Be careful with poker...

[john smith]

Sorry for the lame title...

I just found out today that a friend of mine from high school killed himself Saturday morning. I didn't know him very well in high school but we started talking online a lot the last couple of months when we found out that we were both regular online poker players. He was, in my opinion at least, addicted to poker. He would spend 8-10 hours a day playing poker, often missing class to play. I don't think he ever posted on 2+2 but he did read the forum regularly. Anyways I found out last week that he had blown his entire bankroll and gone on tilt. He deposited some more money into his account, played some high stakes, and blew it all again. He asked me on Thursday night if I could transfer some money to his account and that he would pay me back as soon as he won his money back, but I lied to him that I had withdrawn most of my bankroll... I then found out that he had deposited $1,500 using the echeck thing when he had no money in his account and that he had lost it all... I lent him $400 and told him to take his time paying me back...

His parents found him dead in his room on Saturday. He'd shot himself.

I'm sure there were a lot of reasons why he killed himself, but I can't help but think that his addiction/debt to poker had a role in it.

I don't really know exactly why I'm posting this, but I guess I just want you guys to be careful, as stupid as that sounds. Poker is a great game, but it CAN screw you over if you don't be careful. As for me, I've been playing a ton of poker the last few weeks, and it's time for me to take some time off and focus on what's really important to me.

[joker122]

Christ that's the worst thing I've heard in a while. I'm sorry to hear you lost a friend. I don't see how it could get that bad...it's just money.

[4thstreetpete]

damn, that really sucks. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Greg J]

Sobering. Very sobering.

[Pepsquad]

I'm sorry John. For some people, poker really is JUST gambling. There is zero difference for some between Holdem and craps, roulette, etc.

[aLOWdAkING]

Very sad, I know this is what a lot of parents are concerned with when their children start playing poker avidly, especially online. Just remember to be careful in what you play guys, have the discipline to play stakes no bigger than what you can afford to lose, and remember that it's just a game and the luck will even out in the long run. My condolences for your friend.

[x2ski]

What a tragedy.

Perhaps your post might be an eye-opener for others out there who are possibly getting in too deep.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Equal]

I am sorry to hear that.

Please let anyone on 2+2 who might be going through a large downswing or being close to busting out post your story here, and get some support and advice.

I mean poker is a game, but sometimes we can get in a little too deep especially since playing online we might feel all alone.

[rwinns]

Sorry to hear about the loss of a friend. It makes you wonder how someone could due such a thing. These things seem to happen around the hollidays. Everyone needes to stop and think about all the good things in there life. No matter how bad someone thinks there life is there is allways things to be thankfull for.

[phixxx]

Uhh...someone shooting themself over 1500 dollars had a SERIOUS problem. I don't think anyone here has that bad of a problem......if so I think the people around them would notice and seek help.

[rtucker5]

This is a sad story. This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[Sykopathik]

Terribly sorry to hear of your loss. Really makes ya think about all the things in life.

[ilovemyZ]

[ QUOTE ]
This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[/ QUOTE ]

You think he really cares about the $400 after losing someone he knows?

[pokerjo22]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a sad story. This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[/ QUOTE ]

Classy

[helpmeout]

I just read about a guy who was going to kill himself now this.

Poker/gambling is a last resort for some people, they are unhappy with life so they go to gambling and hope to make it big.

They dont have the mental discipline to be able to be successful so they start borrowing money, eventually they end up in the gutter.

If a gambler asks to borrow money then go talk to his family/friends and get him/her help.

[Yobz]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a sad story. This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you kidding me? They wont pay it. Just sue them.

[yoadrians]

First of all, very sorry about your loss. That's horrible. All my thoughts and prayers, man.

I guess what some people have a hard time understanding - like those of us who don't have compulsive and/or addictive personality traits - is that, for some people, whether it's alcohol, drugs, sex, and, yes, even poker, it's a frickin' disease. You can't stop. No matter how much you want to, you HAVE to keep drinking ... or playing.

