Serious question

[Zoltri]

After many years of losing money to gambling, I have finally gained enough experience to beat the game(sports,poker and casino mostly for me).

The question is, if you had to do it all over again...would you gamble?

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
After many years of losing money to gambling, I have finally gained enough experience to beat the game(sports,poker and casino mostly for me).

The question is, if you had to do it all over again...would you gamble?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm way ahead, even counting those damn lottery tickets I waste money on. So yes.

[Bluffoon]

I am not a material person so I like to spend my money doing things.

That said I also hate to lose.

So yes, but If I couldnt figure out a way to win I would find something else to do.

[IndieMatty]

No. My life is currently a mess because of it. And Im up.

[Zoltri]

Horse racing was my downfall.
If I could have stayed away from the track, things would have been much better for me. That is my tip of the day...STAY AWAY FROM RACE TRACKS!!!

[IndieMatty]

Well all gambling was fun for me. The first time I went to Belmont Stakes, I picked THE WINNER in 7 consecutive races. In a drunken beligerant rant, I claimed to Bob Costas that I am Matt _____ and I am a horse racing GOD!

Seriously though the online version of this game was my downfall...sure I lost a bit of loot, but it made me hate spending time with my great great girlfriend so I could get better. So I thought I wasn't into her. Now I'm beating the 15-30 for 2.5, and I don't have my girl anymore.

I'd much rather have my girl. I began a long post of this, but I shelved it with all the QLC and people whining nonsense.


Insert QLC joke here.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
Horse racing was my downfall.
If I could have stayed away from the track, things would have been much better for me. That is my tip of the day...STAY AWAY FROM RACE TRACKS!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's funny. I paid a good chunk of my college tuition from race winnings. I actually think it's one of the more beatable forms of gambling.

[Bluffoon]

Find a girl that likes to play poker.

[Zoltri]

[ QUOTE ]
That's funny. I paid a good chunk of my college tuition from race winnings. I actually think it's one of the more beatable forms of gambling.

[/ QUOTE ]
Consider yourself one of the few.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
No. My life is currently a mess because of it. And Im up.

[/ QUOTE ]
How's it a mess because of it if you're up? And why quit if you're up?

[IndieMatty]

She did. This girl was great, she'd meet me out at the bars with my friends, we'd go home, she'd set up a home game, (table chairs, beers all that while we organized) she'd play a bit, go to bed, I'd come to bed @ 6 AM.

The girl was perfect. I [censored] up hardcore, supposedly it's normal or whatever. But I still don't like it.

[IndieMatty]

Did you read past the first line?

Oh yeah, and sitting on my ass all the time playing poker instead of going to the gym has done wonders. But whatevs to that.

[Zoltri]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No. My life is currently a mess because of it. And Im up.

[/ QUOTE ]
How's it a mess because of it if you're up? And why quit if you're up?

[/ QUOTE ]
I was thinking the same thing.

[jakethebake]

Forms of gambling I've partaken in over the years:
Poker - Way up.
Horse Racing - Way up.
Slots - Down but I never spent any time at it so haven't lost much.
Sports betting - Even to down some.
Balckjack - Probably down some.
Videopoker - Up some.
Other casino games - Down but I never spent any time at them so haven't lost much.

The things i've spent the most time at and wagered the most on are the ones I win at. I think that's key. Stick to the ones you're good at and can win at.

[Yeti]

I really don't think people are thinking hard enough if they can't see why being a winning gambler/poker player can mess up your life.

[IndieMatty]

Agreed.

[Zoltri]

Agreed x 2.

[jakethebake]

Well I'm not really sure what we're talking about here then. Are we talking relationships? What people think of your gambling? What?

[IndieMatty]

No just a personal experience. I took up this hobby and it consumed me to the point where I found all other interaction boring, that combined with some other items, caused me to dump a great girl, who I would choose over the extra money I make.

So the question is, if I had it to do all over would I had rather have never taken up gambling, and the answer is undoubtedly "Yes"...because I'd still be with my girl now.

[chabibi]

i love the track but i suck can you give me some advice?

[IndieMatty]

The question is, has gambling had an overall positive effect on your life. (Just because you're up money, doesn't mean that's positive).


There ya go.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
No just a personal experience. I took up this hobby and it consumed me to the point where I found all other interaction boring, that combined with some other items, caused me to dump a great girl, who I would choose over the extra money I make.

So the question is, if I had it to do all over would I had rather have never taken up gambling, and the answer is undoubtedly "Yes"...because I'd still be with my girl now.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess it seems to me that the problem isn't gambling itself then, it's that it "consumes" you if you aren't able to do it in moderation. But why not quit now?

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
The question is, has gambling had an overall positive effect on your life. (Just because you're up money, doesn't mean that's positive). There ya go.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yea, I see where you're going. But I think what you're saying could be said about almost any activity, if you removed the financial aspect. If my hobby was fishing, and i fished to the exclusion of everythign else, it would have a negative impact on my life. Kinda like the term "golf widow" whose husband is always out playing golf. I guess it's all in how you manage it.

