Compulsive Gambling and Gambling Addiction

Not many people argue that gambling and playing at casinos is great fun, especially when you have hit a winning streak and feel yourself confident. Some casino games require skill besides luck, so you may think that more you learn these games the more you're going to win, depending on what's your game. Compulsive gambling and gamblind addiction makes you realize that only thing you will ever master is skill of losing your money, besides that bigger skill often means more money lost... in the long run.

Blinking slots, blackjack and baccarat tables mixed with humble atmosphere and attractive female dealers creates a mixture of seductive environment, I admit. And if you are not prepared or don't have the knowledge of the games and the odds, you can get addicted quickly and your addiction may become a compulsive need. It does not mean you are retarded, it's actually quite "human" and coded into us.

Gamblers Anonymous homepage describes compulsive gambling as an illness that is progressive in its nature, which can never be cured, but can be arrested. Before coming to Gamblers Anonymous, many compulsive gamblers thought of themselves as morally weak, or at times just plain 'no good'. The Gamblers Anonymous concept is that compulsive gamblers are really very sick people who can recover if they will follow to the best of their ability a simple program that has proved successful for thousands of other men and women with a gambling or compulsive gambling problem.

Gambling can be compared with addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or junk-food. It's very often as destructive and dangerous as other addictions, often ruining relationships, careers and even ones life. It's very important to start seeking help ASAP when you think you can't control your gambling habit anymore!

Gamblers Anonymous say that compulsive gambler needs to be willing to accept the fact that he or she is in the grip of a progressive illness and has a desire to get well. Their experience has shown that the Gamblers Anonymous program will always work for any person who has a desire to stop gambling. However, it will never work for the person who will not face squarely the facts about this illness.

Gamblers Anonymous offers the following questions to anyone who may have a gambling problem. These questions are provided to help the individual decide if he or she is a compulsive gambler and wants to stop gambling.

TWENTY QUESTIONS

1. Did you ever lose time from work or school due to gambling?
2. Has gambling ever made your home life unhappy?
3. Did gambling affect your reputation?
4. Have you ever felt remorse after gambling?
5. Did you ever gamble to get money to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?
6. Did gambling cause a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
7. After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses?
8. After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?
9. Did you often gamble until your last dollar was gone?
10. Did you ever borrow to finance your gambling?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance gambling?
12. Were you reluctant to use "gambling money" for normal expenditures?
13. Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?
14. Did you ever gamble longer than you had planned?
15. Have you ever gambled to escape worry or trouble?
16. Have you ever committed, or considered committing, an illegal act to finance gambling?
17. Did gambling cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustrations create within you an urge to gamble?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate any good fortune by a few hours of gambling?
20. Have you ever considered self destruction or suicide as a result of your gambling?

Most compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least seven of these questions.

Ralf Vinogradov is a part-time journalist in a newspaper and an editor and webmaster of gambling related website Best Online Casinos and Online Gambling - GamblingRalf.COM, that introduces wackiest online casino bonuses. He also runs infamous newsletter called "Club Hundredaire".

---

The Secret of Betting Dont

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of Betting... Read More

Useful Gambling Tips, Tricks & Secrets

The general idea of both land-based gambling as well as... Read More

Why Gamble on Sports?

Its really not that big of a stretch of the... Read More

Viva Las Vegas Buffets

Please correct me if I am wrong but aren't Las... Read More

How To Play Craps

Craps is generally seen as a fun and exhilarating game... Read More

5 Characteristics That Make A Profitable Lottery - For The Player

Over $120,000,000,000 are spent on lotteries each year in the... Read More

Party Poker

Looking for a great place to play online Texas Holdem... Read More

Horse Racing Betting, The Risk Free Way

You may or may not of heard of all this... Read More

Holdem Starting Hands

Top starting hands should be raised and played aggressively. AA,... Read More

Pyramid Solitaire: A Strategy Guide For Beginners

Pyramid Solitaire is a fun solitaire game, with a very... Read More

Casino Craps - Easy to Learn and Easy to Win

Craps is the fastest - and certainly the loudest -... Read More

Online Gambling Casinos - Wear Your Thinking Cap and Prosper

I receive many emails each week from people who deposited... Read More

Las Vegas Comps and Online Comps

Las Vegas comps or casino bonus extras from an online... Read More

Roulette - The Basics

Roulette is actually one of the simplest games in the... Read More

2005 World Series of Poker

The 2005 World Series of Poker event is scheduled to... Read More

The Secrets of the Outside Numbers

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secrets of the... Read More

Helpful Stop Gambling Links & Information For The Compulsive Gambler, Family & Friends Of A Gambler

Over the past few years stop gambling websites have helped... Read More

To Muck Or Not To Muck?

After a hand is completed in online poker you'll never... Read More

Virtual Casino Etiquette

There are a few points of virtual casino etiquette that... Read More

Compulsive Gambler Shares His Recovery Story About Gamblers Anonymous Now That He Stopped

A compulsive gambler who participated in Gamblers Anonymous program shared... Read More

Short Hand Texas Holdem Poker

Short Hand Texas Poker refers poker games that have less... Read More

Online Craps

Are you interested in playing craps online? Are you tired... Read More

The Secret of Protecting Your Pass Line Bet

Pssst...! Wanna know a secret?How about the secret of protecting... Read More

Video Poker - Should You Play Maximim Coins?

The arguments are almost endless about whether or not to... Read More

Ten Easy Tips For Improving Your Online Poker Game

When you play poker online, you have options available that... Read More

Blackjack - Increase Your Odds With Basic Strategy Plus

Blackjack Basic Strategy, played perfectly in a game with favorable... Read More

Online Casino - What Is It?

Entertaining industry conquerors more and more space of our lives.... Read More

Lucky Texas Holdem Tips

Texas holdem poker is one of the few online casino... Read More

Why Online Poker is Better Than Land Based Poker

Online Poker has become the greatest hit in the online... Read More

How to Succeed in the Poker Freerolls Part 1

Online poker freerolls are a unique breed amongst poker tournaments... Read More

Tips On How To Gamble

How would you like to have your name on a... Read More

Slot Machines - Does Location Make a Difference?

Books have been written on this subject and the debates... Read More

Free Roll Texas Holdem Tournaments

Free Roll Texas Holdem Tournaments are great because they allow... Read More