Gambling Addiction Help; Name 1 Step Or Piece Of Advice You Would Recommend Someone Looking To Regain Control

[sumday]

All joking aside. I still remember that thread about people confessing they've wasted their lives and regret neglecting their kids and wives all those weekends and evenings because of gambling.

Gambling, especially on sports is great. I love it. However, spending hours a day, and this is especially for those that have families, is a waste. That's my opinion.

So if I'm so far off, what about all those older people in that thread? Scott l, you might be one of them someday. Maybe you already are which would explain why you are so bitter.

 

[ScottL]

Sumgay a pro doesn't bet 6 Units on one play and 1 Unit on another as you did tonight. A pro doesn't make a pick and get asked why, and respond, "That play is purely for entertainment I guess. No specific reason."
http://forum.therx.com/showpost.php?p=6789723&postcount=345

 

[sumday]

sumgay gtc08 is in your corner. He just PM'd me, "I'm in sumgay's corner!"

Like I said, we were all trying to discuss an issue here in this thread. You killed it. I really hit a nerve about the hours of capping being a waste huh?

Scroll back to the point where you came in here freaking out and calling me names when there was no reason to.

Guys like you are a dime a dozen.

 

[sumday]

Sumgay a pro doesn't bet 6 Units on one play and 1 Unit on another as you did tonight. A pro doesn't make a pick and get asked why, and respond, "That play is purely for entertainment I guess. No specific reason."
http://forum.therx.com/showpost.php?p=6789723&postcount=345

Exactly, first inning bet. Purely for entertainment. That's called being honesty.

Also, who said I was a pro? I can quote so many of my lines on thsi site where I keep saying I'm not tout, I'm not expert. Man, you just got burned again...I love it!

 

[ScottL]

sumday I had USC +8 when they lost 48-35 in multiple OTs to ASU before they changed the rule. I also had the game middled. THAT made me bitter. Nothing in this thread makes me bitter.

 

[sumday]

Sumgay a pro doesn't bet 6 Units on one play and 1 Unit on another as you did tonight. A pro doesn't make a pick and get asked why, and respond, "That play is purely for entertainment I guess. No specific reason."
http://forum.therx.com/showpost.php?p=6789723&postcount=345

By the way..another winning day. Not as big as my past few days but hey..I will take it. You really aren't doing a good job arguing with me here.

You really are feeble.

Predictable too. I knew you would go searching for my thread looking for ammo..and when you saw that I had a winning day you started clinging to scraps...haha...wow.....so petty.

 

[sumday]

sumday I had USC +8 when they lost 48-35 in multiple OTs to ASU before they changed the rule. I also had the game middled. THAT made me bitter. Nothing in this thread makes me bitter.

Really? Then why did you freak out for nothing? You came in here freaking out for no reason. I made a point and you could have discussed it like a man instead you threw insults.

 

[sumday]

Anyways...before this thread gets moved to the RR(which is really too bad because it was a good topic)

Don't try to fool yourself and other calling gambling 'investing'.

Spending hours a day is a waste. Especially 6 hours. Wow. I mean who are you kidding? Keep it a hobby.

 

[sumday]

Remember that thread with all those people talking about how they've wasted their lives, all the regrets etc?

That's the point here. Don't end up like those people wishing they never neglected their wives, kids, etc. because of gambling.

What advice would I give to somebody who has a problem? Don't be afraid to ask for help and take control and take a look at your loved ones and see how much they are hurting and how helpless they must feel.

Make no mistake, gambling problems are worse than having a drinking problem or even a drug problem in certain ways. Everybody's heard the horror stories of desperate gamblers.

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with gambling or drinking but you have to be able to recognise when it is becoming a problem. Anything can be bad for you if you do it too much.

If you have a problem, take control. Let's make it clear that I'm not putting down sportsbetting at all. I think it's great.

 

[ScottL]

Let's tamp this down so it stays here.

#89 is YOUR interpretation. #90 is merely your opinion. If you want to say I posted a few things I shouldn't have, maybe so. But do take a look at my initial post in this thread. Even if you disagreed with it, your attack response was unwarranted. The post was from my experience and it was intended to help those who gamble and are getting $tung to view it as more of a job than a hobby And isn't that the thread starter's intention?

I think it's pretty obvious who is concerned with what the score is in this meaningless difference of opinion between SNott L and sumday, and whose BP is rising. If that's not the case then why are you talking about someone being gay, or having an ugly wife or kids? Or a fat mom? It's infantile, and demeans only yourself, not the person you're flinging that shit toward.

If you would like this fire to be put out then fine, it's cool.

I have no reason to lie in here. If you think I'm angry you're sadly mistaken. Threads like THESE ARE how I waste my time. This here is like blowing off steam, compared to what I really do which IN YOUR OPINION is not a professional endeavor.

I've been a professional bettor almost as long as you've been alive. Sometimes it takes me 3 hours a day to cap an MLB card, sometimes longer. I keep extensive records, and you can bet your ass it's worth my time! I also have multiple outs, all on credit and rarely do I get a bad number on a game. I know line value, like betting UNDER 8+110 will make you more money in the long run then betting UNDER 8.5 -120 when most people will throw the 30 cents away.

Marc Lawrence sponsors The Wiseguys Contest. I've been in it every year since 1986. Oh, and by the way, I have a full and happy life. I lost a ton of the money I made betting in Citigroup stock and the rest of the S&P 500.....and I'm still a pretty lucky guy. Buy and Hold was not supposed to be a gamble. THAT turned into my gambling problem. Sportsbetting? NEVER!

I even get paid 250 bucks to play music in a nightclub for 3 hours 1-2 nights a week. And I'd do it for nothing because I enjoy it so much. That's my hobby. Sportsbetting can't ever be a hobby.

