In most situations of life, it's not necessarily good to follow trends, but in terms of money changes, bitcoin is a type of currency to pay a close attention to, as it contains a different trend, in it. Although trends don't stay forever, that's why bitcoin shouldn't be seen as a trend, it's here to stay. Even most services pointed out by few members above, still isn't a trend. What is seen as trend are some business ideas that comes and pumps money for few months and then stops or maybe don't work anymore. Just like some online how to make money methods, that'll work for few months and doesn't pay anymore. Same is also applicable to offline businesses. It's important to invest our time on something unique and would work for years. Not just following any trend that pops up. Choices like that have made people lose out on their money. The worlds still sees digital money as a trend, same way they once categorized the internet as one. Along the line, internet proved to be so great and everyone hopped onto the technology. Most people who don't use digital money, has trust issue. Since no actual body would be held responsible for the lose of their money, if such happens. And scam stories are flying all over the web about people losing funds via digital money. Digital money like bitcoin still has to prove to the wide world that it's here to stay, and won't disappear one money like liberty reserve did. Those experiences has made lots of internet users not to venture into digital money. Soon, the next generation will begin to adopt digital money and evolve with it, but for the older generations, I don't think they can easily switch their minds.  In a nutshell, calling bitcoin a trend, isn't correct. Bitcoin is here to stay.

Borrowing money is an experience, for inexperienced gamblers, to grow and understand the risk involved in gambling. Not every gambler prefer staking games with their own money and stopping when the money is gone. They'll try some more with borrowed money. If you remember a thread where a forum member wants to set up a lending service for gamblers. You'd notice how huge the number of gamblers that borrow to finance their gambling habit would be. Thereby leading them to depression and addictions. And from the survey, in the forum, many members responded that they'll never crowdfund an irresponsible gambler. Hence, putting the gamblers in a more severe pains, since their family won't stand for them in times of trouble or despair. It's quite a difficult time for OP and his family may not know about this, as he'd sound like a clown to them. This thread wouldn't sound like a warning, but a piece of advise for other newbies, not to be carried away by the effects of winning big in gambling, chasing loses or being too excited over a particular game that we spend more than we should, to catch up with the trills. Gamblers must control the way they spend money in gambling, everyone has other priorities or utilities that requires money, not just gambling.

Congrats for your win, what matters is getting the win with a small stake. It feels bad, but winning actually helps to cool off the anger. Sometimes our kindness wouldn't seem like one, when we begin to regret at some point. Yet, the $10 may have helped your friend a long way. I'm impressed you had the right predictions for the games. At least it looks mature, booking few games and staking a reasonable amount. Most gamblers, would play the game with few cents. Next time you can try with $10 and be careful not to lose on that. I've felt similar ways, after winning with smaller amount. I'd crosscheck how much I would have made, If I played with a bigger amount. But, that's how gambling works. No need to blame anybody. Sometimes the win comes with smaller amount and losses follows significant amount of money. Keep it up.

Money launderers have a step by step way of cleaning their money. And following through similar methods as every other gambler won't help or doesn't seem secure to them. Sometimes, they'll prefer working with the owner of the online casino directly. Where their account can be funded by the casino, then they'll usher in big funds to the casino. A kind of peer to peer transaction agreements. More like in cases of CEX being accused of being used by money launderers, despite having all the sophisticated anti money laundering policy. They'll book an appointment with the CEO of the online platform to help them launder the money. But, since the loophole now depends on the third party CEO who can lead FBI straight to the money launderers. Mixers does the work right on their end. Any other online platform with KYC is a no, for such criminals. As one caught victim is enough, to trace almost everyone involved in the money laundering scheme.

I understand that these people don't know what their actions are all about, until they've landed into a bigger trouble. He was experiencing a fake love for his newly funded blackjack game. Despite losing, he felt taking loans would be a better form of extending his fun time. The goal was not actually getting his funds back, but to keep on being excited. Some utilities, aside gambling can cause these things, unless we take a break or run out of funds, the brain won't relax to this level of realizing we've been down 2 years back. He was a newbie, when he joined gambling, self control wasn't there, and a good adviser to stop him, even the lender should have stopped him. Although in such a condition, no word of mouth is able to change the person's mind or action. People who lend gamblers money, can have a rethink or do further research before giving out the money. Well, I don't know the current source of income for OP, but he'll need to find a better paying job, to fasten the pay back time. Predicting it'll take him 2 years to clear his debts, can cause him a breakdown, as he won't find actual fun, till he clears it all. The sooner he pays back his debt, the better for his mental health. Then, he shouldn't hide things from his closed ones, opening up is a great way of solving his problems.

Under the mixer thread, you'd notice where it's written that mixers are not completely bad. The fact it's banned in the forum doesn't mean mixers won't exist anymore. The service is here to stay, and for the administrator of the forum to go against it, then something must have happened behind the scene. For the safety and longevity of the forum, I trust the decision is good for us all. The forum isn't against mixers, just that the promotion of mixers in signatures are prohibited. So, people would still use mixers for their businesses. Instead of running to casinos. Although the government will keep clamping down bitcoin mixers to be able to track dark web transactions. Casinos are off the sight, like you said, it's quite incomparable. Many big online platforms pay their users in cryptocurrency, does it mean the government will close them down for money laundering? No. Lots of illegal businesses use mixers to clean their funds, which when one of them gets caught, the FBI visits the forum for their investigation. Endangering the notion of the forum, people could think it's now a dark web or in support of their activities. Ok, lets get it straight, if the government stops casinos from accepting cryptocurrency, is going to stop the casino from paying their advertisers via cryptocurrency?

