Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group
Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...
Plan, plan and plan - plan what, who and where you will be - enlist a friend's help or a GA member either at home or in Vegas to call and check in with. Take a good book, plan to see a movie one night, go to some of the historical sites around Vegas - get off the strip, shop in the pawn shops, look at the architecture, take art supplies/camera, take your journal, there are non-gamblers that live in Vegas and there are other things to do. Shows, movies, parks, museums, here's a website with other things besides gambling, to do in Vegas: https://www.smartdestinations.com/blog/things-to-do-in-las-vegas-besides-gambling/
I hope this helps and you can make a good plan to keep you safe.
Hugs and Prayers
As a recovering gambling addict this on the lowest desirable destinations for me --- too much pain, memories, temptation.
Alas, your work calls - as many do w/ conventions etc.
FIND people you'll be around that DO NOT GAMBLE. Hang w/ them.
There are TONs, Tons, TONS, of GA meetings -- find them and go! This would help tremendously.
I don't know if you'll have enough time - and it may be too too hot but one of my last trips there I visited the Valley of Fire - only about an hour outside strip
I was there in winter -- it was a fantastic experience.
Think of people who are alcoholics and do not drink, if you care about them you wouldn't tempt them, you'd support them to stay sober. find people who CARE about YOU, and support you. Be open but be strong and have your strong line you will not cross.
Remember - maybe you can get away w/ a "little bit" this trip but it could suck you back down the rabbit hole a week or a month later. Who knows. It IS NOT WORTH the risk. You may not make it out. Care for yourself with the full understanding that this disease will take all of you.
Every best wish to you and find meetings!!! and of course the 1800 number in a pinch too.
I had to attend a conference and dinner in the casino. Walking through the place, the smell, sounds and sights brought back a flood of emotions. I felt like a dog waiting for his dinner. There was absolutely no way I could spend any appreciable amount of time in the casino without gambling again. I recognized that right away. So once the mandatory functions were over I disappeared without telling anyone. I went up to my room and spent the evening working on an addition memoir I have been writing. Once I immersed myself back into the realities of gambling the temptation to gamble subsided quickly. The fantasy (or fallacy I should say) of excitement & financial gain was quickly replaced with the desperation, depression, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, emptiness, regret and overwhelming financial destruction gambling actually causes once I started recalling my prior experiences. I know this too well to sabotage over 2 1/2 years of being in control of my life. I won't be fooled by the flashing, dinging & wacky carpet. They're not going to suck me back in with 4 oz. of free soda or $5 in free slot play either.
Like everyone has already said, come up with a solid itinerary in advance. There is lots to do and see in that area outside of the casinos. Make a list that takes up all your free time and stick to it. Come back from Las Vegas with memories of the Hoover Dam, Take a helicopter tour. Go to the Grand Canyon. Spend a day at Lake Mead. Go the the Mob Museum. See one of the countless shows. Make the trip a fun, special memory for yourself and another feather in your cap in your fight against addiction. And keep reminding yourself how bad you would feel on the trip home, beating yourself up over losing a few hundred, or even worse, at a craps table you knew you had no chance of beating.