Gambling isn't either of those things by itself.
Jeopardy champion James Holzhauer is a pro sports gambler who supported his family that way.
Many people make a living or side money playing poker.
Other break even or lose money but have a great time playing in home games or Vegas trips.
While there are definitely people who have gambling addictions and should get help for it, for many or most who gamble, it's neither a weakness nor an addiction.
Everywhere, and this forum is no exception, people always say that gambling for fun, that it is a hobby, that it is no addiction and may be true in many cases. Yes, it is very fun when you can control it, but if not, it becomes a serious problem, ludopathy. In my case I thought that, that I could control it, I tried to pay my family's expenses before playing and just playing the money that was "left over", I never really had any money left over, suddenly I am so in debt that I cannot with the expenses from home, I owe to banks, stores, loan houses. The worst bad beat of my life. It's like a drug, when I made money I only thought about using it in the next game. Anyway, I don't think I'm the only one, there must be millions around the world, but people keep saying it's just a hobby, I hope that's the case...
Hey man. You can surpass any struggle you've been through or are in. I've suffered from financial struggles my whole life. We can do it man. We can figure it out and live a happy life which is what's important. Being happy is the most important. Find what you love, and find a way to make money with it so you can pay off those loans. Take care of your health first. A healthy you can take care of the people that you will meet in life. Poker isn't for everyone. It might've been in your past but it doesn't need to be in your future.
Everywhere, and this forum is no exception, people always say that gambling for fun, that it is a hobby, that it is no addiction and may be true in many cases. Yes, it is very fun when you can control it, but if not, it becomes a serious problem, ludopathy. In my case I thought that, that I could control it, I tried to pay my family's expenses before playing and just playing the money that was "left over", I never really had any money left over, suddenly I am so in debt that I cannot with the expenses from home, I owe to banks, stores, loan houses. The worst bad beat of my life. It's like a drug, when I made money I only thought about using it in the next game. Anyway, I don't think I'm the only one, there must be millions around the world, but people keep saying it's just a hobby, I hope that's the case...
You are very right about this ludopathy term. I'd never heard of this before you mentioned it. I recommend other poker players in this forum to search ludopathy and read the information provided by various websites. Some of you might have or had ludopathy. Or suffer from some of the symptoms. I know I can relate to some of the symptoms of it.
Have you ever heard of anybody getting the shakes because of missing gambling? Calling gambling an addiction is not fair to people with real addictions.Gambling, in my opinion, is still addictive. Unfortunately, I have no evidence. This is an intuitive look at these things.