huge - but trust me, over the scheme of your life, or even 5 years if you're working, it is NOT.

Here's my story: My parents sent myself and 4 friends to Vegas for my 21st birthday. They gave me a credit card and told me to use it in case of emergency. Well, my emergency turned out to be that I lost $2k playing blackjack and I wanted that money back. I figured out how to access cash on the card and ended up getting close to 20k in advances from the Sands during the week. Obviously I could've just used that first advance to wipe out my blackjack loss, but I wanted to 'make it' back. Well, of course by the time I was at the airport on the way home, I couldn't even afford a Crossianwich from Burger King.

My parents kicked my ass. Not because of the dollar value, although that was awful as well, but because I had been an absolute jerk who had taken advantage of them. I worked 3 jobs in university to pay that money back, even though my parents were still covering my tuition and living fees. It took me 2 1/2 years, and at times I thought I would die from exhaustion, but I did it. Most people here will have a bad gambling story if they've been at this for long enough. The point is: they're still here to tell it. Please get help with all of this.

[OmgUrMom]

Ok guys, this is starting to worry me. I'm a mother - imagine what your mothers' would do if they could hear you talking like this. I don't care if your momma is a busted crackhead - it is NEVER worth it to even think like this about such an insignificant amount of money. I realise right now the dollar value seems huge - but trust me, over the scheme of your life, or even 5 years if you're working, it is NOT.

Here's my story: My parents sent myself and 4 friends to Vegas for my 21st birthday. They gave me a credit card and told me to use it in case of emergency. Well, my emergency turned out to be that I lost $2k playing blackjack and I wanted that money back. I figured out how to access cash on the card and ended up getting close to 20k in advances from the Sands during the week. Obviously I could've just used that first advance to wipe out my blackjack loss, but I wanted to 'make it' back. Well, of course by the time I was at the airport on the way home, I couldn't even afford a Crossianwich from Burger King.

My parents kicked my ass. Not because of the dollar value, although that was awful as well, but because I had been an absolute jerk who had taken advantage of them. I worked 3 jobs in university to pay that money back, even though my parents were still covering my tuition and living fees. It took me 2 1/2 years, and at times I thought I would die from exhaustion, but I did it. Most people here will have a bad gambling story if they've been at this for long enough. The point is: they're still here to tell it. Please get help with all of this.

in a sick, demented way it makes me feel better reading these stories, knowing that people have gone through what i am going through and have come out on the other side OK. Thanks for sharing shari91, finding solace in someone else's failures doesn't seem right, but nonetheless your story makes me feel slightly better, and for that i thank you.

[Wind gara]

bro just suck it up. go to the meatings. (hell i might meat you there at this rate)

get your life together. nothing is worth talking about dieing. shari is right. its money. big ****en deal.
money isnt everything. you will get over this. just stay positive

[Mr Windy City]

OmgurMom how old are you if you don't mind me asking? You need to hit the brakes and figure out other things in life before you start blowing your savings on gambling. That's fine if you can't break the itch and need action, dump $100 or $2 in your account and just play small. $10-$20 bets just to keep the itch under control. If you are a young guy, which im guessing you are, you have years to go before you can actually become a good gambler. Everyone THINKS they are good at gambling but in reality most of us are not. Knowledge and self control are key when it comes to being a successful gambler and right now you are not there. Believe me, we have all been there and most still are GL guy.

[Mr Windy City]

and if it makes you feel any better. I've blown 5 grand in a week lol

[shari91]

in a sick, demented way it makes me feel better reading these stories, knowing that people have gone through what i am going through and have come out on the other side OK. Thanks for sharing shari91, finding solace in someone else's failures doesn't seem right, but nonetheless your story makes me feel slightly better, and for that i thank you.

I'm glad it's helped a little. Believe me, I don't share that story too often because that's by far the most horrific thing I've done in my whole life and I'm 35 now. I essentially stole from my own parents to gamble when there was no need for it. And $20k was worth a lot more than it is today and it's still a lot today. I know what it's like to be there - I just want you to know that you can come out the other side ok although it seems pretty hopeless right now.

