The Candy Store

OK, caught your attention hey?

I am curious of those who live near gambling establishments how they keep from basically spending their paychecks every week on gambling.

I can recall a time I would have LOVED living in Vegas/Reno (I actually prefer Reno) but now realize I would have been in soooo much trouble that I'd have probably gone insane and offed myself with all the gambling.

How does one control this as I am not too sure I could do so even though I have seemingly learned to restrain myself.

Has it been due (In your opinion) upbringing? Previous dealings with gambling? Seeing others destroy themselves or what?

Wow...your raise a great isssue.  Like people who work at Pizza Hut getting overweight?  Or teenagers who work at the trendy clothing store going broke on 30% employee discounts!  I will do some resource checking on this one.  My best guess is that most casino employees don't gamble.  I have asked a few table dealers if they play.  Most have told me NO because they note a high loose rate. 

genenco, i made a post about this.. "working at casinos"

I'm going to tell you for most that have been bitten, you cannot control it
casinos LOVE that you work for them and them give your paycheck back..
Through all my years, i have noticed you are fine, you can spend a little and walk out, UNTIL you hit that big one on a little money then thats where
the trouble begins.

I have done it, blew my whole paycheck.. BUT luckily i have savings and a fall back, you do need a strong mind to just pick up your check, pay your bills, and then maybe go to the casino.

For me to control it, i would take my daughter with me to pick up
paycheck.. that helps her being under 21, i know i have to get it and leave
Living here in Vegas, so so convenient to blow your check. I stopped
because of lessons i have learned.

The Binion story.. i forget her name.. but she came here, with all
of her savings hoping to hit it big, lost everything she owned,
Mr Binion came along, offered her 5,000.00 for a night which would get
her out of it, the greed got the worse.. Mr Binion ended up dead..
This was just a girl from no-where, its longer story then this.. but you get the picture.

Yes, what it can do to yourself, and i have seen many devastated co-workers, living almost on the streets, having a good job making hundreds
daily, can't pay their bills, rent and can't get caught back up.. until they STOP

Yeah I heard about the Binion story. Man that was interesting..such intrigue.

well, just asking as I am sure there's a lot of people who do or are able to "Just ignore" the gambling as "It's not interesting" and as such, I wondered how they could get by not losing everything.

Seems some do, but many don't...Too bad it is for them.

It's strange, you are right many people just ignore it, aren't interested
and myself i say.. how on earth are they doing that?

I also used to smoke alot of weed, many years did that..oh my goodness
my weed days, well one day i met a man, i became infactuated, intrigued
i guess i could say i fell in love, he said to me, you smoke that, you alter that beautiful mind of yours, and i won't have anything to do with you
I dropped it like a red hot iron skillet, i found it was worth it, for him
i would do anything, although recently we departed, (long story on that)
i still have not touched it, over 2 years now

I have new pictures i should put them up lol

Gene,

Here in Chicago we have 4 casinos all within a 45 min radius in any given direction from the city. With a 5th casino that is in the works! Crazy enough is the acutual City of Chicago has zero due to our dear Mayor Daley.

I think gambling can be learned. Being brought up in an atmosphere of gambling parents can definately have its effects. For others its heading to the casino for the first time and hitting it "big". Once that happens the player is hooked!

Like an alocholic...gamblers also are predispostioned to gamble. A common characteristic of a potential gambler in youth is the love of playing video games. It sets off the chemicals (dopamine) in the brain that give the player a high. This chemcial releases the pleasure sensations. Similiar to the high  a gambler gets playing in a casino.

It is the toughest addiction to cure with the highest rate of suicide of any addiction. It simpy feels good......blame it on the chemcials sparking in the brain...its like an aphrodisiac.

Lips

I wish it was that simple, but try and remember for me here.. the machines
are in every location, not just the casinos

Bars, 7 /11's , circle k's, smoke shops, laundrymats, grocery stores
department stores, small food establishments, restaurants..
It's crazy! 99 cent stores, car washes, pharmacies..  :'(

Disipline.. HAH!.. its torture... lol

I can see everyone's point and PMM has a good grip and even Imagin has a better grip as I'd agree if you were always "Tempted" living in  (Here's a funny) "Lost Wages"one would be come quite quickly overblown with all the offers and temptations of "Oh, just one more $5-$10-$20"

I'll just be glad I am not a scratch ticket type  and have to allot 20-35 min just to get to OR and play the VLT machines. (Of course I make sure and hit the Smoke Shop first! No, you don't DARE want to see me without smokes!)

Whew!

Not forgetting you Lips as your knowledge of what "Triggers" the person to be disposed to gambling is correct I believe. I recall when shopping my Mother would give me $2 for the video machines. I'd be so good, I'd give her back $1.50 usually.

It was years later, I changed to she'd push the cart, I'd go and grab the food of what SHE wanted and we'd get out of there in good time and she was (I believe) more pleased I wasn't "Wasting my time" with video machines.

Of course, after we'd get home I'd be off to the bar!! Heh!