Dear 60plus......I am sorry, if I am blunt I apologize! We all try to fool ourselves, myself included! We are not habitual gamblers.....if someone is then they would could say they will never gamble again, and that happens .....they never gamble again! Unlike, ALL OF US...... I probably, would say I told myself that for years in denial! But, I AM, I HAVE A GAMBLING PROBLEM! We are the ones, that think oh maybe....if I quit for a while I am ok, oh maybe....If I don't drink when I gamble ....I am ok! Oh maybe, if I only have 20 dollars I am ok....REALLY! We only fool ourselves!

You are here at this site for a reason! Help yourself.......you can do this, but you must realize there is a significant issue, it is ok....there are a zillion people that will help you through this....but first, you must help yourself

Good luck,we are all here for you................ remember that!

I

Dear ibic. I do not like being painted with someone else's brush. I had reasons to run away from home and escape to the casino. I am a smoker and if there were any other smoker friendly social venue besides a bar I would have just as soon gone there.

Everyone who drinks alcohol is not an alcoholic, and everyone who plays the slot machines is not an addicted gambler.


Let me say this: Those most critical of cigarette smokers are former smokers and it is appearing former or recovering gamblers who fail at attempts to control themselves think no one else can.

I wish you the best of luck in life and all that you are trying to accomplish!

Only trying to help!

I think as many people who have responded to this topic is proof that we care. Please don't be offended, there are things that you have posted that leave me questioning. If you don't like being questioned then what is a person to respond to. We are not attacking you. It is obvious that your smoking is very important to you. Your social life revolves around it. .... I get it, you have this all under control and you don't want anyone saying anything different then that. You do not share the same problem as us. We can not stop, you can. A gambling addict has created a financial problem, you have not. I am weak that is why I am on this forum to glean what I can from those that have made it out of this hell hole...... so I get it. You have this under control. I hope you well always have this under control

Thank you Marie. It is those other things that I cannot control that drove me to escape to the casino. The gal that crashed into me and filed bankruptcy to avoid paying for the damages, a break in in in my home while I was at work, etc, etc, etc.

It was only about 3 months ago (after playing for almost 3 years that I began to question the time (yes and money) I was spending there. I came here then self banned myself and I do miss the social aspect, but I do not miss "gambling".

My daddy taught me to smoke when I was 12 years old. I will soon be 73 and have no health problems. I only take vitamins and drink V8 juice. I have no doubt that smoking and smoke is harmful to some people but so is peanut butter. I am afraid to stop smoking because I do not know what would creep in my body to fill that void

I know I cannot go back into the local casino for a year and I know it is not safe for me to take that 40 mile each way journey to the nearest one often in these winter months but I know I am not an addicted gambler

I'll just sit home and crochet potholders and each day I do not play I'll tell myself I won $100 by not playing. :) :) :)

That is interesting sixtyplus
I have never heard someone say that about smoking. I think I understand. I myself get stuck on something and then I become obsessed with it. My family often tease me about the way I can get hooked on something. At present, I am working out a lot. Do I just get a membership to a fitness center? No, not me. I have to go all out and get a trainer too. Well, I figured I would spend my money somewhere, might as well get a friend for an hour a session even if I have to pay them. (Boy that sounds pathetic.)
As far as you making pot holders. I heard of someone selling them on pinterest and making some money.
I love to crochet in the winter, good way to stay warm with all that yarn.

I said that (about peanut butter) to a doctor once at the clinic where I go for health care

He laughed and said "You know what? I am a smoker and I agree with you but we are required to give this lecture."

I was there for a follow up after a fall that fractured my spine. Nothing to do with my health.

Making the potholders is just a pass time for me. I don't want to deal with shipping and such. I just give them away to people I do business with mostly0I have given some to charity places, b ut someone did ask me to make 20 for her last week and she will pay me $6 each for them.

I am doing well staying out of the casino. Dont miss it at all. [Ive been to that complex several times for cigarettes and didnt even peek in the game room.

I did take that 40 mile trip on Thanksgiving Day because I was alone, and lost $100. My first time there and I did not like the place. The machines are different than what I am accustomed to. And the players there were not friendly like the ones here at home.

My bills are paid through the end of the year. I have money in the bank, money in my pocket and available credit balance on my credit card.

It feels good. And the depression/anger therapy is helping a lot without any mind altering drugs.

Your next move should be going back to that casino 40 miles away with $200. Increase the amount you were betting and try to win that first $100 back. Most of us here, the hard core addicts, could never try something like that without totally losing control. You aren't a gambling addict though. You seem to be in control. I would fire up a smoke, ante up and show that casino who's the boss!

high limit you crack me up

Lol, Having money in a account or available credit is not a indication of how we are doing in our recovery. Just my opinion.

Well, no, highlimit. That will not be my next move. Self-ban at the local casino was the best thing I have done in three years. Now I have to come home and face the things I was escaping from; things that were always still there when I did decide to come home. I am getting control of them and feel like $100 was cheap entertainment for 26 days without any.


I went back yesterday, and only took $20 with me. I tripled my money in 15 minutes, but played for two and a half hours before I lost it all. No strain.

What I learned from my sub-coconscious while my conscience mi nd was occupied is my problem is self-control. I just cant quit after I start playing, with only a $30-$40 win. I once turned $20 into $5600 in 5 spins at $2.25, and $5 into $4800 in less than an hour. THAT is worth cashing in and leaving the place for.

Skip88, I have resolved I am not a problem gambler. I have many other problems I tried to escape from and gambling became a problem. I believe I have conquered that and a lot of the other problems that was always there. I really dont want to take that 80 (40 to and 40 back) mile trip often for a little bit of entertainment, and wont.

I am so sorry but I am going to block
You sixty either you don't belong here or I don't. Your talk of money and spins was way more than I can handle frankly I think you are on the wrong support group.

Maybe I am in the wrong place, sara. Maybe I don't ben ng here. What I have learned is that I AM NOT an addicted gambler. Playing the slot machines created some financial problems, but I have conquered them in only 36 days, and made progress on some of those problems I tried to escape from.

God is good.

This was your first reply on my thread, so I do not know what your situation is, I'll try to look it up.