 

[ScottL]

The last post wasn't for you sumday. You're too dense to absorb it. I'll not respond to you anymore. Take the next post and declare the victory you so yearn for and I'll leave the thread alone unless addressed by someone who can entertain a rational conversation.

 

[barman]

But fuego, if it were your friend or family member & they were on the edge of snapping & popping a cap in their head, wouldn't it matter? (Be your business?)

:toast:

Based on my own experience recovering from a pattern of substance abuse (back in 1995) and the shared experiences of others from that time and during the 14 years since as I've worked to help others, I'd say the only thing you can do that is useful is to point them to Gamblers Anonymous.

If for any reason their behavior presents legitimate danger to me or my interests (family/business etc) then I would likely restrict contact with that person until they demonstrated a clear change in behavior.

In short, there's nothing "I" or "you" can do to help someone who has is a problem gambler. The only people that can help them are others who were formerly problem gamblers and who are actively working a program of behavior change (ala GA)

 

[barman]

You should not care about any team. True professionals do not care about the Redsox, the Cowboys, or the Lakers. Whether they win or lose means nothing.

If you can't view gambling in terms of an investment don't gamble.

If you don't have multiple outs in order to get the best price or lowest vig on a game don't gamble.

If you're not disciplined enough to spend 6+ hours a day handicapping and keeping team stats and league systems in the various sports you specialize in don't gamble.

My hook nosed brotha from another mutha nicely sums up my own core beliefs regarding sports investing.

 

[barman]

Spend 6 hours a day capping? I hope you are not serious. That would be a waste of a life..and yes that would mean you have a gambling problem.

You must have missed his counsel that sports betting should only be approached as a form of investment.

If you are making money in the business of investment, six hours per day is a fairly reasonable start. The more your bank increases, the more cause you have to increase your analysis and study so as to better assure your success.

Now if you're betting on sports events as a form of light recreation, akin to say, buying a handful of lottery tickets, then by all means keep your study down to 20, 30 minutes a day max.

Focus on the teams with the best looking uniforms and the players with the most interesting names and then go about your other life.

 

[sumday]

Based on my own experience recovering from a pattern of substance abuse (back in 1995) and the shared experiences of others from that time and during the 14 years since as I've worked to help others, I'd say the only thing you can do that is useful is to point them to Gamblers Anonymous.

If for any reason their behavior presents legitimate danger to me or my interests (family/business etc) then I would likely restrict contact with that person until they demonstrated a clear change in behavior.

In short, there's nothing "I" or "you" can do to help someone who has is a problem gambler. The only people that can help them are others who were formerly problem gamblers and who are actively working a program of behavior change (ala GA)

I had someone very close to me that had a drinking problem. I tried everything to get this person to quit. I mean everything. It never worked.

I always believed that it was the weak who have no will power and are just so selfish that they wouldn't quit but as I got older I understood how difficult it is for them.

I guess I have no point. Just sucked. I'm glad this person is out of my life so I don't have to see it. I just wanted to say it's very admirable for those that take control and even more endearing when those that have regained control and decide to help others. There..that's the most sincere and nicest thing you will ever hear from Sumday. Don't get used to it.

 

[ScottL]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott L
You should not care about any team. True professionals do not care about the Redsox, the Cowboys, or the Lakers. Whether they win or lose means nothing.

If you can't view gambling in terms of an investment don't gamble.

If you don't have multiple outs in order to get the best price or lowest vig on a game don't gamble.

If you're not disciplined enough to spend 6+ hours a day handicapping and keeping team stats and league systems in the various sports you specialize in don't gamble."

[Quote:
Originally Posted by Barman
My hook nosed brotha from another mutha nicely sums up my own core beliefs regarding sports investing]

Thanks Bar. By the way that was a general statement about giving oneself an edge, and not necessarily a response to the threadstarter. It was post #16, and was an addendum to post #11, composed by my longtime pal of various forums and the pride of Tennessee, Randyrohm.

When thinking about the title of this thread my post may seem out of place. But there is no need for others to twist it into something malevolent.

 

[barman]

SUMDAY, drop the personal argument with ScottL....No one's interested and don't waste any of our time with any more of this

 

[sumday]

read post 34. That's where it started.

===
Perhaps you overlooked that I don't care where it started. I'm telling you it's over. Don't derail this otherwise interesting topic any further

bar

 

[sumday]

You must have missed his counsel that sports betting should only be approached as a form of investment.

If you are making money in the business of investment, six hours per day is a fairly reasonable start. The more your bank increases, the more cause you have to increase your analysis and study so as to better assure your success.

Now if you're betting on sports events as a form of light recreation, akin to say, buying a handful of lottery tickets, then by all means keep your study down to 20, 30 minutes a day max.

Focus on the teams with the best looking uniforms and the players with the most interesting names and then go about your other life.

Let's be serious, many claim to make money gambling, and it is gambling not investing, but most don't make too much money, nevermind live off of gambling.

6 hours a day is an insane amount of time to spend. Look at me. Up 159 units. Haven't had a losing day in several days if not more. I spend 15 mins a day. You don't need to spend more time, pro or not. It's a waste imo.

 

[sumday]

Funniest thing is when I spend 15 mins capping and some clown spends 6 hours ''capping'' to get the same result I did or worse. What a waste of a day for that guy. Sad really.

By the way, I DO care about my favorite teams and I DO care if they win or lose. I disagree that you have to be indifferent to your favorite teams to have any success. That's another sad thing to do. Not only are you spending hours a day capping but now you want to seperate yourself from the enjoyment of caring for your favorite teams?

I had a winning season in the NFL, NBA, and now absolutely tearing it up in MLB. It's not by throwing darts in the dark. It's not by chasing. I didn't do it by spending 6 hours a day capping or by being indifferent to my favorite teams either.