Slump-taking time off

[whyhorseofcourse]

I am in a slump as of late and plan on taking a bit of time off. I have heard this posted before, I usually bet at least 4 times a week. Would a month off be too short?? I am still going to watch racing but I closed my ADW temporailly. Any suggestions?

[46zilzal]

Just like the horses we all need a freshening from the rigors of capping.

[whyhorseofcourse]

Just like the horses we all need a freshening from the rigors of capping.

My mind just hasnt been there. I have been going into to races just assuming I was going to lose.
Thats not good so I decided it was time for a break.

I do know one thing, handicapping is something I have done for a long time and this will be by far my biggest break since I started.

[maiom01]

Good to take some time off. Reload the mind and roll (if needed). Go back to the basics and determine what was working and why....justify in your mind YOUR plays and you will be back in business...

[whyhorseofcourse]

Thanks for the replys.

I am watching horse racing right now but not betting on it.

Next bet will be made 6/12/08 at the earliest.

[LottaKash]

Good for you OfCourse, I believe it is very wise in deciding your needing some relief.........Good trainers, do this with their good horses, so be your own trainer and do the same....

I have done this from time to time, and usuallly the freshening up has worked wonders.....

Perhaps you have been trying to play too many tracks.......when you are ready to return, and you will know it.....you could possibly limit your play "to one track only"...and try to play your best 1-horse each day as this may boost your confidence level, and if successful, you can ease your way back into the flow.......

If you are anything like me, I have found just looking for spot plays each day, is the way to go.....low key, low pressure and racing is more enjoyable to me now....

I don't get all that much action these days, but by limiting my plays, it has allowed me to come up with more quality plays, and as a consequence, my horse's are always sniffing the money......when I was younger ACTION was the way to go, and I found myself playing too many horses and too many tracks, just to break even......Now, I make a liitle money, and every now and then I will score.......:cool:

G.L.......rest up, :sleeping: and smell the flowers......they are still growing.......

best,

[LottaKash]

Good to take some time off. Reload the mind and roll (if needed). Go back to the basics and determine what was working and why....justify in your mind YOUR plays and you will be back in business...

Hey Maiom, good to see you out and about......and I am still working on a course of action....haven't forgotten.....:cool:

best,

[Tom]

Good plan, taking time off.
You'll know when you are ready to go back.

[kitts]

I'm doing a pretty good slump right now. I reduced it all to just playing solid bets at my home track. Works for me and I will resume agressive betting when I have a good day with the small bets

[headhawg]

I was in a mean slump as well. I only played the t-breds about four times in a year. During that time I switched over to the "dark side" (harness). I actually did pretty well as I focused on handicapping something new and attempted to apply some t-bred principles to handicapping the s-breds.

I have for the last month or so gotten back to playing t-breds with a renewed energy and focus. I have never felt more confident, and I still play the s-breds. As Big Red would say I'm bi-mutuel.

[Light]

You cant have winning streaks without losing streaks. This world is based on duality.Some cappers prefer winning more often for their mental comfort by betting low priced horses and others can endure longer losing streaks with the confidence that their longshot method will eventually pay off.Both methods will succumb to the consequences of the inexact science of handicapping and lead to a players need for respite.

I thought you had an exceptional Pk6 ticket in the pk6 contest April 27,going 4-4 on a difficult card, then went 0-2. Tendency is to focus on the 0-2 part rather than the 4-4 part. It only paid on 5-6,so you can certainly cap. One horse away from an $11k score. That would probably have boosted your confidence wether you hit it in a for fun contest or in reality

[whyhorseofcourse]

Well I guess since there is so many replys to this thread I will give a background story. I am not sure if anyone is interested but here it goes.

Basically I am fairly young (not old enough to gamble in vegas but can gamble in canada). I graduated highschool at 17 because I started a bit early. I decided I did not want to go to college the year after high school and I was going to take a year off to enjoy myself. I worked a part time job and became an avid gambler. I never really liked going to the track, my dad always took me when I was younger (He was more of a recreational gambler then anything, never used a form or a program; He just bet numbers.).

