Degenerate gamblers

Solo player

Well-Known Member
#1
I have a co-worker who is a degenerate gambler. He has a few rental houses but he is years behind in his property taxes, credit cards maxed out and its been like this for a few years now.

He gambles on anything from street lotterys and scratch off tickets to charity poker tournys. About a year ago I showed him some things and gave him books about APing but he seemed to think he already has the answers and goes his own way. I've known the guy since childhood and do feel sorry for him. But when I talk to him about his problem he gets defensive and goes into denial. Is there anything that can be done for these types to help them get there act together? Or am I wasting my. I'm thinking its more waste of time than anything.
 

PierceNation

Well-Known Member
#2
I think really all you can do is point out that if he continues down this path, he will lose more than money and a credit rating.

He will lose his friends and family.

I sincerely hope he manages to pull himself out of it.
 

aslan

Well-Known Member
#3
I met an old friend of mine two days ago at a casino I was gambling at. He plays blackjack and is a good basic strategy player. He knows I count, but during the four years we have sometimes gambled together, he has never expressed any interest in AP at all, except to the extent of betting higher when I signal him to do so. I have even expressed to him how easy it is, but zero interest. Yesterday, he was on a roller coaster of emotion, winning big, then losing big. At the time when I walked up to him at the table he was $1,200 loser (according to him-- who knows how much for sure?) and he was so animated and loudly cursing that the pit lady had to ask him to keep it down. He brushed it off and continued betting $300 a hand at his now fever pitch. No telling how he made out, but when I called him later he said he was only $400 down, a feat that would be close to miraculous considering the pace he was going at. I'd like to help him, but he seems beyond help. To top that off, I think he is a frequent drug user. Sometimes you just have to back off and let water seek its level. When he loses really big, I think that will be a lesson well learned.
 
#6
you can help

Solo player said:
Is there anything that can be done for these types to help them get there act together?
he does not want to win at gambling. he does not play for money. teaching him that winning is possible is irrelevant and confusing to him. if you care about this person get him to a meeting today.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/index.php

the next step beyond financial ruin is the suicide attempt, fwiw.
 

Gamblor

Well-Known Member
#7
aslan said:
When he loses really big, I think that will be a lesson well learned.
Makes me think about Billy Walters. Guy was (and still kind of is) a degenerate gambler. Went broke many times, bet and lost his house to gambling, wife left him, etc., an extraordinarily pathetic man at one point in his life. Makes me think if a degenerate gambler does eventually turn to AP, if they have a huge edge. They are "dedicated" and constantly obsessing about gambling, digging out every ounce of advantage possible.

I despise gambling without an edge, always seemed like the most boring, pointless and silly waste of time to me, so at times have a lack of motivation. Hah, wonder if I don't have as much of an edge as someone who actually loves doing this :)
 

stopgambling

Well-Known Member
#8
really?! , SO I M NOT a degenerate gambler , i m just an uninformed gambler ,because i dont quite fit the description.i play a losing system because i do not know better, now that i do know better .why would i want to play a losing system!!!what a contradiction , without degenerates ,there might not be any a.p.!!!??
 

PierceNation

Well-Known Member
#9
stopgambling said:
really?! , SO I M NOT a degenerate gambler , i m just an uninformed gambler ,because i dont quite fit the description.i play a losing system because i do not know better, now that i do know better .why would i want to play a losing system!!!what a contradiction , without degenerates ,there might not be any a.p.!!!??
what?!
 

stopgambling

Well-Known Member
#10
a big part of casino 's profit is from the pathological gamblers.!!!if they dont make the kind of $$ they are making ,how can they possibly offer game that is even remotely beatable.?!
 

Lowrider

Well-Known Member
#11
It is difficult to imagine any person achieving long term, sustainable success as an AP without having some level of addiction to the game of choice.

I know that I am addicted, as I imagine most if not all other successful APs are, but I will not play without an advantage unless I'm doing so very occasionally for camo or if I'm playing with the lady on vacation for fun and very low stakes.
 

aslan

Well-Known Member
#12
Lowrider said:
It is difficult to imagine any person achieving long term, sustainable success as an AP without having some level of addiction to the game of choice.

I know that I am addicted, as I imagine most if not all other successful APs are, but I will not play without an advantage unless I'm doing so very occasionally for camo or if I'm playing with the lady on vacation for fun and very low stakes.
It may be that your addiction is to success, not the game itself.

I know for me, even though I began my card counting career at full steam, playing every chance I got, I am now at a point where I don't go out of my way to play. When we plan a family trip for one reason or another, my wife tries to include casinos along the way where I have comps or other perks, and where there is close proximity to shopping (her addiction), so that she can indulge her addiction while I play blackjack. This last trip I had to push myself to play, but there really wasn't much of anything else to do. It was fun when we got together with her cousin and husband at the casino for an extended supper where we talked forever. I did win about $1,000, bought a new vacuum cleaner largely out of comp dollars, and did get free rooms for three nights, on a trip that was primarily designed to visit her aging Mother. I am not complaining, just noting that what was once a passion, has now become a pastime with other activities being the major consideration. I fully understand that I am in a unique position, being retired and not in need, so that I can afford to approach the game wholly as a recreational pursuit. I still play to maximize profit while giving due consideration to longevity, I just don't go out of my way to play.

BTW, Borgata is giving away free Kindles December 3 and 4; check you "offers" online. I will not be going to pick up mine because I have other things to do those days, but it's a pretty good deal, coupled with $70 slot play or corresponding match play, dependng on how they have you listed.
 
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