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^^^^^^^^^^^
There are plenty of women with gambling addictions as well. In fact, most of the slot play is by women.
 
Posts: 17717 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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A while back, a couple buddies and I were staying at a nice hotel for a 3 day meeting. On the first floor was a bar/casino. We were, naturally, headed to the bar. As we walked into the right door, which lead to the bar, an old couple was emerging from the left door, which lead to the casino. They looked dirt poor and she was in a wheelchair. I picked them as poster people for anti-gambling legislation.



I'm sorry if I hurt you feelings when I called you stupid - I thought you already knew - Unknown
...................................
When you have no future, you live in the past. " Sycamore Row" by John Grisham
 
Posts: 4299 | Location: Saddlebrooke, Arizona | Registered: December 24, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Thank you
Very little
Picture of HRK
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quote:
They looked dirt poor and she was in a wheelchair. I picked them as poster people for anti-gambling legislation.


Go into an Indian Casino in NV or AZ, probably anywhere for that matter, full of people that appear they shouldn't be betting, relative of a former SIL is addicted to gambling, found out our grandaughter (18) was asked by her for $200 to make it through the month. She sent it without saying anything until after.

Lesson she'll learn is when it's not repaid....
 
Posts: 24716 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Fire begets Fire
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BREAKING news: “Alcoholic Seen at Bar!“

“Gamblers seen at casinos and racetracks!“


Reminds me of the old anecdote that goes something like this…

“I just know that guys an alcoholic” says one fellow to another.
“How do you know that?” asks the second feller
First guy replies with “Well, I see him here at the bar every damn night!“





"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty."
~Robert A. Heinlein
 
Posts: 26758 | Location: dughouse | Registered: February 04, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Ignored facts
still exist
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Yeah, I can see on-line being a draw for "young men."

But at the same time, I've seen a lot of gray hair in the casinos, male and female.

A friend worked EMS in a Casino town. Many of his calls involved elderly people who passed out at a slot machine. Many had been sitting in front of the machine for like 8 to 10 hours without getting up or even getting a drink of water. They had all lost track of time. very sad existence.

Fun fact: Only Utah and Hawaii have no gambling/lotto/etc. Every other state has some form or another of legal gambling. Kind of cool how Utah as managed to keep even Indian Casinos out of their state.


.
 
Posts: 11229 | Location: 45 miles from the Pacific Ocean | Registered: February 28, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
I Deal In Lead
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quote:
Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
^^^^^^^^^^^
There are plenty of women with gambling addictions as well. In fact, most of the slot play is by women.


I used to go to Las Vegas around 3 times a year for a week at a time to do jobs in Nellis AFB, North Vegas and Area 51 and I stayed in Casinos and drove to work each day.

There were probably 20 women for every man playing slots.

Blackjack had more men as did craps but roulette was mostly women.
 
Posts: 10626 | Location: Gilbert Arizona | Registered: March 21, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Fun Fact. The Big Six Wheel was Elvis's favorite.
 
Posts: 17717 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Raised Hands Surround Us
Three Nails To Protect Us
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I don’t have enough money to start a gambling addiction or any addiction for that matter.


Neither did/do the vast majority of folks who have costly addictions like drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling.

My family is from a very poor rural part of KY where most folks barely have a pot to piss in. They just opened up a casino there.


————————————————
The world's not perfect, but it's not that bad.
If we got each other, and that's all we have.
I will be your brother, and I'll hold your hand.
You should know I'll be there for you!
 
Posts: 25898 | Registered: September 06, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Poor decision making
America might be the world capital





Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.



Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
 
Posts: 55351 | Location: Henry County , Il | Registered: February 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by bendable:
Poor decision making
America might be the world capital

Maybe but, you're not wrong....
The UK, Italy, France, Japan, all have legal gambling and wagering throughout the country. I'm sure they all have issues with gambling and its societal effects, however here in the US it just seems like personal problems get magnified into larger societal issues.
 
Posts: 15238 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Not surprised. No online betting when I was in college, but lots of sports wagering.

More time spent online, more states legalizing sports betting and an increase in gambling-like elements in videogames contribute to problems

Jonathan Jones traces his gambling struggles back to a videogame he played in the fifth grade.

Using lunch money or stealing small amounts from his parents, he would buy gaming gift cards and redeem them to spin a virtual wheel of fortune to collect prizes, such as weapons or armor, that could help him win the game, Zu Online, which is now discontinued. He would keep paying to spin again and again, a behavior that he says became compulsive and continued into other games.