During my high school days I became an avid poker player. I opened up a poker account online and played under my dads name. Pretty soon I started making really good money which my dad found out and he started to play too. He lost a lot of the money I made but I really didnt care it was just something to do when I wasnt with my friends or at school. I started to make a good bit of money off it. In the last months before gradaution of highschool I probally made well over $10,000 playing poker online. I kept most of it secret, I blew a lot of it because I really didnt have a care in the world. I was a popular young kid it seemed the more I made and spent the more people noticed me.

On my 18th birthday I didnt have a job, I strictly played poker. My dad decided to take me to mountianeer. I wasnt a big fan of horse racing at the time but I figured what the heck. I went that day and lost over 2 grand on slots. I went back to the room at and I was watching the live racing. I walked over to the track and I hit my first couple of big hits. I actually bought a form and hit a couple of races and I won most of the money back I lost in slots.

Fast foward about a month later. Then UIEGA came and the government came into play. Pretty soon it became harder and harder to gamble online. I gave up poker about a month after that. It was pretty hard to give up. I had something called pokertracker and I was making almost $300 an hour playing cards. But only played a few hours a week. So here I am, a young man with no job, no school, and a nice wad of money in the bank. I decided why not go to the track. It was only a twenty minute drive. At this point I remebered that the gas station by me sold forms and I bought one and handicapped that night. I came home a big winner yet again. I was spoiled that day, it seems I did not make a losing wager.

I started going more and more, I liked the track more then poker because it seemed like a lot less varience. Basically I figured if I could rule a few horses out then it should be much easier to hit. Pretty soon I was at the track nearly everyday. Losing 300-400 dollar per trip until most of my funds depleted. I ended up getting another part time job which did not pay all that much. But it was enough to get me to the track a couple times a week. I was pretty much losing everytime I went, I was betting the three horses who looked to be the best. I would strictly look at speed figures and last quarters in harness.

I went with my uncle to the track a lot. He didnt bet much but he tought me a lot. He would bet horses that I would look at in the program and wouldnt give them a shot. He hit a couple of big signers and pretty soon I followed along with him. I stopped betting horses to win and playing tris and supers all together. I started played bets with less takeout and really taking time on my handicapping. It paid off. I won cut my losses in half in the month of october but my ROI for the year was still a big negative. I was happy with horse racing and seen it in a new light. I thought it was my calling and I was going to be doing this for the rest of my life.

I soon quit my job to work with my father on the road. We were out of town 3 or 4 weeks out of the month. I liked the job, it kept me away from the track which became a real bad addiction. I became a real degenerate gambler at one point. But I started to think about how I blew nearly all the money I made in poker over the last year betting on horses I started made me want to quit. I dang well knew it would be hard to quit so I change my betting style. I played pick3s and pick4s pretty regularly and also loved playing spot plays at smaller tracks where very little money was bet.


I ended up getting laid off on the job I had. I didnt get another for about 6 weeks. I had vertually no money in the bank and I became pretty depressed. I stopped gambling and pursued my other hobby which was fishing. Which I have been an avid bass fisherman for years. I have fished touranaments for 3 years and directed them too.

Pretty soon I got another job, similar to the last one. We were always on the road and I was making a lot of money. I got the gambling itch once more and made a deposit at twinspires. It was convient for me, I can finish work and bet on horses virtually instantly when I was done working. I stuck to smaller wagers and I really did fairly decent. This was in early janaury. Since then I have had a very streaky game. I considered myself and avid handicapper but I was burning through deposit after deposit with virtually no luck at all. I stopped the ADW thing because it was too easy to play and it seemed I was getting in over my head.

I have bascially just been going to the track over the last few months. But I still have my degenerate moments every now and then which is what I belive to be causing my losing streaks. Up until recently I still played poker but I closed those accounts too, for those of you who play poker it seems varience has gotten the best of me. Overall I would say my roi is a big negative at the track. But a lot of times I just make action bets which I stopped in the last few months.

