This is relatively new but I've been gambling for 6 months now and it started with blackjack and roulette which I figured were losing games and so I never went back but I moved to online texas holdem because I figured I was playing against real people so I had the potential to make profits. Payday would arrive and I would prioritise my bills first, make sure I had enough food and with the rest of the money (about £200) I would deposit it all into pokerstars. I think i'm a great poker player but the problem is I have no patience. I can make a fair bit of profit in the first hour and then I get more confident and start playing the larger games. That's when I start to lose my money and then when I try and win back my losses, I lose more. I also make impulsive all-in bets and lose everything.
The thing is, I don't know if I am able to quit. I am still exploring the best ways to make money from it and everytime I deposit, even though I lose everything, I last longer and become "more wise" with my money but I need help to be more sensible with gambling.
Does anyone here have any experience with online poker? Are there any tips you can give to me? I don't want to quit because I think there's potential to make profit if I am sensible and patient but at the same time, I don't want to cause problems in the future.
Hi,
I have no experience of online poker however i have experience of being a compulsive gambler.
As this is a site where people are stopping gambling my tip would be you are looking for answers in the wrong place.
You also may wish to consider you have a gambling problem.
Hi Sirjammy, you sound exactly like I was 10 years ago, I can just picture myself back then typing the same words! I was 'good' at poker too, just lacked the discipline and patience. I played online and live with varying degrees of success and failure. I was that good I thought I would get to Vegas and make a living from it. I have countless stories of bad beats and remember how my mistakes made me gain wisdom. The truth is I was never really that good at it. The proportion of people that turn a profit from it let alone make a living from it is very very small. Also think of the time they spend playing at the detriment of relationships and work etc. Of course you will hear plenty of success stories out there but dig a little deeper and the truth will be revealed.
I would suggest that by not having patience and making impulsive (compulsive?) all-in bets that you aren't the 'great poker player' you think you may be. If you are would you really be here? As Bal mentioned above you may wish to consider you have a gambling problem.
You say you don't want to quit because there is a potential to make profit from it - I would advise you to have a rethink. The time you will waste chasing the rainbow is much more valuable than any money you will end up losing.
All the best
A compulsive gambler can't make money from gambling because they can't stop. Personally I don't buy into the idea of 'professional' gambling whatever the format. There's no skill. It's a game of chance.
If you're looking for tips to stop gambling this site is awash with them. If you just want to stop losing (won't happen BTW) you may do better looking for advice elsewhere.
Hi Sirjammy
Thanks for coming on here and taking the step to share your story. This forum is open to anyone who has a gambling problem, is affected by somone else's gambling or is worried that they might be developing a gambling problem. It is self-aware of you to recognise that your current gambling behaviour is not working out and to be concerned about future problems. However, the kind of tips you might find here are tips about how to minimise harm, or stop altogether. Because the majority of people here are trying to either stop or cut back, you won't find tips on betting more profitably. In fact, discussion of gambling strategies and active bets are discouraged because they can be triggering for people.
We do encourage you to stick around, read some of the posts, particularly the diaries. You could also try our online self-assessment tool to help you decide how safe your gambling is, and contact our Helpline or Netline if you'd like to discuss your situation 1:1 with an Adviser. Details are at the top of every page of this website.
Take care,
Forum Admin
Hello,
Just make sure you set a limit to your Online Poker gambling. Have fun
cheers
Glad you came on this site. Probably a very sensible thing to do. Now it gives you the chance to take your mind away from the poker for a bit and read through the posts in each section of Gamcare. As the parent of a gambler I have witnessed someone who started off like you sinking to total rockbottom mentally and financially. I am not going to lecture you or tell you what to do but please read up on here and think very carefully about your future. Sometimes it is not only you involved if it all goes wrong - there is sometimes and army of family and friends who are affected as well. The word "fun" was used in the last post. Just beware - it is when you feel you have to start chasing your losses that is when the "fun" stops and the stress, misery and anxiety start. Sorry to sound like the grim reaper but just giving you the benefit of our own experience. I really do wish you a happy and safe future and every day curse the amount of gambling advertising and the ease at which everyone can access gambling etc. Take care.
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