how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

serious question this happened to me yesterday.

went with buddy to local casino which only spreads slot machines and video poker.

nicest guy you could meet, always friendly and smiling.

i hate casino games cuz you'll lose your money in long run unlike poker. long story short, he drops 300 in about 15 minutes at a let it ride machine..not a biggie he can afford it but it wasnt fun.

then he goes to hi limit slots cuz he wants to make it back quickly. i try to talk him out of it and just swallow the loss...i dropped 60 bux and didnt care to lose anymore.

anyways he says just 200 more on a $5 slot. He drops both bills without hitting one winning combination...not even a cherry.

He reaches in his pockets and puts in 2 more...i tell him to let it go and literally wrap my arms around him to pull him away...some of it in jest, but i didnt want him to drop more. He loses that.. now he's getting steamed...he insists the machine is ice cold (which it was) and is due for a big hot streak now.

He drops those two bills and now i tell him seriously lets just go. before i can act 2 more go in the machine. Finally he hits triple sevens and gets a $300 score. I tell him to cash out there was his big hand, but he would still be down a couple hundred even then, so now he starts to give me a bit of an evil eye, like im annoying him and being like a nagging wife. very unlike him....he has the gleam in his eyes that he aint leaving until he made back all his $$.

At this point i give up and leave him alone, and tell him i'll be playing 25c video poker a couple of rows over.

An hour later i dropped another 80 just waiting for him to finish. then i head back to see him do his last 3 spins.

He is really pissed off. he finished wasting close to 2 grand, and tapped out his withdrawel limits for the day.

he wasted 3 days of profits from his families restaurant he runs, and was now also a bit peeved at me for not pulling him away sooner, although he did know i tried, but i guess not hard enough.

He is not a degenerate gambler, he goes to casino quite rearely, but when he goes, he thinks he has to stay and keep playing until he hits a jackpot or go broke.

I thought i tried every reasonable approach to get us to leave, but with him i guess another method is needed. He'll laugh about it a couple of days from now, but while its happenening hes a whole different person.

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

Probably better for the Psych Forum. To answer your question, I think this is somethinghe has to learn to control on his own. It might be hard, but outside of some verbal warnings, you pretty much need to let him be a big boy and do as he pleases.

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its g
 

Ask him EXACTLY how you should handle this situation in the future. After he explains, tell him you will follow his instructions RUTHLESSLY so ask him AGAIN if this is what he REALLY wants. Then follow your orders soldier!!!

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

[ QUOTE ]
He is not a degenerate gambler

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When he goes, he thinks he has to stay and keep playing until he hits a jackpot or go broke.

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The above two statements are contradictory.

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He is not a degenerate gambler

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
When he goes, he thinks he has to stay and keep playing until he hits a jackpot or go broke.

[/ QUOTE ]

The above two statements are contradictory.

[/ QUOTE ]

What the hell is a non-degenerate gambler when you're playing with the worst of it?

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its g
 

Don't go back to the casino with this friend. If he is willing to listen, talk to him AWAY FROM THE CASINO about his gambling problem. If he is unwilling to listen, there is not much you can do, other than refuse to go with him.

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

[ QUOTE ]
and was now also a bit peeved at me for not pulling him away sooner

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Ah, you answer your own question! Never, you know I'm right,and I mean never go to a gambling establishment with this fellow again!

Vince

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

He needs to learn his own lessons here.

Now, when me and my friends hit the casino floor and I've had a few Coronas in me, I take my wallet out, take $100 or $150 out for myself, and give my wallet (with the rest of my money and ATM cards) to a friend of mine, because I know what could very well happen if I hold onto my wallet.

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its gone?
 

I'm just curious (not trying to insult you), but if you can't control how much money you blow in the pit to the point that you have to someone else hold your wallet and money, it seems unlikely you'd have the discipline to be a winning player. How can you approach poker in a disciplined manner if you can't trust yourself not to blow off tons of money in other gambling situations?

Jeff

Re: how do you handle a friend on tilt gambling away his $$ till its g
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't go back to the casino with this friend. If he is willing to listen, talk to him AWAY FROM THE CASINO about his gambling problem. If he is unwilling to listen, there is not much you can do, other than refuse to go with him.

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I agree with this. it sucks, but it's about the only thing you can do. Tell him you don't like the way he gambles and don't want to witness it first-hand again. Tell him it makes you uncomfortable.