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...
First off, I'd like to thank Vicky and Tagg for keeping me in mind and keeping in touch. I haven't posted in a while so I figured I'd been forgotten. It always delivers a warm feeling to the heart to find out that someone, somewhere is thinking about you.
I haven't posted in a while because I basically fell back into it. One night I decided to fully indulge in my relapse and see how much money I could make if I spent a whole night at the casino.
I had won about $700 and was about to leave, but decided to play again on a different table. Here, I played on various tables and started losing it all back. At one stage I was down to my last $200, but I was lucky enough to crawl back to a $300 gain and decided to leave at 1am.
I went to the cashier to get my money and was feeling pretty out of it. The casino is designed to break you down, but over the years, I had managed to build somewhat of a defense against it. By 1am it had worn my defence down and I felt like I could almost collapse on the floor and sleep.
Anyway, as usual when the cashier was counting me my money I was counting along but lost track, so I just grabbed it all after he laid it out and I started walking off. As I walked off I counted it in my wallet and realised he had given me an extra $500.
I didn't know what to do, but decided to leave immediately.
I'm not shame-free in writing this, yet at the same time, it is the reason why I can never go back. I am sure someone would've realised it eventually, tracked it down, gone back to the tapes and nailed it to that very moment. They have facial recognition software, so if I ever did step back into that casino, I'm sure I'd finally meet Mr Backroom.
That thought alone is enough to deter me.
And so, with that, I may have just ended my gambling career (thankfully). Perhaps also for that reason, I may not frequent this site as much, as I seem to have moved on a bit.
This is by no means a farewell, but I would like to send out prayers for all those struggling, and to tell you that you can do it if you persist enough.
I haven't posted in a while because I basically fell back into it. One night I decided to fully indulge in my relapse and see how much money I could make if I spent a whole night at the casino.
I had won about $700 and was about to leave, but decided to play again on a different table. Here, I played on various tables and started losing it all back. At one stage I was down to my last $200, but I was lucky enough to crawl back to a $300 gain and decided to leave at 1am.
I went to the cashier to get my money and was feeling pretty out of it. The casino is designed to break you down, but over the years, I had managed to build somewhat of a defense against it. By 1am it had worn my defence down and I felt like I could almost collapse on the floor and sleep.
Anyway, as usual when the cashier was counting me my money I was counting along but lost track, so I just grabbed it all after he laid it out and I started walking off. As I walked off I counted it in my wallet and realised he had given me an extra $500.
I didn't know what to do, but decided to leave immediately.
I'm not shame-free in writing this, yet at the same time, it is the reason why I can never go back. I am sure someone would've realised it eventually, tracked it down, gone back to the tapes and nailed it to that very moment. They have facial recognition software, so if I ever did step back into that casino, I'm sure I'd finally meet Mr Backroom.
That thought alone is enough to deter me.
And so, with that, I may have just ended my gambling career (thankfully). Perhaps also for that reason, I may not frequent this site as much, as I seem to have moved on a bit.
This is by no means a farewell, but I would like to send out prayers for all those struggling, and to tell you that you can do it if you persist enough.
Hmmmmm.....decisions, decisions.? Does one dare return to the lion's den, to return money erroneously paid out?
I had a similar thing happen to me; slot attendant overpaid $200 dollars on a jackpot. I was at my favorite watering hole. When I discovered the error, I contemplated long and hard? Then I thought about the attendant responsible for the error....I thought about the cage cashier, that contributed to that error. I thought about their families-what might happen if Theresa and Bill were to lose their jobs.
I returned the money. Perhaps subconsciously I returned the money out of fear that I might not be able to gamble there again...they would trace it back, just as you say, with the tapes and detailed payout ledgers. They would know I was a dishonest person that allowed two employees to face the "firing squad" because of my greed.
I was in the beginning throes of my addiction when this happened. Maybe, I gave the money back I couldn't fathom the idea of never being able to set foot in that place again?!?
Thank you Toey, you have given me something very meaningful to ponder today. I wish you peace, my man and I will always love that beautiful face of yours.. Be well and God Bless.