[Mr Windy City]

bro just suck it up. go to the meatings. (hell i might meat you there at this rate)

get your life together. nothing is worth talking about dieing. shari is right. its money. big ****en deal.
money isnt everything. you will get over this. just stay positive

Good post even with all the spelling errors

[OmgUrMom]

OmgurMom how old are you if you don't mind me asking? You need to hit the brakes and figure out other things in life before you start blowing your savings on gambling. That's fine if you can't break the itch and need action, dump $100 or $2 in your account and just play small. $10-$20 bets just to keep the itch under control. If you are a young guy, which im guessing you are, you have years to go before you can actually become a good gambler. Everyone THINKS they are good at gambling but in reality most of us are not. Knowledge and self control are key when it comes to being a successful gambler and right now you are not there. Believe me, we have all been there and most still are GL guy.

i'm 19 years old. I wish I could stop at $10 or $20 dollar bets, it may work for awhile but the itch gets tougher to scratch after awhile and needs bigger and bigger bets. If I'm not moving up then I don't get that thrill. I convince myself I have an edge, even when I don't. I'm able to deceive myself into believing that i'm putting my money into a +ev situation and will win in the long-run. Clearly that is not the case or I would not have lost my bankroll many times over.

Yes I am only 19 but I have been playing poker for money online since I was 12 or 13 and have been building serious bankrolls since i was 14-15 ($1000+). Had odd jobs starting at 15 years old, and somehow i was a more successful poker player at that age. Not as degenerate as I am now, i had some semblence of self-control and just played super tight. That was enough to make a little money in the low stakes back at Party Poker when U.S. Players were allowed to play there.

[THE PROFIT]

I'll be 34 next month and I've blown that kind of money several times. It only happens when you need it the most though. As you mature you will learn to not bet money you don't have & will gain self control, hopefully. I have went years before & not gambled, gambling is like redheads, sometimes I'm in the mood & sometimes I'm not. You've just gotta have self control & no one can teach you that.

When I was 24 or 25 I became a bookie and got my gambling fix on the winning end of the phone for a while. But that business is going nowhere right now & not worth the time & risk like it was 10 years ago

[OmgUrMom]

i can still remember, when i first started playing at party poker i was so excited about it that I couldn't sleep, a couple days i woke up at 3 A.M. (after going to bed at like 10-11 PM) and i would just start playing. I played as much as my parents would let me. (which was a lot) Also i would play when they wouldn't know (like 3 am in the morning) or when they were gone so i could get in extra hours.

[minet123]

it may work for awhile but the itch gets tougher to scratch after awhile and needs bigger and bigger. If I'm not moving up then I don't get that thrill.

Yea
you belong

[Mr Windy City]

i'm 19 years old. I wish I could stop at $10 or $20 dollar bets, it may work for awhile but the itch gets tougher to scratch after awhile and needs bigger and bigger bets. If I'm not moving up then I don't get that thrill. I convince myself I have an edge, even when I don't. I'm able to deceive myself into believing that i'm putting my money into a +ev situation and will win in the long-run. Clearly that is not the case or I would not have lost my bankroll many times over. Yes I am only 19 but I have been playing poker for money online since I was 12 or 13 and have been building serious bankrolls since i was 14-15 ($1000+). Had odd jobs starting at 15 years old, and somehow i was a more successful poker player at that age. Not as degenerate as I am now, i had some semblence of self-control and just played super tight. That was enough to make a little money in the low stakes back at Party Poker when U.S. Players were allowed to play there.

Well why don't you have any self-control? Are you dumping all your savings in an offshore account or do you play with a local? Again, at 19 I thought I had an edge in gambling too haha. There is no edge, it's all just knowledge and knowing how to pick spots and not be a degen and bet every game that is on tv or the late game because "it's the last game of the night" Maybe stick to poker and take a break from sports then?