By the time he was 20, Mr. Jones says he had spent nearly $40,000 playing videogames and entered a residential treatment program for videogame addiction.

Gaming and gambling problems are surfacing among young men, and increasingly, teen boys, say counselors, therapists and addiction experts. They cite the rise in time spent online during the pandemic, the legalization of sports betting in a growing number of states, and the increasing presence of gambling-like elements in videogames.

“There’s been a big surge of younger and younger people” in gambling support and recovery programs, says Marc Lefkowitz, who chairs the recovery committee for the National Council on Problem Gambling. One addiction-group moderator observed that there were so many young men at a recent meeting that the parking lot looked like a fraternity gathering.

Teens are affected, too. The number of 11th and 12th grade males experiencing gambling problems, such as lying about how much they lost, or being unable to control their gambling, rose to 8.3% in 2022 from 4.2% in 2018, according to one survey of 7,500 7th through 12th graders in Wood County, Ohio.


The line between gambling and videogaming is blurring, say those who research and treat problem gambling.


People who research and treat problem gambling say the line between gambling and videogaming is blurring. Videogames, which are often played on smartphones as well as computers and game consoles, include features that mimic gambling activities like roulette and slot machines.

William Ivoska, an addiction researcher who has been conducting the biennial survey in Ohio on youth gambling since 2014, says videogames can start off as free to play but require purchases to increase chances of winning. One common feature, he says, is a loot box, which can be purchased with an adult’s credit or debit card and can include virtual items, like swords or uniforms, that increase players’ abilities.

“Problematic gaming among adolescents can lead to problematic gambling as an adolescent and as an adult,” Dr. Ivoska says.

For those over 21, the legalization of mobile sports betting in 26 states has made wagering easily available by downloading smartphone apps.

Young men, who tend to be impulsive and overconfident, are particularly at risk when it comes to sports betting, says Jeff Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors. Players can place multiple bets, such as the number of passes completed by a quarterback, rather than just betting on the final score, compounding losses, he says.

Jesse Suh, a clinical psychologist in Philadelphia, says more male college students are coming in for treatment, often at the insistence of parents who discover tuition money and other college expenses have gone toward sports betting and other gambling. Online sports betting is legal in Pennsylvania for those 21 and older.



These young men “have distorted thinking that they are in control and can predict the outcome,” he says, adding that they have easy access to money but don’t really understand the degree of their spending. “It’s hard to recognize the value of money with online transactions,” he says.

To many parents, drugs and alcohol are a bigger worry than gambling. Plenty of young adults and teens bet as a social activity and most don’t develop problems.

Some addiction counselors, educators and parents are calling for gambling to be included in substance-abuse education. This year, Virginia passed the first state law requiring all public schools to teach students about the risk of gambling. Several other states, including North Carolina and Wisconsin where some forms of gambing are legal, as is the case in Virginia, have gambling-prevention and -education programs for middle schools and high schools.

The American Gaming Association, which represents casinos and gaming vendors, says its members have responsible protocols in place, including age verification, to thwart underage gambling.



The Entertainment Software Association, which represents the videogame industry, says gaming is not the same as gambling, which involves chance. Videogamers receive items in loot boxes or from prize wheels that enhance their experience, it says. Parental controls are also available on consoles and other devices to limit or restrict a child from making purchases within games.

Young people with gambling addictions often start with compulsive play on videogames as a way to cope with depression and anxiety, says Hilarie Cash, founding member and chief clinical officer of reSTART, which offers residential and outpatient gaming addiction treatment.

Mr. Jones, now 25, says his parents didn’t know the extent of his gambling, or that he used videogames to escape depression and anxiety. He was a star athlete and straight-A student, so his parents considered the games as a way he could unwind. He started skipping family dinner, saying he had to study. His computer and internet had parental controls installed, but he overrode them.

They took him to a therapist when he was in high school and quit giving him cash after he told them that he had stolen from them and used it on videogames. He found other ways to get money, selling birthday or holiday gifts online to get gaming gift cards. If a textbook cost $50, he would tell his parents it cost $100 and use the difference to play games. At one point, he says he cashed his savings and sold stocks that his parents purchased for him.

“I would lie about how much I spent, mostly because of the shame around it,” says Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones spent more than a year at reSTART, returned to college and is working in a research lab. He uses a flip phone, rather than a smartphone where videogames are readily accessible, and continues to see a therapist.

He has learned a lot, he says, and is concerned that kids and parents don’t understand how easily gambling can be done on mobile videogames, or how damaging it can be.

“You don’t have to go to a casino to lose a lot of money,” he says.