Love Tagg
I did not want these two employees
Similar scare I got, which is held me from visiting one of the casinos. I am self-excluded, but still went. Got caught ones, then I stole $200 from someone, they got my image on a camera , called a police and got me. I returned those $200, but two police officers stil wanted to proceed with the case. Victim said she doesn't want any charges, since she got her money back. Because I shouldn't be there at first place, I could get 2 felonies: for criminal trespassing and for stealing the money. So I lied and said I have no ID's on me. They took bunch of pictures, wrote down fake name I gave them and gave me a letter, saying casino doesn't want me as a client for a period of one year. Of course, Im a heavy compulsive gambler and it didn't stop me! I kept going back, almost got caught twice, but escaped. Third time, already after one year passed,before getting to me casino called a police and officer caught me on a casino floor. I got in the back room again, by the way they do really trying to intimidate you, using their powers... I saw tons of pictures of myself from different ocassions done by them. This time officer was really nice and he said he is giving me one more chance, but... If I get caught again, I'll go straight to jail for criminal trespassing. He asured me, he was serious and its not in my interest to ruin my life (my professional license could be suspended too and leave me without work). I remember eyes of that police officer, it was almost like he was begging me with his eyes not to screw up.
I never went back to that casino, but lost tons of money in othets.
Thats why I m asking, and at the same time glad it happened to you! Anything to stop us, but not death or prison.. So, at this case think about your interests only and stay away, enjoying your Life. One day at a time. Take plenty of rest! You need it. Your body used to be in getting beat up and adrenalin rush, so maybe changing your daily routine and adding daily excercises will help to get over withdrawals, plus adding happy endorphins in your brain. Don't tell yourself, I will never gamble again, tell yourself I will not gamble Today! And do it day after day. It will become more simple.
Love you!
Your friend, Vicky
I had a similar experience myself. I went to the casino and someone I knew was in there and said to me, "Psst .... Look at your player's card and look at how many points are on it!". I looked and WOW. It was giving out $20.00 for every $3.00 put in a machine! I had close to $200.00 on "the card".
I quickly played off the money on the card and pocketed the money and made sure there was a zero balance on the card.
From what I know, the casino caught this internal electronic error that was going on and halted it after I'd left that day and they wiped everyone that was in there that day to have a zero balance on their card! hahahaaaaa!!!
Take that you damn crooks is all I can say.
I doubt they'll know who you are if you were to return but stay the hell away anyway ...
Hey I like that ...
STAY THE HELL AWAY ANYWAY!!!
Hang in there my friend! ;-)
hope4acure
What a fearless thing you have done not only shared your story, but the whole truth of it would I be so bold.
I would never judge or tell someone what they did was right or wrong as that is not my place nor should it be I am sure there are a lot of people in here that have known you for a long time.
Errors are made everyday I am sure in saying I am not the only one here that has made not only a error but has also kept something that wasn't mine before.Be a dollar or five hundred its all the same I see no difference to that and playing with a few credits on the screen ...as to a gamberler it only takes one to win it and loss it all in a heart beat. As I am sure everyone here knows all to true that is everyone in this room knows how easy it is to lose five hundred while playing...
I hope for you this is the last time you have to go through those doors and find out as they should write on them how heavy a price some one has to pay and suffer ...
I am for one know the anger that I held for a long time not only at the casino but the people who work there, They must know the gambers and the people who are not lets face it how long a time we have spent at there place of work... Yet they turn up everyday as to them its just there job but if they all striked at once and the casino's were to close for just one day I wounder how hard a struggle it would be for problem gamberlers to stop if they instead of gave us anything and everything said NO you may not enter here you are not welcomed at all GO and forced us to leave...
I know its has to come frome within to work but I often thought if someone really told everyone there what a bad habbit I had how long I want to stay then and be watched by everyone around me shame is sometimes a good thing to have yet a powerful enough to stop you deter you I hope so...
Good luck Toey I am not one to pray a lot but truthfully I hope you win big this time and stop...
I think that's awesome that you were so honest. My first thought was that I was happy you got that extra money, and especially happy that you left with it. I figure they have so much of our money that it's not hurting them all that much, and plus, it was their error. Best of luck to you...I am almost at 6 months casino free, and even though these bills and debt collectors are not going away anytime soon, I feel so much better about myself. I am also glad to see you back here. Thanks so much for your post. :)