Anyone ever deal with gambling addiction?

[lttlmc3]

Just curious. Need advice

 

[Hillbeans]

Just curious. Need advice

A family member of mine has (had) a gambling addition for many years. There are places to go for help, 1-800-gambler is a good start. From there they can give out local contacts for GA meetings, etc.

Gambling addicion is just as painful and destructive as any alcohol or drug addiction.

Edited to add - what sort of specific advise did you need? Maybe I can be more specific.

 

[FireDancer]

My father is a gambling addict and a thief. When he chose gambling over his family I cut him out. I have had no interaction with him in 10 years and won't for the rest of my life.

Hopefully whom ever you are dealing with will decide that his/her family is more important than placing a bet.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I don't know what type of advice you are looking for, or to know that you are not alone.

My stepfather is a compulsive gambler and it has destroyed the marriage between him and my mother. It is very challenging to watch because all they do is argue and all he does is lie. However I know my mother loves him and tries to make things work but they just don't.

The worst part is HIS family doesn't want to help they think he is fine and its a phase. They are delusional as well. My mother has tried several times for an intervention but it has not worked.

I wish you the best of luck and i know it is not easy by any means.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sister's MIL bails out her DIL and her DIL's mother and her son, which it is not the son of the DIL but a different son, all the time. They are gambling addicts. Son is also a alcoholic and is currently in process of going to jail for drunk driving.

Basically they drain their accounts and then go begging to MIL to pay for their bills and she does.

It is her way of keeping status quo on her relationships and interesting enough it is also a symbiotic controlling relationship on the part of the MIL.

So the payee can have the addicts under a barrel at their whim. We have been watching the sick dances for over 20yrs.

My sisters DH, has his own house, is frugal and has never taken a cent from his mother. He maintains his autonomy from her controlling behavior that way.

 

[MoniqueU]

I have 2 friends I would consider addicts; One moved to Vegas for retirement for the main purpose of gambling, he has a heafty retirement so it is not hurting him. He is not going to quit any time soon. He can afford all he has, pays cash for every thing including his cars and spils his grandkids. This is just his lifestle and he loves it.
I have another friend that doesn't go as often but I don't think I have ever seen a worse gmabler. it may be taking it's toll on her since she is out of work with a bad knee injury. She got her husband to take her to the casino for the 4th and had to come home laying down in the back seat she was in so much agony. That is dedication.

Then there is me, I go months without gambling then go often. I have lowered the denomination I play from ollars so I can play longer and for me I still am having fun, which I never thought I would sa6. I have gone when the money should of gone elsewhere but snce I cut out the dollats I am doing ok. I can't go right nown because I just quit smoking and the temtation to bum a smoke woul e too huge righ now.

Like smoking and drinking I don't thinkk unless you are married to them and have alot of control over their lives there is much you can do about it. I know there are support groups out there but to me with the experience I have going to groups like that over the years the people you meet are the least desirable of society, I don't mean to offend anyone with my statement or make a blanket judgement this is just MHO. Once I got other areas of my life under control the compulsive/addictive part of my personalit seemed t mellow out.

I am not sure what specific info you were looking for but if you have mre questins let me know.

 

[manning]

I have a SIL that is addicted. She can go thru 500.00 in a couple of hours. Of course I didn't help her any last year. We went to the casino with her and I was playing my usual 50.00. I play video poker and can make that money last for 2-3 hours. I play,slowly, a dollar at a time, not the 5 dollar max. Well I'm 9 dollars into it and the darn machine deals me a royal flush and pays 4000.00

She see this and thinks she can do the same. We had to walk her out of there and she was not happy about it. I still have over 90% of the winnings. Just can't get around to going again.

 

[Cool-Beans]

A relative of ours gambled away everything they had and then some.

It was a nightmare for his wife and the rest of the family.

We gave the wife money on the condition that it remained in her account and that he had no access to it. But not everyone has someone to bail them out.

It's so sad. I mean, it's hard enough to be broke, but to be broke because someone just gave the money away...

 

[NotUrsula]

Folks, try to be kind; it's possible that the OP *is* the person with the gambling addiction, and is looking for treatment help.

 

[manning]

Folks, try to be kind; it's possible that the OP *is* the person with the gambling addiction, and is looking for treatment help.

I believe the casino has a phone number posted where help can be gotten. If not ask at the service desk.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I have a SIL that is addicted. She can go thru 500.00 in a couple of hours. Of course I didn't help her any last year. We went to the casino with her and I was playing my usual 50.00. I play video poker and can make that money last for 2-3 hours. I play,slowly, a dollar at a time, not the 5 dollar max. Well I'm 9 dollars into it and the darn machine deals me a royal flush and pays 4000.00

She see this and thinks she can do the same. We had to walk her out of there and she was not happy about it. I still have over 90% of the winnings. Just can't get around to going again.

What machine were you playing? I'd love to know which one pays $4k for a single credit. I play video poker as well, but I play the dollar 9/6 JOB, whcih is getting harder and harder to find outside of the American Indian casinos.


I wish I had advice. My aunt, my two uncles, and my now-deceased grandmother are/were all gambling addicts. I'm reading this thread in hopes of guidance. I enjoy gaming, but because of watching them over the years, I am too paranoid to spend too much in a casino. We go about twice a year and spend $40-$100 per visit. (I don't think that means I'm addicted, but I'm very mindful.)

My grandmother had her house paid off after my grandfather passed away. She and her daughter ended up with two mortgages on it after realizing they could get cash out of the house. The house was lost when my granny died. They lost the majority of it playing bingo, of all things. The best photograph we had of granny was of her winning at a Keno game.

I don't loan my family members money. Ever. I do take advantage of my Uncle's status of some of the downtown Las Vegas casinos, though. I never thought about it until now, but that could also be feeding his addiction: the status level must be thrilling.