Do you know anyone whose life was ruined by gambling?

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RickAversion

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Do you know anyone whose life was ruined by gambling? This can be a dangerous addiction. Any older guys here who have seen the damage done by addicted gambling instead of just working a normal steady job?
 
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smidjet

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my dad has a good friend who once told me that even though he was a winner he felt he had ruined his life because thats all he ever did and their was so much more in life he coulda done if he wasnt so compelled to be gambling all the time.scarry
 
vinylspiros

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takes alot of your time,makes you antisocial in a way,are my two biggest worries when it comes to poker.
 
naruto_miu

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My mother lost over 100k in total...Does she have a problem not really (She just can't control herself at the tables, if she's up or down doesn't make a difference in her eyes)...The quickest and largest amount she lost in one sitting was over 35k in like 2 hours...

As for if I ever felt gambling ruined her life, not really, she worked, she fed us, clothed us and so forth so (not really)...

I have heard of other's who lost homes, and all there money than committed suicide
 
tenbob

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I personally know 2.

One is a guy that plays in my local card room, excellent player. He has lost his home/wife/kids to the gambol. Ive seen the guy bink a $15K win on a tourney and be broke 10 minutes later. He is famous for being "freerolled" in 25. Double or quits, he will go forever, and will pay out when someone binks 10 in a row against him and quits. He does not drink/smoke.

Second guy is a different ball game, math professor, no family or commitments. I have seen him with over €30K cash on him and be broke the following day, can be freerolled at 25 as well, and would loan you 10K in a heartbeat, and not remember it the next day. Hopeless alco, loves the gambol, and loves his coke. One of my biggest ever pots came from him playing €10/20 stud and he caps 6th with my upcards JJJJ and showed down a flush, brutal card player.
 
aero87

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I knew someone that only went to the casino occasionally to play slots. Then one time hit a jackpot. Went up there as much as possible and spent back the entire payout, drained bank accounts to play, then got payday advances to play, and bounced checks.

Spent 30 days in jail, on probation, can't have a checking account and a felony on record.

Still goes to the casino.........

It's like crack for some people.
 
Rappyness

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I have heard a lot of bad things happen to people that gets addicted to gambling! I also have an uncle who is bad debt right because of it! Its just up to manage your money and not get addicted! Its hard not to get addicted but its possible to manage it!
 
triplesyxx

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These are the kind of people that I love playing against. It's almost twisted that people feed off of the weak, but that's the difference between good and bad players, just make sure you're on the side of taking their money and not getting taken


Sent from my iphone using Tapatalk
 
bz54321

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I dont know many gamblers but if my friends were heavy gamblers ya they would be screwed.

Basing this on the fact that they are screwed by being heavy drinkers. Even my friends who are total extacy heads do way better than the drinkers.
 
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FrostyJack

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At age 15 I was hooked on slot machines. Took a lot of willpower to break the habit. When I hear about people with gambling addiction, I think 'that could have been me'. Not used a slot machine for years now.
 
twiztidwolff

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I know a couple actually, both have actually done quite well with their lives since. Both work for an agency caring for the mentally ill.
 
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luckyhearts

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I know a guy won 30k at the slots...said he was down on the year. He no longer goes to casinos, guess he got it together.
on a more personal note...I tell the guys in my homegame...DO NOT PLAY INTERNET POKER
you will never watch tv again.
you will spend 3-4 hours a night on your pc
forget the family, u dont have one.

it is very addictive...and it is a progressive addiction...I started out play chips, they penny tables...now i cant play if I cant win 10 bux, just cant do it.

I had the most fun at the penny tables at Jetset...sigh
 
LeanAndMean

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To answer the original question. No, I know of no one ruined by gambling. A lot more boring an answer than all of the above.
 
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smidjet

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I know a guy 26 years old hit a jackpot for 230,000 . lost it all back and owes the taxes. cant say it ruined his life because God willing he still has a lot of life still to go, but its pretty ruined for now.
 
MisterLongFace

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i see someone whose life has been ruined by gambling every time i look in the mirror
 
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pokerjack43

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Mine lol!
Actually, not by gambling but by being a gambler.

I play live a lot, so the social aspect of my life now revolves around poker. I rarely have a conversation with someone that doesnt involve poker in some way.

Even if we are talking about other subjects, poker people have a different way of talking.

Can't go shopping, especially for something i realistically could not afford, as dropping 5k on a watch means nothing. Not that I can do that but because before poker I would be in awe of that much money and too afraid to spend it, now im immune to the value of it. what's 5k really? 5 buy-ins? a satellite token? that means I know the value of money but dont seem to care. SO i cannot go shopping as I am afraid that I will buy something pointless and have to scrimp and save to pay the bills until i can get a good run.

Drinking is now the norm. I regularly drink like i did at college, til 7am, but am in my 40's so my body should not be able to take it. Just hanging out with poker players who are used to long nights and partying hard means this happen more than it should.

I love my life as it is now, I dont make as much as I did a few years ago, but I still enjoy it. SOmetimes tho I feel it is a little ruined as I could be doing something more fulfilling. but Im living like a college kid. maybe im getting maudlin as I get older ;-)


Do i know people who have become destitute because of gambling? yes and no. yes they are destitute, but i feel that in 99% of these cases gambling is just an excuse, if they weren't gambling then they would be drinking, or in prison, or high. SOme people are just self destructive.


I also know some people who have improved their lives through gambling, have beautiful families, no money worries. live in great houses, have good social lives.

At the end of the day, gambling/poker is just one aspect of someones life. and some people will destroy their live no matter what they do and they are the type to blame something else anyway.
 
mregister2

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I know a lot of recovering alcohols and drug users who have turned to poker to satisfy their urges. It can work if you can learn some money management and self control.

I don't think poker is gambling unless you are really bad at it.
 
left52side

left52side

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I have known several myself included.
I tend to just play poker anymore ,and always try to avoid casino as much as possible.
Dogs/horses/slots have cost me quite a bit over the years.
But my biggest vice is slots,and although I know it is a sucker bet and you will never win I still am one of them fools max betting shipping hundreds a pop,so just have to have self control and keep walking past.
The hardest though is after a good tournament win or cash.
 
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