This is basically my story for the least 3 years. Right now I hoping that this break will taking me back to my winning ways. Who knows, I might take a break and find out I just dont want to do it anymore. But I am going to read a few books, and listen to other peoples angles and hope maybe someday I can lose the degenerate gambler in me. I still view horse racing as a profitable game. And I am going to keep enjoying it over the months to come, just not this month. :)

If you did read my story thanks and if anyone has a story to share I would like to hear it.

[Bruddah]

You have a gambling addiction. Walk away from all gambling while you are still young. If you can't control your play and your play controls you, WALK AWAY and STAY AWAY!! If not, you are headed toward ruin.

Best Wishes for You. :)

[whyhorseofcourse]

You have a gambling addiction. Walk away from all gambling while you are still young. If you can't control your play and your play controls you, WALK AWAY and STAY AWAY!! If not, you are headed toward ruin.

Best Wishes for You. :)

I have talked to a lot of people as of late, and this is what everyone is telling me. I am not in denial. I admit that I like gambling more then most, and yes I can say part of it is an addiction. But I love the game of horse racing. I have litterly just watched TVG all day long today, not making a single wager. In the future I plan on claiming horses and I personally think they are the most beautiful animals on the planet. As for the gambling aspect I set limits, I lose what I can afford. I used to have a serouis gambling problem to the point I would hear sounds and noises from poker in my head when they were really not there.


I matured more and I have been happy with my gambling for a while now. But I am just taking a break for a losing streak. I should have the next couple weeks off work. My ADW's are closed, and my car is in the shop. I would basically have to sit on my hands for the coming days anyway. To each of his own, I do not want to stop gambling.

[toetoe]

I stayed away completely for what seemed a long time. It was slightly longer than a month. Maybe two or three monthlong breaks are the ticket ? :)

[Niko]

I have talked to a lot of people as of late, and this is what everyone is telling me. I am not in denial. I admit that I like gambling more then most, and yes I can say part of it is an addiction. But I love the game of horse racing. I have litterly just watched TVG all day long today, not making a single wager. In the future I plan on claiming horses and I personally think they are the most beautiful animals on the planet. As for the gambling aspect I set limits, I lose what I can afford. I used to have a serouis gambling problem to the point I would hear sounds and noises from poker in my head when they were really not there.


I matured more and I have been happy with my gambling for a while now. But I am just taking a break for a losing streak. I should have the next couple weeks off work. My ADW's are closed, and my car is in the shop. I would basically have to sit on my hands for the coming days anyway. To each of his own, I do not want to stop gambling.

Be careful....it's a slippery slope. I read somewhere quite a few years ago about a different approach to AA (I majored in psychology) that I was very interested in at one time. AA and other abstinence programs have a pretty abysmal success rate when you think about it. It used to be 7 or 8%, something like that. I figured if it's so bad, there must be something better. There were two other approaches, one involved nutrition and one involved moderation-limited to 3-4 drinks. Both claimed higher success rates than abstinence.

It's hard to keep people away from things that make them feel good. Usually comes out in some other way if you do due to "addictive personalities". It's ok if it's work though.. :confused: . So taking this concept in another direction being you don't want to stop gambling

**I'm not an expert**I'm not offering professional advice**etc, etc

is to try their approach. See if you can limit yourself to 1-2 bets a day. If you can set aside what you can lose for the day and not go back to the cash machine that shows a little discipline. If you can watch the races all day and not bet, that shows discipline. So it doesn't appear that abstinence is necessary. But if you can't pass races, hit the cash machine for more money every time you go to the track, fall behind on payments etc...run away. You always read articles about the people that got in too deep and just kept digging a bigger hole trying to get out.

Let us know how it goes!

[phatbastard]

its easy to quit when your tapped......been there done that


not betting while flush is another story

[maiom01]

You sound like you are close...this is what I mean...

Learn from your mistakes and really try not to repeat the disruptive patterns..if you don't know what they are, recall them and write them down so you keep them fresh in your mind.....

Play your spots and stay away from the action plays...you could get lucky or blow your entire roll or a good part of it based on last minute decisions.....we know what usually happens more often.....

