HOPEFULLY SOME HELP

I'm 65 years old and started gambling on horses at 14, made a book in school till I left and bookie ran till 18. Joined a British bookmaking company then and by 22 become a district manager. After several years chasing good money in jobs, had enough to make a partnership in a couple of betting shops which not only made me enlightened of my gambling but showed me how desperate it was for others.

I still gamble and know what that urge is but through honesty and knowledge I have evolved enough to curb what destroys so many lives. I hope that in joining this forum I can pass along my experiences and guide others to some sort of comfort in their lives. I'm going to try to post advice in a way that shows the development of our problem and hopefully ways to not combat it but make it part of our lives.

Happiness is the most important part of our lives but we all seem to forget the essentials of getting it. We look to short term fixes that are no better than taking drugs ( yet we look down on those who take them ) Lets see if we can make things better

Are you completely separated from gambling now?

Might just be me but you seem to be advocating controlled gambling? I doubt that will be helpful for many of us on here, we can't gamble ever again! If I have misunderstood I apologise.

gran wrote:Might just be me but you seem to be advocating controlled gambling? I doubt that will be helpful for many of us on here, we can't gamble ever again! If I have misunderstood I apologise.

I agree, Gran; that was my impression too....if so, this thread is inappropriate on this forum.....we sure don't need encouragement along these lines.

I am adding my 2 cents here - the goal and purpose of this forum is to help our members stop gambling completely and for good .

I'm sure you have good intentions Chubnut1, and I appreciate your desire to help .

If you are able to gamble in control , that's fine for you but any advice or encouragement to our members on how to do the same is counter-productive to this forum and will not be allowed . There are other forums for active gamblers that are better suited to that purpose .

If you wish to quit gambling , we will gladly support your efforts .

I certainly dont want to upset anyone and if what you are doing is working then thats fine. I just think in todays enviornment outdated strategies are certainly not helping people I know. Gambling is unique, or should I say risk taking, in that its in our DNA. drinking copious amounts of alcohol isnt. I'll say no more unless asked and wish you all well.

The propensity for addiction is in our DNA , though .

chubnut1 wrote:I just think in todays enviornment outdated strategies are certainly not helping people I know.

Would you be kind enough to share some strategies which are NOT outdated yet effective in helping gambling addicts to quit gambling completely?

Otherwise... wrong message, wrong audience.

chubnut1 wrote: risk taking . . . its in our DNA. drinking copious amounts of alcohol isnt.

Risk-taking is probably in our DNA. Yet gambling is a different kettle of fish. Firstly, most gambling games already have a built-in edge for the House, meaning that over time you are guaranteed to lose. No risk there, just guaranteed punishment and pain. Good for the masochist.

Even a gambling game without a house edge would just amount to a zero-sum game, where over time you could expect to come out even.

Gambling is theft by mutual consent, engaged in by people who are hurting inside and fearful. There are other kinds of risk that are less predatory.