Some of you might look at other posts and read ... and say "oh, he talks about slots, she talks about bingos, but I'm addicted to sports betting and it's different, because they stand no chance but I do, because I can analyze sports" ... or it can be vice versa.
You must understand, ALL TYPES OF GAMBLING, all types, horses, sports, bingo, slots (with the exception of Poker although the vast majority of people should include Poker in this list as well), all types of gambling are destructive ...
You bet on Football and you think this team would win but it's the same as betting RED on the Roulette and thinking it would win ... both situations are situations of chance, and in both situations the house would win in both cases ... in Football you might bet to win but the odds are fixed in a way that just placing bet making your "future balance" to be reduced by 10% ... US Sports such as NBA are the great example, there you bet 100 to win 190 so 10% is lost ... but the same applies to Football.
Roulette is the same, there is 0 in the Roulette so the house has the advantage in all cases.
You might know the house has the advantage but you keep on telling yourself ... I can win, I can do this .... no you cannot, you cannot control it and you won't control it ...
- You have no chance to win because the odds are always against you, always.
- Even if you win the winning memories will haunt you down, even if you try to wait days or weeks or even months, in some point you would gamble what you won and you would lose it.
- Don't be surprised if you chase your losses ... gambling websites say "never chase your losses" ... don't tell your self "never chase" - instead, tell yourself, that you would "NEVER BET" again, not even once more!
Don't bet 1 pound and don't bet 100 or 1000 pounds ... don't, just don't do it.
If you treat gambling as a destructive system and NOT as "fun, entertaining and recreational" then you would never bet again ... remember your feelings when you bet, remind yourself of your feelings, the feelings are what would stop you from betting, knowledge is not enough ... feel it ... feel how restless, annoyed, ashamed you felt when you lost ... feel it and remind yourself of these feelings.
Don't ever look at gambling as something fun, that you can manage your finances right when gambling .... WRONG WRONG WRONG.
They are your enemy, and they are there to take your money from you, and if you try to ask them back for it they will laugh out loud ... they will never return your lost money ... that's why it's an evil and destructive operation ... don't be part of it ... stay away from it just like you stay away from a car driving fast on the road ... you wouldn't stand in front of the car, would you? So why would you stand for gambling? Why bet one more time? I'm honestly asking you why do so if you could focus and invest your time and money elsewhere?
Why can't we read Gamcares response to this?
Did they see it as unfavourable due to those that fund this site? Hhhmmmm
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Lancer, thank you for asking Gamcare to respond to this, however it wasn't within my plans to get any response whatsoever from Gamcare ... I wrote what I wrote for newcomers, because they are the ones mostly affected by not understanding how to cut things for good and they keep on going back into the same routine.
Rob,
I read your post ... your website already has most of the information available on the site, it's a good thing you emphasize it again. I've noticed your website is not treating the gambling industry same way I described it, however I know Gamcare is funded by bookmakers, so you really do your utmost to help others, I cannot expect more than that ... thank you for allowing me or others to at least warn others about what it really is.
Hi Wantostop1,
I am enjoying your contributions my friend, although I have to concur with GAMCARE about focusing on you, and not the industry.
There was a time when I felt as you did; I was incredibly bitter towards them - it felt good to get it out of my system as you have been, but what I know now is that all of this passion and thought leads nowhere - there is no end product for your frustrations.
Gambling is a self-destructive entity, so it hate and anger; it ultimately takes you no further in life and you gain nothing. You are clearly an intelligent person; if you could channel those thoughts and feelings into doing something constructive, then you could achieve a great deal.
I have opinions on the industry, I don't agree with how it is currently run and governed, but it doesn't affect me personally anymore. If you feel it helps, then that is fine but there are better ways of moving forward my friend - we are different people but cut from the same cloth; my energy goes into my charity work, writing, singing, exploring and much more besides.
I was attacked around ten years ago, had both my legs, my nose and most of my fingers broken, as well as being concussed. I could have swept myself up in bitterness, I could have let the situation get to me; seeing all the scars certainly made me feel that way - but now they drive me on to do more; I use them as a tool to make me do good things for people; i'm not sure I would have started doing charity work without having that happen to me - I just wanted to find a way of turning all of this negativity into positivity.
You are a clearly a good person - there are people out there who need people like you. Your scars are on the inside; try and use them as I did - it is so important to do all you can to turn these negatives into positives.
JamesP
With the best intentions, it's US that use the sites, I feel in the back of our minds we know they can't keep running without people losing. For me, common sense was/is the last thing that was/is in my head when I'm "using" a site, if you used another example of addiction common sense is again not present. It's useful that you've put it in black and white, thank you
Interesting set of posts. I've had mixed views on this myself. At one time and quite recently I was quite alarmed and angry by researching the changes that came about through gambling act 2007. To me it seemed as if the route of many a peoples problems lay within this. Now, I'm kind of half and half and don't see that as true. Sure, these industry changes may have escalated and led to a rise in problem gambling, but it is down to us to take personal responsibility for our actions. We weren't forced to gamble, we chose to. Unfortunately though, for some, many reading this, gambling can be obsessively addictive. Although I will add, it's a problem that can be dealt with and overcome over a period of time.
James,
Thank you for your post.
I haven't been gambling at all recently, and this is not what is on my mind ... not at all.
I've been writing my own diary and summarizing all of it and write my own feelings and emotions without being worried about what I say.
Thank you again James.
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