Take cash off the table....when you make a score, get the cash in your hands and go back to your base wagering account bankroll amount (whatever that amount may be).

This is the toughest of all...when you make a score for the day...quit and watch how your other selections do OR put token wagers on them and make sure you are a winner for the day....yes some of them may win and you will be pissed...but just think how you will feel when you make a score for the day and your other selections go down in flames or you lose the majority of the remaining plays and it would have cut away big time on your profit....

Continue to eval all of your moves on a daily basis and learn from your past mistakes and learn what wins and why...you are the only one that can do it....

[maiom01]

no prob...come get me when you are ready...

[Light]

What if a guy is winning a $1000 a day? Is he addicted? Is this a problem? No because he is winning. Right? Wrong. He is in the same boat as someone losing a $1000 a day. They're both addicts. The difference is the destructive effect of losing $1000 a day,But what if this loser is filthy rich? Its no longer destructive but still an addiction.But what if our hero who makes $1000 a day neglects his family or responsiblities in order to prep for his making a $1000 a day? Now he is being counterproductive.This guy has a problem too.

I'm addicted to staying alive. To eating and sleeping. Without this addiction I'd be dead. What's the definition of a gambling addiction? Alot of it is based on morality rather than reality. The word addiction is thrown around to demonize an activity. Truth is there is nothing wrong with addicitions and we all have at least one. Its wether or not its good for you and wether or not you abuse a particular activity. Anything can be abused.

[RichieP]

You have a gambling addiction. Walk away from all gambling while you are still young. If you can't control your play and your play controls you, WALK AWAY and STAY AWAY!! If not, you are headed toward ruin.
Best Wishes for You. :)

Whyhorse,
First thanks for sharing your story.

I have to agree with Bruddah's reply to you 100%. Every word of it.

[nobeyerspls]

I am in a slump as of late and plan on taking a bit of time off. I have heard this posted before, I usually bet at least 4 times a week. Would a month off be too short?? I am still going to watch racing but I closed my ADW temporailly. Any suggestions?

After my best year ever, I'm in the red so far this year. No need to take time off though as it only takes one or two decent tickets to move into the black.
In your case (I read your background in post #12) you need to do things differently when you return. The successful horseplayer has an aversion to gambling, i.e. he would never try to beat any form of a casino game based on random outcomes.
As an arrogant young man many years ago, I thought that I could easily hit $20 exacta boxes in consecutive races. Minus about $3,000 later I got some good advice from my wife. She thought that with my handicapping experience I could make money at this if I bet fewer races and kept good records. She was right. So here's some advice from someone who is in his 52nd year at the races:
1. Avoid the action attraction. Everytime you run money through the window your buying an average of eighty cents worth of value for a dollar. Betting is like an at bat in baseball with no umpire calling balls and strikes. Just wait for your pitch and hit one out.
2. Keep very good records of wagers and returns isolated by track, race condition, and type of wager. I stink with open claimers, do lousy at the Maryland tracks, but excel with maidens, turf, and fillies sprinting. Those fourteen horse maiden races at Woodbine are a goldmine for me.
3. Always bet the same amount whether ahead or behind. No need to press when your down and you're never "playing with their money". If it's in your wallet, it's yours.

The above require discipline and restraint. You are already leveraging through the use of exotics so that's a positive. Learn your strengths and then base your plays on them. This is a tough game as the takeout is a huge obstacle to overcome. Be patient as it takes time to find out what you're good at. If this works for you, pass it on to some younger guy fifty years from now.

[whyhorseofcourse]

^^ Thanks for posting that. Action bets and my bet amounts are different every race. I will just have to learn more discipline.

Also I had a long talk about it with a few friends yesterday. We pretty much gathered that part of my problem was I never really had the concept of a dollar. I was virtually handed money by clicking a mouse. And it seemed like it would always be that easy.

Anyway, thanks for the replys! Some are not the replys I wanted to here, but regardless I am doing something about my gambling rather I be addicted or not.