[Bluffoon]

I hear ya. That's how relationships work I think. You keep trying until you get good enough at it to keep one going.

Don't beat yourself up over it.

[jakethebake]

This is actually a pretty interesting topic. I haven't thought much about it because it hasn't ever given me real problems. But I've probably lost more than I should and maybe spent a little too long at a game when my wife was waiting for me from time to time so I can see where it's a fine line.

[Bluffoon]

Life is all about balance.

Relationships, hobbies, work, family, friends.... keeping it all in balance.

[Zoltri]

[ QUOTE ]
Forms of gambling I've partaken in over the years:
Poker - Way up.
Horse Racing - Way up.
Slots - Down but I never spent any time at it so haven't lost much.
Sports betting - Even to down some.
Balckjack - Probably down some.
Videopoker - Up some.
Other casino games - Down but I never spent any time at them so haven't lost much.

[/ QUOTE ]
I dont mean to doubt you, but if this is true why are you working?

[IndieMatty]

I am now. In fact, now I'm at the point where poker on Party is sort of boring. And in general it's mechanical (unless I'm pushing the stakes). I was consumed for like 6 months because I wanted to beat it. (and I was down)

Coincidentally, everything clicked and I got hot the week after the breakup, I put $200 into my party account,started at 2-4 and worked it up to almost what I take home a year after taxes. I just paid off all my debt last week (credit cards, and student loans), I have money in the bank for the first time in my life and I honestly couldn't be more miserable with "gambling".

Enough of this. Too much personal info for Ootia.





(Bragging Thread Joke Here)

[IndieMatty]

It's hard not to beat yourself up over it. I actually thought I was doing the right thing by breaking up with (realizing I was being a dick, not hanging out, lieing etc) so I broke it off. I reattempted contact, and she can't trust me anymore. It's a tough pill to swallow when you put it on yourself.

[IndieMatty]

Right, so my experience was that I just got obsessed long enough to [censored] up my life.

Good times.

[Bluffoon]

I only get upset with myself when I don't learn from my mistakes. (This happens plenty)

[IndieMatty]

Good advice, and thanks. I wish I operated like this. I'm a dweller..especially with life altering mistakes.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Forms of gambling I've partaken in over the years:
Poker - Way up.
Horse Racing - Way up.
Slots - Down but I never spent any time at it so haven't lost much.
Sports betting - Even to down some.
Balckjack - Probably down some.
Videopoker - Up some.
Other casino games - Down but I never spent any time at them so haven't lost much.

[/ QUOTE ]
I dont mean to doubt you, but if this is true why are you working?

[/ QUOTE ]

I've never gambled for a living and have never viewed it that way. It's recreation. Maybe if I did it would consume me. But notice there's only two listed that I've ever made any real money at. And it wasn't really enough money to be a good living.

I'm a reasonable poker player, certainly a winning one, but probably not good enough to make a good living. Or at least not as good a living as I make now. Plus i have a family and want stability. Maybe I'd want that even w/o them so call it lack of balls or whatever.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I really only like playing poker. If I play anything else its basically for small amounts of money and its more for the entertainment value more than anything. I have always been paranoid that I would become something like a gambling addict, alcoholic, or pot head so basically anytime I felt like I was getting close to that I would stop for months on end.

Honestly, some times I have a hard time taking poker seriously because it is just a fun activity for me. I am glad its this way too. /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Bluffoon]

Gambling is a great avocation, especially if you can figure out how to make a few bucks, but it is a lousy vocation.

There are a lot of easier and more effective ways to make a living.

[Zoltri]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm a dweller..especially with life altering mistakes.

[/ QUOTE ]
This is what I do as well.

Sigh.

[IndieMatty]

It fits your personality. (recreational gambler), any man that has 1-2 beers at a bar everyday without incident can do this.

Are you one of those guys who has a ciggarette, once every 8 months to?

[B00T]

Gambling has definitely been -EV on my life.

I pissed away a gf cause I spent hours playing play money tournaments pokerroom S+G's with friends from college. We thought it was hilarious knocking each other out while drinking in our dorms.

Gambling in the future I hope will be +EV on life as I plan on using my winnings on purchasing a house in May. If I can drop 30-40k as a downpayment which I got during the daily grind I will feel very satisfied with how gambling has played its role in my life.

[jakethebake]

[ QUOTE ]
It fits your personality. (recreational gambler), any man that has 1-2 beers at a bar everyday without incident can do this. Are you one of those guys who has a ciggarette, once every 8 months to?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's interesting you say that because I've gone through periods where I drank way too much and it's gotten me in trouble. My personality was probably more addictive in my younger days.

I did have a 2 pack a day habit for like 3 years as a teenager. One day I just quit and it never bothered me. I've never had another cig.