If you are a +ev gambler is it possible to have a gambling problem?

PickWinnerAllDay · 02-21-12, 01:50 AM

paranoyd androyd · 02-21-12, 01:50 AM

you fukkin idiot centaur go snort some bath salts you prikk

TheCentaur · 02-21-12, 02:04 AM

Holy fuk my badges are disappearing

Ernie Mccracken · 02-21-12, 02:47 AM

I bet you're glad that's not a problem you'll ever have to deal with.

ACoochy · 02-21-12, 02:50 AM

Depends. If u feel a need to have to gamble everyday and couldnt imagine a day without putting a wager on then chances are you have a problem, irregardless if ur +EV or not...

probettor1 · 02-21-12, 03:55 AM

Centaur you will never have to deal with this option of chosing work or gambling, you will work to be able to gamble for life, and you will probably lose most of your jobs for being a degenerative gambler. And even if you have a good month you will lose all the money in the following week after winning that month. I told you so today, this is not for everybody. You cant even pass a college test where 99% pass, here 99% cant pass. Bet 2 dollars per bet, not more than 1 bet per week and you will be fine.

LVHerbie · 02-21-12, 04:15 AM

In his book Barry Greenstein described something close to this concept.... Basically his idea was that being successful in gambling almost requires a degenerate nature (I think the term he used was "compulsive winner")...

TheCentaur · 02-21-12, 04:24 AM

Wow quite a collection of poker badges LVHerbie! You must have been drunk on 2/16

Ian · 02-21-12, 04:42 AM

TheCentaur, I give you Tony Bigcharles. In other words, the answer to your question is "yes."

MC PICKS · 02-21-12, 08:33 AM

Its not a problem if you're winning.

milwaukee mike · 02-21-12, 08:38 AM

Originally posted by TheCentaur

Wow quite a collection of poker badges LVHerbie! You must have been drunk on 2/16

yeah really, how does someone get 1st place 4 times in a 8 day stretch?

no matter how good you are that is almost impossible, like today i lost 3500 with kk when the flop was k94 to running 66 for quads.

Living The Dream · 02-21-12, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by ACoochy

Depends. If u feel a need to have to gamble everyday and couldnt imagine a day without putting a wager on then chances are you have a problem, irregardless if ur +EV or not...

But what's the difference between what you are saying and someone who loves his job and can't imagine ever not doing it?

d2bets · 02-21-12, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by Living The Dream

But what's the difference between what you are saying and someone who loves his job and can't imagine ever not doing it?

No difference. Same thing, you shouldn't work your job 365 days a year. Everyone needs vacations.

SportsMushroom · 02-21-12, 09:51 AM

absolutely not

being a compulsive gambler means 100% that you are not +EV, its plain common sense ffs, if you are a compulsive gambler you will bet when you shouldnt, and for a greater amount than proper money management dictates

thus, even if you have the ability to make +EV bets, your edge over the book will dissipate with all the -ev bets you will be making

byronbb · 02-21-12, 12:18 PM

I am pretty sure some advantage gamblers are degenerate gamblers just like their loser counterparts.I actually think they are worse because they are often watching a game to middle a 3 in NFL or a 2 point total in the NBA which is often a let down and a huge rush when it hits. Most of the big time poker players have huge sportsbetting leaks. Doyle Brunson is a big square apparently, and Phil Ivey will chuck dice for sick money. I think to be at the elite level of poker you have to basically be a degenerate gambler. You have to be able to handle losing. I remember an Ivey interview where he said he got into poker merely because it was gambling where you could actually win. The guy was an atlantic city degen for years sleeping under the boardwalk etc broke from the table games.

LVHerbie · 02-21-12, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by milwaukee mike

yeah really, how does someone get 1st place 4 times in a 8 day stretch?

no matter how good you are that is almost impossible, like today i lost 3500 with kk when the flop was k94 to running 66 for quads.

Don't forget there was a weekend in there as well...

See my post above... Some us are addicted to gamble, while for others our drug of choice is winning...

thetrinity · 02-21-12, 02:39 PM

noo

rm18 · 02-21-12, 04:04 PM

yes for me I win but do not win as much as I could because of compulsive betting

probettor1 · 03-02-12, 06:08 PM

The "good streak syndrome". This is common to many bettors, you have a good streak and suddenly you start to dream big, the word "work" becomes an enemy as you think that work is holding you back. You feel like a billion dollar man. And believe or not as happy as you are, your bookie is even happier. Why? because they know that out of your confidence come the willingness to bet higher amounts of money and even worse, you are being hooked in the gambler fallacy.
I myself had a streak of 27 wins and 4 loses in my very beginning as a bettor. I was very happy but not too crazy as I used to play dice and I got 15 aces in a row once. You know what are the chances of 15 aces in a row? If not mistaken it is 1 in 470184984576. I probably played under 10 000 games throughout my life. So don't feel to cocky for winning a few bets. Yes, you are still a loser in the long run, and I'm 99% sure about it.