I will update this thread over the next couple weeks and let everyone know how its going.

[RichieP]

Anyway, thanks for the replys! Some are not the replys I wanted to here

When I began recovery from a chemical addiction in 2000 it was the replies I did NOT want to hear that turned out to be the ones I NEEDED to hear.

The very best to you

[Robert Fischer]

what you need, is to keep the pool money flowing and get a second or third job!

No, sorry very bad joke. :blush:

sometimes you need to quit or leave your money and plastic at home and bring $20.

If you are not sure, you shouldn't be playing.

good luck.

[LottaKash]

O.K...who blew the money on the rent.....?......:lol:

[whyhorseofcourse]

what you need, is to keep the pool money flowing and get a second or third job!

No, sorry very bad joke. :blush:

sometimes you need to quit or leave your money and plastic at home and bring $20.

If you are not sure, you shouldn't be playing.

good luck.

I have done that for the past few months.
I bring the money that I could afford to lose.
When I lose I go home. Some times faster then others, some times not at all.

Thats is the main reason I closed my ADWs, it was just too dang easy to deposit. It just a couple numbers and I was set.

[BombsAway Bob]

Zero Tolerance Tuesday Question of the Day:
"How do you know you're in a slump,
& what do you do to break it?"
Send responses to Rich from 1-3:30pm/ET
@ mail@tvg.com

[Tom Barrister]

Your story is very familiar. I know many in your age group who have gone (or are going) through this.

The first thing you need to learn is discipline. Until you can manage your everyday finances and personal affiars in a controlled, disciplined manner, stay the heck away from gambling, even if that means staying away from it for life. When you have your personal life under control, then and only then should you venture back into wagering. In the meantime, get a regular job or continue your education---whatever you would be doing if you hadn't gambled in the first place.

If and when you do come back, do so at something you have a proven track record with, and go slowly until you're satisfied that you are under control. If poker was your game, play it at low stakes until you're sure you can still beat it and move up slowly. I play poker for profit myself, and it's much tougher now than it was before the economy took a turn downward and especially before the Port Safety Act's Internet gambling rider sent most of the recreational gamblers (e.g. the "live ones") packing. Online poker isn't that great now (compared to what it used to be), and brick and mortar (cardroom) poker isn't a lot better.

Stay the heck away from casinos---the temptation is great there.

You have to pick and choose your spots in any beatable form of gambling. Not all poker games are good. You need "live ones". Not all horse races are playable. You need to find value.

[ddog]

Sounds like you have some free time and are young enough to still see what else is out there.
I would strongly echo Tom's comment from below, if you can stand it,force yourself to get a higher education.
Good discipline building skills there, especially of you don't "like" to.

There is so much to do with your life, the "gambling horse" can still be a part of it.

If you can find some other finance area , perhaps, or whatever interests you then go for it.

Also, when you hit your next hot streak pull 10-15K out of the pot and put it away in something with stable returns and forget about it.

Do this everytime you get up big or get hot.

You will be amazed when you are 50 how much you will have on hand.

It can be an amazing road, explore everything you can , even if you don't think it's for you at the time.

Can you handicap every race every day for a couple of tracks and NOT bet any of them?


Oh and don't take what you can lose with you , because you will more often than not, at least I did.
Take what you need to make your nut for the day/week/month.
I would almost never go with less than the month , but others will do differently.

Pick a track and learn all you can about the connections, who knows who, who is married to who , who is running with who.

Each race or series of races should sum to that or don't play them.

good health and good luck.

[raybo]

I recently took over a year off racing after a lengthy losing streak. However, I didn't wait until I was in the hole to do it. I was lucky enough to realize that the problem wasn't my handicapping skill but rather my discipline, stemming from the fact that I had become stale and tired. I had quit using my brain to verify what my program was telling me, as I always had done before the losing streak. I have begun wagering again, going back to "what got me here". I am limiting my wagers to "big" opportunities, whether I win a bet or not I know I have leveraged my investment correctly and simply wait for the winners to come. Accepting all the losers all handicappers must endure is tough for some. I personally know that I will, in the long term, lose 92% of all the wagers I make but also know that the 8% I hit will turn a nice profit.