I would say that being addicted to online poker might even be WORSE than drugs or alcohol. And before you blast me on this, HEAR ME OUT, PLEASE ... with alcohol and drugs, there's a good chance your behavior will follow you to work, your personal relationships, etc. You'll show your disease outside of your home and, thus, maybe have a better opportunity for some help and intervention because someone sees you drunk on the job, baked on the job or on a date, whatever.

When you're in your own room gambling away tons of money, by yourself, and you keep losing and getting more depressed, that might be tougher for your friends and family to sniff out. Thus, harder to get some help because you really do feel all alone ... and no one suspects you need help.

Not sure if there's an answer, but I guess we all just need to be a little more careful ... like the title of this string suggests.

Again, sorry for your loss.

[wopples]

I AGREE, WHAT A HEARTLESS PERSON TO BRING UP THE 400. ANYONE THAT HEARTLESS HAS DEMONS OF THERE OWN!!!

THAT IS THE SADEST STORY OF HOW POKER HURTS PEOPLE I HAVE EVER HEARD.
A SON/BROTHER IS DEAD OVER A LITTLE MONEY AND A GAME.
/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[mikeyp]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a sad story. This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[/ QUOTE ]

I cant believe you just asked this. You are such a terrible person.

[River2Pair]

I was about to talk about how classless it is to post in all caps, but I decided that would be in bad taste.

Anyhow, I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

For anyone who is down about losing a whole bunch of money, there is one thing that I know of that is an instant cure for dark, obsessive thoughts. Do something nice for somebody. Doesn't have to be anything big, just something. Without drawing attention to yourself, too.

[MarkL444]

[ QUOTE ]
This is a sad story. This may sound uncompassionate, but are you going to ask his parents for the $400?

[/ QUOTE ]

The best word you could think to use here was uncampassionate? Its pretty sad that this even popped into your head.

[x2ski]

what?

[x2ski]

[ QUOTE ]
I was about to talk about how classless it is to post in all caps, but I decided that would be in bad taste.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just did... damn

[hoterdoc]

[ QUOTE ]
Do something nice for somebody. Doesn't have to be anything big, just something. Without drawing attention to yourself, too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very nice and very true. Especially the last part.

Condolences,
doc

[Lawrence Ng]

I'm sorry to hear this. It's stories like these that make headlines news and gives the sport of poker a really bad name. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I guess the game played him instead of the other way around. /images/graemlins/spade.gif

[MicroBob]

Very sad.

I don't know how many suicides each year are gambling related but I suspect quite a few.
Combine that with some of the general angst that teens typically go through anyway and it can be quite dangerous (I believe you mentioned he was pretty young).


I am for some reason reminded of a situation at a Detroit casino 3 or 4 years ago where a guy shot himself right there at the BJ table after losing too much (and perhaps having lost his job that week as well I think).

Sorry for your loss.

[Siingo]

Sorry for your loss!

And for his family and other friends loss too!

[Smasharoo]

I AGREE, WHAT A HEARTLESS PERSON TO BRING UP THE 400. ANYONE THAT HEARTLESS HAS DEMONS OF THERE OWN!!!


Lighten the [censored] up. It's a tragedy that someone killed themselves because of a gambling addiction, but humor is part of grieving for those closest to the loss, not to mention amusing to everyone else here who has no idea at all who this person was or why he did himself in.

[Richard Berg]

Continuing to play would've been -EV. Looks like he finally found the fold button.

[Felix_Nietsche]

The was once a business man that borrowed a large sum of money from the bank to start a business. Initially the business made money but then began to lose large sums of money. A bank payment was due Monday and he did not have the money to pay it so he went to church to see his minister. The man explained his problem to the minister and the minister listen patiently. When he finished his story the business man ask, "how do I handle this problem?". The minister said, "young man you do NOT have a problem, the BANK is the one with the problem".