I would consider value more important than stakes. If you flip a coin the odds are 50/50. So even money. If you can get 5/4 every coin flip you will in theory make money. Discipline involves stake and price but moreso price
Has anybody pointed out this revelation to organisations that help addicts? All these years trying to address the complex mental and emotional issues connected with it,when they should have just set up workshops teaching people how to play the odds better and reminding them to show discipline. "Hi I'm Jim and I'm an addict" That's because you're a fucking idiot Jim,you wouldn't get in a car without learning how to drive so what were you at putting a fiver on the Grand National before becoming an expert on the odds? That 50 euro you won made you think you were invincible didn't it....didnt it Jim? Now sit down there while I tell you how to bet more intelligently and instead of pawning your ma's wedding ring and your kids X-box,just remember it's all about discipline.
Betting can obviously go pear shaped but there are some basics that help to be fair Bet on what you know Don't bet what you can't afford Don't chase losses Take breaks from betting from time to time Not a particularly scientific one but sometimes I back things I'd rather didn't happen that are big odds in a certain direction. Like United 12/1 tonight to qualify cheered me up somewhat The biggest problem with gambling is losing ...
Well the biggest problem is addiction really taking hold mate and winning plays just a big a part in that as losing. Once you're in that situation winning and losing becomes irrelevant because your destination is now predetermined. With alcohol or drugs you can only do so much before you pass out or die,but with gambling you can keep going and going and the wins inevitably lead to bigger losses. Losing is not nice but it doesn't have to be a problem for people who gamble for pleasure.
I was being a bit flippant, addiction is a disease for sure I suppose I'm a mild addict. I often turn 100 in my account into 200 but never cash out and sure enough a few weeks later it's probably 100 max
I think we're having an unnecessary argument here lads. Both @shakav and @babbsnads points are both accurate. An addiction to gambling can ruin lives, families etc. Betting €5 on something you don't know anything about is mathematically as bad as betting €500,000 on something you don't know anything about. Addiction makes people turn €5 into €5000 etc on the same bet they would have done before. It doesn't mean betting is the problem, it means addiction is the problem. The problem with betting is that it can cause addiction.
I'm happy to agree that of course it's better to be as informed as possible when you're gambling but that's not what I'm arguing against and it's really not an unnecessary argument mate because 1. There is only one correct answer to what is the biggest problem with gambling. 2. The message that more intelligent gamblers are more immune from addiction is plain fucking stupid and an irresponsible one for anybody to spread that shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the causes of addiction. 3. Lads who come on and are good enough to share the problems they've faced with gambling,in a way that might help others don't deserve to be reading that their real problem was they're not as clever as shakav. If I'm coming across as captain buzzkill here(and I know you're not saying that mate) I don't care,some things need to be challenged.
I’ve never said I’m clever I’m just pointing out the fact that all these problem gamblers stem from people not having a fucking bulls notion about what they are gambling on and you have really missed my point. Poker another example would you play poker if you didn’t know the hands? No you wouldn’t so the same thing applys here. It seems i have hit a nerve with you. Would you consider someone who makes money professionally from gambling a gambling addict?
I'm not sure what you're trying to say there but it reads like you think a gambling addiction is worse than an alcohol/drug addiction? The first part of the sentence is just wrong and the second part suggests losing money is worse than losing your life. I'm sure it's not what you meant but that's how it reads.
You keep saying I'm missing your point and then repeating the same ignorant point over and over that I've addressed more than once. You also seem to think pointing out individual people who are or aren't addicts proves your theory on gambling addiction,but it doesn't and it won't because you haven't got a "bulls notion" on the causes or complexities of addiction. All problem gamblers don't stem from not understanding what they're betting on like you say they do,thats complete and utter bollocks.The highs and lows of winning and losing feed into the addiction and theres no level of knowledge that makes you immune from that. When you ended up eating beans on toast because you lost a grand on a horse,did the low of that not impact you? If you put a grand on a horse tomorrow and it won,would you not feel a massive high? We're not robots and how those highs and lows effect people manifests itself in different ways,and please don't waste everybodies time by saying you wouldn't put a grand on a horse now because you're too clever for that these days, because that would be massively missing the point. I dont know if you've noticed,but loads of the people that have deservedly been labelled with the word genius down the years have suffered different kinds of addiction,it doesn't care how much you know about anything. And to throw in "I've obviously struck a nerve" like that while trebling down on your theory that gambling addicts just aren't clever enough,shows what an arrogant little piece of shit you are. It obviously occurred to you that they're might be a reason it's striking a nerve,but you ploughed on with your ignorant theory anyway and made sure you got that dig in. You may know a bit about gambling,but you're very fucking dense in a lot of other ways.
The first sentence is wrong,how? Everybody has a limit of how much abuse of a substance their body can take and in no way am I saying gambling addiction is worse than alcohol or drug addiction,or that losing money is worse than losing your life. I was pointing out a specific characteristic of gambling addiction that virtually guarantees the wins of those in the grip of it only delay the losses. In the context of the discussion I really don't think it reads like you claim it does,but I'm happy to clarify what I meant.
Apologies Gerry for being so short in my reply to you,it was rude and I appreciate you're only performing your duty as a moderator. But I'm happy enough with everything else I've said in here.
I don’t think I directly insulted anyone I just voiced an opinion which I stand by. Just a pity this discussion had to come to insults
Gambling can be an emotive issue. One thing for sure is that there is not enough being down about the problems it has caused over the last 15 years in particular since it became so accessible via mobile phones. It frightening the amount of sponsorship there is in sport. You can already see new laws being brought in to reduce the amount of ads during football games. In 20 years time, we will look back at this the same way we can't believe that Snooker players use to smoke during games and all the major tournaments were sponsored by them. Gambling has just been legalised in a lot of states in the US and i can already see in all the podcasts I listen to over there that Gambling is a massive theme. Free bets, mobile access, reward schemes, ads every 15 minutes. They often refer to how successful these things have been for 'fan engagement' in Europe and with in play betting, they are targeting specialised software to predict the next play in American football for instance. The new AAF league is being setup with one of the main aims to get everyone betting on the next thing that could happen. Scary!! Two books I'd recommend anyone on the spectrum of Gambling Addictions or thinks they spend two much time on it. Free Money by Declan Lynch - He spent a whole year betting on all sorts and the main theme was that eventually even if you do know what you are doing or put in research, the way humans are programmed, you almost always will end up down or just about even. Tony 10 by Declan Lynch - Well publicized story of the Postman who stole millions from the post office and was walking into Paddy Power and betting every day with no questions asked. Both changed my whole attitude towards it in a big way.
Sorry if this is just semantics or misinterpretation but are you trying to say that alcoholics and drug addicts are, to some extent, limited by how much their body can take, whereas gamblers don't have this physical restriction and are therefore more 'free' to continue their addiction? Also I would think a characteristic of any addiction is the wins or highs only delaying the losses.
This thread has gone completely of in a tangent. The title just poses a question. Not a discussion about gambling and addictions
So anyone hear of anything for next week...... All seriousness I've seen it first hand where gambling has ruined lads. (Nobody off here I'd like to add) Seen them Lose partners / business's / Houses's and also led to heavy drinking to forgot the situation they got themselves in. Like the booze I think there is a very Irish link to betting (mainly horses) - Early age I can recall going the bookies for likes of the National. I was brought to Punchestown by my Ma most years as a child and placing small bets. Schools used to get the week off for it Addiction is a woeful thing no matter what it is And the most I ever put on was £200