So, if you can discipline yourself and stick to what you know will work, then continue wagering. If not, then take a fairly long break, one that enables you to completely forget about racing. Then when you feel you're ready, begin again "in slow motion", get your feet under you and keep on point for what got you in trouble in the first place.

Best of luck to you.

[Jay Trotter]

Whyhorseofcourse,

Interesting reading! Sounds to me like success came too early and too easy for you. The good part is your still young enough to get things sorted out.

In my experience, life seems to be a series of addictions (or passions)! The key ingredient to a successful and happy life would be balance. Work a little, love a little, and play a little. Enjoy the moment your in, pour your heart in to it when you're taking something on, but don't let it consume you. I'm 47 and I'm really just coming into my own with regard to balance.

Best of luck in finding your balance,

Trotter

[whyhorseofcourse]

Your story is very familiar. I know many in your age group who have gone (or are going) through this.

The first thing you need to learn is discipline. Until you can manage your everyday finances and personal affiars in a controlled, disciplined manner, stay the heck away from gambling, even if that means staying away from it for life. When you have your personal life under control, then and only then should you venture back into wagering. In the meantime, get a regular job or continue your education---whatever you would be doing if you hadn't gambled in the first place.

If and when you do come back, do so at something you have a proven track record with, and go slowly until you're satisfied that you are under control. If poker was your game, play it at low stakes until you're sure you can still beat it and move up slowly. I play poker for profit myself, and it's much tougher now than it was before the economy took a turn downward and especially before the Port Safety Act's Internet gambling rider sent most of the recreational gamblers (e.g. the "live ones") packing. Online poker isn't that great now (compared to what it used to be), and brick and mortar (cardroom) poker isn't a lot better.

Stay the heck away from casinos---the temptation is great there.

You have to pick and choose your spots in any beatable form of gambling. Not all poker games are good. You need "live ones". Not all horse races are playable. You need to find value.


I do have a really stable job now.

I gave up online poker all together. Its so hard to get money from the poker sites its not worth it.

Live poker except for tournaments the rake will kill you unless you are on an extreme heater.

I would place a wager on every race for every race card I handicapped until recent. I thought that every race was beatable, but I have started passing on almost half of the card.

[whyhorseofcourse]

Sounds like you have some free time and are young enough to still see what else is out there.
I would strongly echo Tom's comment from below, if you can stand it,force yourself to get a higher education.
Good discipline building skills there, especially of you don't "like" to.

There is so much to do with your life, the "gambling horse" can still be a part of it.

If you can find some other finance area , perhaps, or whatever interests you then go for it.

Also, when you hit your next hot streak pull 10-15K out of the pot and put it away in something with stable returns and forget about it.

Do this everytime you get up big or get hot.

You will be amazed when you are 50 how much you will have on hand.

It can be an amazing road, explore everything you can , even if you don't think it's for you at the time.

Can you handicap every race every day for a couple of tracks and NOT bet any of them?


Oh and don't take what you can lose with you , because you will more often than not, at least I did.
Take what you need to make your nut for the day/week/month.
I would almost never go with less than the month , but others will do differently.

Pick a track and learn all you can about the connections, who knows who, who is married to who , who is running with who.

Each race or series of races should sum to that or don't play them.

good health and good luck.

I plan on handicapping while I am off. I have at least the next week off if not more so it will not kill me to buy a DRF and pick a couple of horses. I am pretty good with the connections on some of the bigger harness tracks, and on the SO CAL t-bred tracks. I will continue to bet these because actually Woodbine, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos are the only tracks I have a positive ROI for this year. My Roi is well over 100% on early pick 4s at Los alamitos.