[stealthyburrito]

if it makes you feel better, I lost 4K chasing a phillies series last year, they were playing at home against the marlins. I figured it was a lock they'd win one game at home, seeing as how florida was fresh off getting swept by the nationals in DC.

boy was I wrong, the marlins killed the phils in the first game, won a squeaker in game 2, and in game 3 the matchup was josh johnson against jamie moyer. phils were underdogs at home, and every bone in my body told me to skip the goddamn game and take my losses. after the second game, i was down nearly 2K so i thought i had to make it back in this series, i dunno what the **** i was thinking. in short, phils got their asses handed to them on a platter and my Bankroll was devastated. I'm still recovering from that shit to this day.

it ****ing sucks to lose like that but you get over it, and hopefully learn from mistakes past.

[Mr Windy City]

Yea
you belong

lol

[OmgUrMom]

I'll be 34 next month and I've blown that kind of money several times. It only happens when you need it the most though. As you mature you will learn to not bet money you don't have & will gain self control, hopefully. I have went years before & not gambled, gambling is like redheads, sometimes I'm in the mood & sometimes I'm not. You've just gotta have self control & no one can teach you that.

When I was 24 or 25 I became a bookie and got my gambling fix on the winning end of the phone for a while. But that business is going nowhere right now & not worth the time & risk like it was 10 years ago

you were a local bookie?

has the amount of overall bets dropped off a lot in the last 10 years? (didn't realize this)

[Mr Windy City]

if it makes you feel better, I lost 4K chasing a phillies series last year, they were playing at home against the marlins. I figured it was a lock they'd win one game at home, seeing as how florida was fresh off getting swept by the nationals in DC. boy was I wrong, the marlins killed the phils in the first game, won a squeaker in game 2, and in game 3 the matchup was josh johnson against jamie moyer. phils were underdogs at home, and every bone in my body told me to skip the goddamn game and take my losses. after the second game, i was down nearly 2K so i thought i had to make it back in this series, i dunno what the **** i was thinking. in short, phils got their asses handed to them on a platter and my Bankroll was devastated. I'm still recovering from that shit to this day. it ****ing sucks to lose like that but you get over it, and hopefully learn from mistakes past.

Always bet with your head, Never your heart.

[THE PROFIT]

Also, OMG, I didn't start gambling until I was 19 or 20. I had no idea how to really handicap any sport. Everybody who loves a sport thinks they can pick a winner. And you usually can until money becomes involved & it clutters your mind. I've been at this 10 years+ and just now the past couple years feel comfortable in knowing I have a handicapping method & money management plan in football that works & will make money. I know I don't know shit about baseball capping so I've been following people on here that claim they do, just happens when I follow them they missed that day in handicapping school that applied to that game. The point is, know your knowledge limits & your monetary limits. We're all in this to make money, but it's the hardest thing in the world to do. There's no better feeling than picking up $5,000 from your bookie for the week or getting that check in the mail, and that's what drives us.

[OmgUrMom]

Well why don't you have any self-control? Are you dumping all your savings in an offshore account or do you play with a local? Again, at 19 I thought I had an edge in gambling too haha. There is no edge, it's all just knowledge and knowing how to pick spots and not be a degen and bet every game that is on tv or the late game because "it's the last game of the night" Maybe stick to poker and take a break from sports then?

offshore account, and I'm getting destroyed at the poker tables lately. I have lost some of my patience and the overall competition is much better than it was in the past i believe. I've just had this problem with being stuck, I start playing terribly when I'm down big. It's fukking stupid as hell, all I should be worried about is the long term and playing my hands correctly, if you play correctly the winnings should even out in the long run. Probably has something to do with playing on a short roll as well. Makes me panic and think I can't have another losing day, which makes me play bad and continue the cycle of losing days

[stealthyburrito]

Always bet with your head, Never your heart.

ain't it the truth, i don't even like the ****in phillies.

I was actually fading the morrison system, bit me in the ass. worked so well for me up to that point

[Mr Windy City]

you were a local bookie?

has the amount of overall bets dropped off a lot in the last 10 years? (didn't realize this)

In a way you can say that. Obviously people have less money to blow when we are in a recession, but there is a gambler on every street in every town somewhere. Most Gamblers are Broke lol.

