A Mugs Game?

[Jordyboy9]

I was brought up with the adage that gambling was a mugs game,
I believed it,and never indulged,don’t have any problem with those that do,
Live and let live springs to mind,
What I do wonder about is the people who are addicted,is gambling anonymous fit for purpose?often wondered if hypothesis would work on addiction gambling,drinking,drugs,when I read what is going on in the world
I feel as if I have led a sheltered life.The drug situation here in Scotland is disastrous,they tried to do something about the alcoholism it is not working,
And they are more interested in separation than trying to sort out the drug problem.

[mallyh]

do you mean hypnosis .the first thing is for a person to admit they have a problem and by the time they do they are well and truly hooked .

[ummmm]

My dad was a gambling addict and so was one of his brothers. Like dangerous sports or hobbies they are adrenaline junkies.

I know quite a few alcoholics but that's a completely different sort of addiction, imo.

[10ClarionSt]

I worked in a betting shop many years ago, in the days when wages were paid weekly in pay packets. I saw many a man lose his wages in less then 30 minutes. I could never see the attraction in it. Incidentally, there were no calculators then. All done with the brain!

[Ken4155]

The problem lies not with gambling but with problem gamblers. Surely even the Village Idiot would only take about a week to realise that gambling is not a short cut to riches. I GIVE the firms money on a regular basis and, once in a while, those kind bookies LEND me some of my money back as an incentive to carry on with my HOBBY. If every punter approached gambling as I do, i'm sure there'd be no problem whatsoever. As for Gamblers Anonymous? Well, like all 'help stations' it will only work if the person seeking help wants it to.

[Cloverjo]

I used to go out with a gambling addict and was daft enough to lend him money that I never got back.
I used to work in an amusement arcade and a betting shop and seen people blow money in no time.
A friend killed himself over despair at his addiction.

I can see how it happens. When you’re playing the machines or betting on the horses you’re ‘in the zone’ where you forget your problems for a while and you want to stay in there until you win your money back (unlikely!) and do it all again.

[rowanwitch]

I think you either have an addiction personality of not. I sometimes bet online usually on major sporting events, at last count I was about £30 up , still playing on last year's winnings. I don't drink to excess, never smoked, avoided drugs, but i am obsessive about my crafting hobbies that's where I could easily get into trouble with overspending.

[Old_Geezer]

Must be worth a punt.

[Ken4155]

10C says when he worked in a betting shop, he saw 'many a man lose his wages in less than 30 minutes'. That, to me, is just plain stupidity and not an obsession. I've known one or two that have done similar but the hard word and cold shoulder from her indoors for a few days has cured them of their stupidity.