Write to Clare Ansberry at clare.ansberry@wsj.com

The blending of gaming and gambling elements in video games indeed makes it harder to recognize when a fun activity turns into a risky habit. My experience mirrors the sentiment that the convenience of digital transactions can mask the real value of money, making it easy to overspend without noticing. I believe it's good to try things within limits, and for those who enjoy gaming or casino games, focusing on platforms that are less harmful is crucial. Speaking from experience, I've used Judi bola, which operates fully online, making it easier to manage engagement without getting too absorbed. It's a nice alternative that offers a different experience without the high risk of traditional gambling.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mac_220,


___________________________________________________

in the 'Merica Navy they teach you to go pew pew pew...
Luckily in the PNW they taught me to go BANG BANG BANG
 
Posts: 105 | Registered: November 02, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Very little
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quote:
Originally posted by SIGnified:
BREAKING news: “Alcoholic Seen at Bar!“

“Gamblers seen at casinos and racetracks!“



Today you are more likely to find a gambler on a cell phone, probably in the bathroom...
 
Posts: 24716 | Location: Gunshine State | Registered: November 07, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
and Money
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Young men, who tend to be impulsive and overconfident, are particularly at risk when it comes to sports betting, says Jeff Derevensky, director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors....

These young men “have distorted thinking that they are in control and can predict the outcome,” he says, adding that they have easy access to money but don’t really understand the degree of their spending. “It’s hard to recognize the value of money with online transactions,” he says.

You don't say? young men “have distorted thinking"? Eek
I'm shocked!

Been there, done that. Most eventually figure out that it's easier to lose than to win.



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
 
Posts: 24934 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Next they’ll let Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame.

“Just a misunderstanding Pete. Shake it off.”
 
Posts: 1459 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: May 31, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Makes me wonder about the whole free will aspect .

Proof positive that people are the worst decision makers on the plant





Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency.



Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first
 
Posts: 55351 | Location: Henry County , Il | Registered: February 10, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Drill Here, Drill Now
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I went to elementary school thru high school with a guy, and we were on many baseball and basketball teams together. His Dad and my Dad even worked together for several years.

His Dad started his own business and after a decade had all the appearances of being successful such as a big house and a yacht. I was shocked to learn his Dad lost it all (business, house, yacht, marriage, etc) and even more surprised he lost it to online gambling. He leveraged everything to fuel his gambling addiction. If a grown man can lose that much, I can see how a kid without a fully formed brain can lose control.

This country also has an epidemic of shitty, uninvolved parenting. They use online devices as a virtual babysitter and have no clue what junior is up to.



Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
 
Posts: 24018 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Of course, gambling can be addictive but you should know you limits. You can earn pretty good money on sports betting for example. I am regularly betting and my income is between 400-500 $.

However, it's important to recognize that not everyone who gambles develops an addiction, and many people can enjoy betting responsibly.
Before betting, you have to search about who is playing, how their matches went etc. I mostly bet on social toto.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mac_220,


___________________________________________________

in the 'Merica Navy they teach you to go pew pew pew...
Luckily in the PNW they taught me to go BANG BANG BANG
 
Posts: 105 | Registered: November 02, 2014Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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My son, just out of IDF and Gaza, recently spent 2 great weeks visiting us in Virginia. He brought his amazing girlfriend who is also dual US/Israeli citizen. And he played poker (Texas hold em) 4 nights total with 4-7 friends. All young men in their 20s. He knew most of them since college or highschool and they kept the max loss to $100 a night. My son made a bit of money and had a lot of fun, but it concerns me that he's so into it. He even reads books about it. My older brother is a moderately successful poker player and borderline pro in that he makes maybe 20k a year.
 
Posts: 3553 | Location: Alexandria, VA | Registered: March 07, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lawyers, Guns
and Money
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quote:
Originally posted by cas:
I beat this do death, but I'll say it again. The two greatest "social" changes in recent years have been legalized sports gambling and legalized weed. Not changed because society changed it's opinion on them to any great degree. Changed because politicians thought they could make a lot of money off it. And THAT should piss you off, no matter which side of those issues you're on.

Yep... politicians thought they could make a lot of money off it.

In Missouri, when they "legalized" weed they didn't just decriminalize it for everyone. They created state-sponsored drug cartels by issuing licenses to certain people who applied and were selected, with the State as their partner. These "dispensaries" are printing money.

Of course, if you were a prior user it's still cheaper to use your local underground contact, which hasn't gone away. It just increased the overall size of the market, creating lots of new addicts.



"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor
 
Posts: 24934 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: April 03, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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