[OmgUrMom]

if it makes you feel better, I lost 4K chasing a phillies series last year, they were playing at home against the marlins. I figured it was a lock they'd win one game at home, seeing as how florida was fresh off getting swept by the nationals in DC.

boy was I wrong, the marlins killed the phils in the first game, won a squeaker in game 2, and in game 3 the matchup was josh johnson against jamie moyer. phils were underdogs at home, and every bone in my body told me to skip the goddamn game and take my losses. after the second game, i was down nearly 2K so i thought i had to make it back in this series, i dunno what the **** i was thinking. in short, phils got their asses handed to them on a platter and my Bankroll was devastated. I'm still recovering from that shit to this day.

it ****ing sucks to lose like that but you get over it, and hopefully learn from mistakes past.

Really sucks if this was the only time you chased and you got burned, then again maybe better to get burned right away and learn.

i've fell victim to the chase method as well. Believe it or not, you can lose 5 blackjack hands in a row, especially when you need it the most.

[Mr Windy City]

offshore account, and I'm getting destroyed at the poker tables lately. I have lost some of my patience and the overall competition is much better than it was in the past i believe. I've just had this problem with being stuck, I start playing terribly when I'm down big. It's fukking stupid as hell, all I should be worried about is the long term and playing my hands correctly, if you play correctly the winnings should even out in the long run. Probably has something to do with playing on a short roll as well. Makes me panic and think I can't have another losing day, which makes me play bad and continue the cycle of losing days

Gotta learn when to realize you're having a bad day. There is no reason, and I cannot stress this enough, to force action. If you are having a bad day at the tables, walk away from the computer, go smoke a cigarette, go chase some pussy, whatever to get your mind off the gambling. You need to occupy your time with other things to help you get off having to have that fix

[THE PROFIT]

you were a local bookie?

has the amount of overall bets dropped off a lot in the last 10 years? (didn't realize this)

Offshore has just put a dent in it, especially in this market where I am. Unless you wanna get a PPh site & all that shit, but alot of customers dont like that either. I started out running parlay cards & it just grew from there, next thing I know I had guys coming into the bar wantin' to lay a buck or two on a game & then I was hooked.

Also, the more something becomes more mainstream, the more the local cops want to show you whos boss. These fuks crack down more on this shit now, used to I would just pay the chief a little, now these coksukers wanna act like big shots & try to bust your ass on federal charges for a $20,000 operation.

[OmgUrMom]

going to bed now, im sure i'll feel at least a little better in the morning. thanks for all the support everyone, it really does mean a lot.

[Marauders]

OmgUrMom,

I am sorry to hear about your problem. I just want to let you know that I do appreciate you trying to pay me back even though you are going through a rough time right now. This is more honorable than a lot of other posters on here who would just run away from their debt obligations when time gets tough. However, if you really do need some time off from the SBR forum and gambling in general, then please don't make the point debt to me get in your way. Sure, I will like to be paid back....but not at the expense of demoralizing a young man's life. Take whatever time you need away from the forum and if you do come back later, pay me back then. I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope you will become a stronger person from the experience.

Marauders

[shari91]

OmgUrMom, I am sorry to hear about your problem. I just want to let you know that I do appreciate you trying to pay me back even though you are going through a rough time right now. This is more honorable than a lot of other posters on here who would just run away from their debt obligations when time gets tough. However, if you really do need some time off from the SBR forum and gambling in general, then please don't make the point debt to me get in your way. Sure, I will like to be paid back....but not at the expense of demoralizing a young man's life. Take whatever time you need away from the forum and if you do come back later, pay me back then. I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope you will become a stronger person from the experience. Marauders

You're one classy guy.

[VTranX]

When I said I wanted to "kill myself" I wasen't meaning it literally. Was just expressing how I felt. I wasn't doing bad at all on sports betting but the poker was thing getting me deep.

[VTranX]

I'm glad it's helped a little. Believe me, I don't share that story too often because that's by far the most horrific thing I've done in my whole life and I'm 35 now. I essentially stole from my own parents to gamble when there was no need for it. And $20k was worth a lot more than it is today and it's still a lot today. I know what it's like to be there - I just want you to know that you can come out the other side ok although it seems pretty hopeless right now.

