i might have a gambling problem

[antthecat]

hi, i know that poker is a gambling sport but i have just got a addiction, im playing fruit machines at quite an excess. i was playing a poker tourney tonight and was not interested in the poker but i was just pumping the money in the fruit machine playing rainbow riches. it is only since i had a jackpot i just cant stop. i know that i have to stop and im writing this just to clear my head and so i can read it and hope it sinks in, if anyone has any words of advice it would be helpful.

[noble1]

Tell you what when in the casino look at each machine in turn & see what the payout % is (chances are they will be between 72% to 84%). If you find one which is over 90% play that one.
You wont win - but at least your money might last a bit longer!!  

[WYoung83]

id rather be addicted to facebook than to gambling i think.

[duke3016]

not good young fella -- lets relax and stop the sillyness -- and thats a serious post

[rubertoe]

Fruit Machines are the devils work.... It starts off with just the loose change in your pocket and then you find yourself at the bar asking for 10 - £1 and before you know it you have a £50 hole in your pocket and are still convinced that a if you win the Jackpot (£25 -£35) it will repeat - so in more money goes.

I know from my own experiences as a young lad what fruit machines can do to people - My dad was a fruit machine addict - don"t get me wrong he wasn"t a GAMBLING addict - he never made a bet in his whole life as far as i know - but back in the day many a Friday (payday) night would come and the time would tick on and then at some point after closing time in would come the old man with not much of his wages left and a look on his face a like a dog that couldn"t hold it (guilty) - he would regularly put £250-£300 in a a £25 jackpot machine on a Friday night and come home with his tail between his legs!

STAY AWAY FROM THEM - IT IS A SURE FIRE WAY TO GO BROKE!!!

[Waz1892]

hi, i know that poker is a gambling sport but i have just got a addiction, im playing fruit machines at quite an excess. i was playing a poker tourney tonight and was not interested in the poker but i was just pumping the money in the fruit machine playing rainbow riches. it is only since i had a jackpot i just cant stop. i know that i have to stop and im writing this just to clear my head and so i can read it and hope it sinks in, if anyone has any words of advice it would be helpful.

googled this, hope it helps..

http://www.fruitmachine.me.uk/fruitmachineaddiction.php

when u go to a place thet you know has a fruit machine, take no money with you.  if your playing poker you don"t need money.  take a bottle of water, an i-pod, and something to eat if it is a long tournie.  main point keep your money AND CC Debit cards at home.

My mate regular spent his wages as soon as he got them.  it is real and it is hard, but with will power you"ll be fine.

BUT before anyone can help, you need to be in a mind set that you want help....step 1 with all additions is that you admit it.

So, top marks friend for doing that in this way too.   now get help where ever you can.

It very nearly destroyed my mate, so get help.

[AMRN]

went throught that big-time as a teenager - all my hard earned (literally!) went into fruit machines. Grew out of it after a few years, and now actually get a thrill when I walk past one in a pub and ignore it!! (wierd but true)

[Mikeyboy9361]

My brother went to Uni to do a degree in Accountancy and came out with a first in Snooker, Drinking and FRUIT machines, it cost him a fortune, stay well clear!!!!

[Swinebag]

By making the admission you are on the road to recovery.

Just remember.....

"It is impossible to win from these machines in the long run"

If you feel like playing them then just read this thread again first

[SirPercival]

As my brother used to work for a company that suppied fruit machines I grew up where we had in the house for fun.

We used to use it as a savings bank and it was very effective. I learnt very quickly can they can"t be beat.

I admire you for your opening post, a very brave thing to do, and as others have already said it is that post which shows you are on track to beat this.

Poker is not about luck, neither is beating your addiction. Both take skill and hard work.

[bigredders]

i once had a heated arguement with a guy at uni that reckoned he could beat fruit machines, i told him what an idiot he was, something he didn"t take too kindly too. Highly dissallusioned!

I have had quite a few friends that have lost fortunes on them, used to say the flashing lights hypnotized them! i have heard all sorts of theories, when the lights flash faster its ready to pay out is apparently one of them! the bottom line is they are there to take your money!

most gambling addictions start from boredom, you go to the pub alone or with mates? when did you start playing? waiting for friends/ break in poker? i had a problem at uni being down the bookies too much, it starts off being harmless just letting the afternoon go by but then you start losing and start chasing before you know it you have lost a fortune!

you seem to have identified a problem early, which is a good sign. when you play poker etc either in pubs or casinos just take a magazine or a book to read during breaks, or go with friends...all of which allieviate the boredom, soon enough you won"t even think of playing them!

[antthecat]

thanks everyone for your advice, i do admit that i stopped this sillyness before(was always playing roulette down the bookies) but i started playing these blasted machines again cos i was bored as busted out of poker and waiting for friends, just put a tenner in and jackpot, up £250, SINCE I JUST KEEP CHASING THE JACKPOT. i have noticed that i was losing a few quid so i have to nip this one in the bud. i will be taking a magazine or some music or my snooker cue(dependant on venue) so if im waiting then i will have something to do and have a set amount of notes on me and no debit card.

[lukybugur]

GL with it Ant. As you can see, we"re all behind you.

[Chipaccrual]

Just to add my support.

You are actually very lucky in that you don"t have a gambling problem.

The problem you have is one of shoving money into a machine to kill time, and by the sounds of it, you have the situation under control.

Slot machines are a guaranteed way of going busto in the long term.

Stick to the poker, where skill is involved (apparantely).  

[jbworldwide]

went throught that big-time as a teenager - all my hard earned (literally!) went into fruit machines. Grew out of it after a few years, and now actually get a thrill when I walk past one in a pub and ignore it!! (wierd but true)

or by watching me spend my money in the casino