[whyhorseofcourse]

I recently took over a year off racing after a lengthy losing streak. However, I didn't wait until I was in the hole to do it. I was lucky enough to realize that the problem wasn't my handicapping skill but rather my discipline, stemming from the fact that I had become stale and tired. I had quit using my brain to verify what my program was telling me, as I always had done before the losing streak. I have begun wagering again, going back to "what got me here". I am limiting my wagers to "big" opportunities, whether I win a bet or not I know I have leveraged my investment correctly and simply wait for the winners to come. Accepting all the losers all handicappers must endure is tough for some. I personally know that I will, in the long term, lose 92% of all the wagers I make but also know that the 8% I hit will turn a nice profit.

So, if you can discipline yourself and stick to what you know will work, then continue wagering. If not, then take a fairly long break, one that enables you to completely forget about racing. Then when you feel you're ready, begin again "in slow motion", get your feet under you and keep on point for what got you in trouble in the first place.

Best of luck to you.

Thats exactly the game plan!
I would only hope that this will come from the time off.

[whyhorseofcourse]

Whyhorseofcourse,

Interesting reading! Sounds to me like success came too early and too easy for you. The good part is your still young enough to get things sorted out.

In my experience, life seems to be a series of addictions (or passions)! The key ingredient to a successful and happy life would be balance. Work a little, love a little, and play a little. Enjoy the moment your in, pour your heart in to it when you're taking something on, but don't let it consume you. I'm 47 and I'm really just coming into my own with regard to balance.

Best of luck in finding your balance,

Trotter

Another great post. I am taking a lot from what everyone has said to me. I am really glad I made this thread.

[rrbauer]

What if a guy is winning a $1000 a day? Is he addicted? Is this a problem? No because he is winning. Right? Wrong. He is in the same boat as someone losing a $1000 a day. They're both addicts. The difference is the destructive effect of losing $1000 a day,But what if this loser is filthy rich? Its no longer destructive but still an addiction.But what if our hero who makes $1000 a day neglects his family or responsiblities in order to prep for his making a $1000 a day? Now he is being counterproductive.This guy has a problem too.

I'm addicted to staying alive. To eating and sleeping. Without this addiction I'd be dead. What's the definition of a gambling addiction? Alot of it is based on morality rather than reality. The word addiction is thrown around to demonize an activity. Truth is there is nothing wrong with addicitions and we all have at least one. Its wether or not its good for you and wether or not you abuse a particular activity. Anything can be abused.

Ask yourself: "Why am I playing this game?" Answer honestly. If you're playing it to win money and you are winning money, then end of conversation. If you're playing it to win money and you aren't, then end the play and begin the analysis.

If you're playing it for any other reason (than winning money) then the money shouldn't matter; but, if the money does matter, and you're losing, then find another less-expensive game; or, take a break.

I have posted this idea many times on this board....once more. If you aren't keeping records of your plays then you will never have the information necessary to figure out what you do well (from both a handicapping and a playing perspective) and what you do not so well. If you can't figure out "why" you are losing, then what can you do but either quit or continue losing?

When I was going to the track every day, I had two situations that required a day off: One, whenever I had a very bad day; and, two, whenever I had a very good day. Most people will understand the first case. In the second case, there's a tendency to get over confident and start upping the ante when you're going well. A little breather helps tone that down.

[badcompany]

This thread speaks volume about leading a balanced life and having more going on than just gambling. For someone who gambles a lot, when they finally stop, there are going to be many hours to kill. Unless you have something else to do, you're probably going to end up back at the track or OTB.

[whyhorseofcourse]

This thread speaks volume about leading a balanced life and having more going on than just gambling. For someone who gambles a lot, when they finally stop, there are going to be many hours to kill. Unless you have something else to do, you're probably going to end up back at the track or OTB.

I am an avid with the out doors.
Enjoy fishing very much. Our family owns a boat and stuff so its not like I dont have nothing to do.

[maiom01]

This post is a good wake-up call for all players regardless what level you are at.

[riskman]

This thread speaks volume about leading a balanced life and having more going on than just gambling. For someone who gambles a lot, when they finally stop, there are going to be many hours to kill. Unless you have something else to do, you're probably going to end up back at the track or OTB.


A healthy male adult bore consumes each year one and a half times his own weight in other people's patience.