20k...like a brand new car.

[sickler]

i'm 19 years old. I wish I could stop at $10 or $20 dollar bets, it may work for awhile but the itch gets tougher to scratch after awhile and needs bigger and bigger bets. If I'm not moving up then I don't get that thrill. I convince myself I have an edge, even when I don't. I'm able to deceive myself into believing that i'm putting my money into a +ev situation and will win in the long-run. Clearly that is not the case or I would not have lost my bankroll many times over.

Yes I am only 19 but I have been playing poker for money online since I was 12 or 13 and have been building serious bankrolls since i was 14-15 ($1000+). Had odd jobs starting at 15 years old, and somehow i was a more successful poker player at that age. Not as degenerate as I am now, i had some semblence of self-control and just played super tight. That was enough to make a little money in the low stakes back at Party Poker when U.S. Players were allowed to play there.

I can relate to the part about needing larger-sized wagers to maintain the 'rush'. For years I had been gambling out of habit, not getting the rush. Felt nothing from the wins, felt nothing from losses. The solution was to up the wagers, but I didn't want the stress. I wasn't losing money -- did some things to get an edge, but I have other sources of income, didn't need to pull a profit from gambling. So about seven months ago I quit. Have funds at one book and place the occasional wager, but it's over for the most part.

I suggest you find a way to quit and move on with life. You're young, and as another poster mentioned, lack of maturity might be a roadblock. I'm like twice your age.

[shari91]

20k...like a brand new car.

Yep. Pretty damn disgusting, huh?

[TheBeautifulGame]

On my 18th birthday I deposited $300 into a poker room. I got it up to $2k and then lost it. Shortly there after, $200 more. Then $300 more. Then some in a sportsbook, etc. Over the course of about 5 months I ended up losing about $4k. The best thing that could ever happen to me happened. My parents saw fishy transactions on my bank statement and they did some research and eventually found out what I was into. I stopped. It felt great.

My problem was never a lack of ability to pick, or to play poker. I can summarize my problem into 2 things:
1) I didn't feel that the amount I was playing with was significant. Doubling your funds over the course of a year is an AMAZING investment, but how many people do you think deposit $100 and would be happy to turn that into just $200 over the course of a year? People want to play for something that they feel has meaning.
2) I was afraid to lose. It's not possible to make a sound investment when you are emotionally unstable.

After stopping, I ended up getting a degree, nice job, etc. About two years ago I deposited $5k into a sportsbook. That $5k is now $15k. It's also never been below $4k and never above $17k. I would argue that my ability to pick hasn't gotten any better.

The differences?
1) I don't play poker. I recognize that I don't have the ability to keep the level of calmness that is necessary, so I just don't do it.
2) I recognize the earning potential of the dollar. Even though $5k isn't much to some people, I recognize that by doubling it every year it will skyrocket.
3) If I were to lose my entire bankroll tomorrow my financial situation would not be hurt at all. I think this is the most important one.
4) I do it for fun. I hope that I make money, but that is not the main purpose. As such, if I were to blow $5k over the course of 3 or 4 years I would consider that a pretty good investment for the amount of fun it brought me.

Hopefully you'll do the right thing.

Brilliant post, I've nominated it.

[TheBeautifulGame]

OP, I really do wish you best for the future, to coin a phrase, the first step in addressing a problem is to admit that you have one. We'll done, I can guarantee that you have a lot more courage than the majority of people on this forum.

[OmgUrMom]

OmgUrMom,

I am sorry to hear about your problem. I just want to let you know that I do appreciate you trying to pay me back even though you are going through a rough time right now. This is more honorable than a lot of other posters on here who would just run away from their debt obligations when time gets tough. However, if you really do need some time off from the SBR forum and gambling in general, then please don't make the point debt to me get in your way. Sure, I will like to be paid back....but not at the expense of demoralizing a young man's life. Take whatever time you need away from the forum and if you do come back later, pay me back then. I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope you will become a stronger person from the experience.

Marauders

thanks for the support marauders