Letter to a compulsive gamber (anonymous and long)

[Derek in NYC]

Nice thoughts, but I don't give a crap about his problems. I dont care if he is selling his children's kidneys to fund his gambling problem. We live in a tough world, and if morons want to sit down and piss away every nickel they have, I'm backing up the truck to get my share. See you all in hell.

[DrewOnTilt]

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In spite of my described experience, I still will not assume that a maniac is an addict just because he plays like a maniac, nor should anyone else.

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When did the maniac aspect enter the picture. In your original post you mentioned that he bet haphazardly.

What difference does it make if an addict is a maniac, calling station or whatever?

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It really doesn't make a difference. "Maniac" just happens to be the the term that most accurately described this particular person.

[Withen]

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In your original post you state that you are going to donate money to GA through payroll deductions. That's great.

Anonymous help for those voluntarily entering a 12 Step program is the best way to help.


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I don't know much about GA, and I don't have any personal experience with either GA or AA... I'm sure it has helped some people (or they thought it did), but I have read some sobering statistics on the effectiveness of such programs. In the long run (being about 18 months), and by their own data, Alcoholics Anonymous has a success rate almost exactly equal to that of an alcoholic who chooses to quit voluntarily, with no extra help: about 5%. I would like to believe that a program like GA would have a better success rate, but I would be interested in reading some hard data on the subject.

Think about that: AA and self discipline have the same EV. Crazy.

[Piz0wn0reD!!!!!!]

"By most estimates, your disease affects about five percent of the world’s population."

I think its 5% of all gamblers. And i think its actually 3%.

anyhoo, great post. You sound like a good guy.

[Al Schoonmaker]

I agree.

I have taken advantage of lots of compulsive gamblers, usually without even thinking about it. In fact, I don't want to think about it. If I realized I was taking food off his family's table, I'd feel guilty and play poorly.

Ours is a predatory game, and the first rule of all predators is: Attack the weak.

Regards,

Al

[tek]

YESSS!!

I am so glad you said that, Al. I was afriad that people in your profession would respond in a namby-pamby manner about helping your fellow person.

At least you are one exception. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[octop]

First of all a kid on my school baseball team is a compulsive gambler and even though I think the kid is a prick I tried to help him and I always refused to go with him to a casino. But he still pisses his money away gambling. He's an adult and that is his choice.
Ive counted cards in BJ for over a year and can not tell you how many compulsive gamblers I've seen who curse their luck and piss dollar after dollar into the casinos coffers. These same people then go play poker. And I will try to take every dollar from them just like I expect anyone at my table to do with me. I don't give a [censored] about this persons problems and he doesnt care about mine. You can call it an addiction or whatever you want but its still an adult making a decision for him/herself. This person is not a child born with cancer or somebody who was left homeless because their hosue burnt down. I feel compassion for people like that but I am not in a casino to make friends.On my last Borgate trip I got all in against some compulsive gambler preflop when I had AA and they had AQ. the flop came all queens and he didnt give me my money back ( well he did but he gave it to everyone in an hour or so) If you have a gambling problem get help and my name is not 1-800-gambler so don't sit at my table if you want me to ben nice to you.

[Mike]

NoName... I understand what you are trying to do, but it goes with the territory. If all the self admitted addicted gamblers playing poker at the local were barred, there would be about four of us in the room to play on a Saturday night.

I sometimes play with [drug] dealers/bangers who have drug addicted women turned hookers walk up to them for a fix in exchange for the $$ they made since their last fix. Or the women expect them to set them up with someone to earn a fix.

That money is going to go someplace, give it to charity if it bothers you, but if you don't take it someone else will.

Also remember these are adults and they made their decisions. It may not be lifestyle you or I would choose, but it's their life and their choice. Any adult knows the likely results of almost any life decision they will make. They made it and accept the outcome, good or bad.

I used to feel sorry for some people when I was starting out, then two things happened. My first big slump and the other players punishing me with the chips I chose not to try to win. By the second big slump I lost that feeling of charity at the table.

[mosch]

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Al, I don't want to take anyone's grocery money, either. But neither am I going to leave a good game because this poor soul sits down at the table. It's not my responsibility to save him, it's his.

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Agreed. Occasionally I'll play with somebody who clearly can't afford to lose. When that happens I always get a twinge of guilt as I take their stack. But I take it anyway, because it's there, and somebody has to do it.

It's more fun to win when the losers don't need the money.

[Jonny]

I agree. My goal when I play poker is to play optimally against every opponent. I couldn't care less if a maniac is just rich and doesn't care about money or if he is compulsive. I play poker for 2 reasons: One is money, and the other is the ability to know I'm better than the other players at the table. You don't become a long term winner by not extracting bets.