"Gambling is tempting" is a term that needs to be explained further, as it could mean multiple things for individual readers. In your context, zuzie, that the gambler has to resist the temptation of staking on any game they see or moving further to gamble after losing lots of money, for the purpose of winning their money back. If a player is disciplined enough not to fall for the temptation like you called it, they won't have much difficulties as gamblers. Yet other meanings behind your term, could be addressed or referred to compulsive gamblers. In situations where they'll be tempted to do silly things like stealing just to make money for gambling. You'd notice that lots of tempting decisions drag addicted gamblers to conclude on bad choices. Which leads them into believing gambling is a fast way of making money. On the contrary, not every side of gamblers has full control over the decision they make. Many mistakes is fueled by either happiness or anger. And as gamblers, to be able to stay on a positive side, it's important to regulate these two moods, to avoid failing due to excessive happiness for winning or anger for losing. Win or lose shouldn't affect our moods as gamblers. Newbies tend to feel bad about losing like it's not part of the game. Whenever we schedule our mindset that gambling is only a place to win big, then we should also get ready for numerous mood swings.

Before this was introduced, gamblers had to wait until the whole game plays. The new feature of taking half of the funds before the game ends, is something I don't understand why the house chose it. In a simple term, they'll make more money from gamblers who prefer to take half the money, before their games ends. Here is where the gambling begins, who's going to win or lose. Whether to take the money or not, it's never an easy decision. We can say that a good number of people who didn't withdraw the available wins, lose out on the long run. But, think of it, the betting platform has lots of people who withdrew and their game ended up accurate. The remaining half goes back to the betting platform. It's more of a 50/50 scenario, yet, somehow the casino earns more using this formula. Only few players will be like OP and wouldn't take the already existing funds. And to many, the funds could be running in millions, thereby the casino still earns if the end results happen to be true, and the player withdrew along the line. 

Casinos can't be used to launder money without being traced, since the funds would go directly to a wallet address. That's for crypto users. Then the receiver still has to mix the crypto to be anonymous. Main reason the government is working hard on following up those mixers, it's the end process. Due to the fact most gamblers still require Kyc to deposit funds in any casino, just like in exchanges, casinos isn't a safe place for money launderers. Even, not all casino restrict withdrawals for gamblers, some casinos allow users to deposit and withdraw without gambling or winning a bet. Money launderers prefer mixers due to lack of KYC. Once those details are collected or even when fake documents are submitted, they'll be trails or traces. Where the law enforcement agencies find it difficult to trace a criminal is when they've left no loopholes of any kind. I think Op is just curious about this due to the recent ban of mixers. Because this forum get tagged whenever a mixer is closed by the government. It's bringing a bad name on the forum. Promoting casinos isn't wrong, we see ads on stadiums, TVs, radios and bill boards regarding casinos and gambling. Remember, the government use the money to finance the health of addicted citizens and the nation.

The journey differs per gamblers and we all understand that in the process of becoming good gamblers, it's important to learn from the moral of the story. It illustrates how people, non gamblers, see or discuss about the gamblers. More like watching to experience how the gambler is going to end up in gambling. When we win in gambling, these people won't be happy, same people pass around the bad publicity across the world about gambling. Discouraging people from venturing into gambling. The wrong perspective new gamblers hear before venturing into gambling administer fear on them. Hence, the fear is like a catalyst that helps in losing in gambling. As these players already have in mind that lots of gamblers lose properties and wealth in gambling. It'll be difficult for them not to fail, unlike a gambler who has in mind that if they're frugal about gambling, they'll see success. Most of the gamblers like in the fun story, wasn't frugal gamblers. That's why he had to sell his car to purchase a bike. The story is quite intuitive and shouldn't be seen as a funny story alone, it'll be great to learn through it and practice it as well.

Both addiction isn't accepted in any society, although the drug addict seem to be more critical in the eyes of the people, but gambling addicts also suffer from mental health. I was having an argument with a forum member who thought that drug addictions affects the physical body and must be attended to by the government. And gambling, which erupts mental illness or disorder shouldn't be looked into, the argument wasn't sound and I felt like the member needs to understand that both illnesses affects the brain and body. If a person is mentally ill, they'll definitely suffer physical pains too and vice versa. The both requires money to get, and while addicted, most of them would run out of money. Thereby, causing the addicts to venture into activities, legal or illicit, to finance their bad habit. On the long run, it'll lead them into a poor performance in other important roles of life. Hence, the crime they'll commit won't differ too much. Since the both parties require money. Nobody can get drugs on credits neither will they gamble with no cash. And they lead a life that look like they must gamble to breath or survive on earth. It's quite a difficult time. And family needs to hold firm of their wards who are addicts, to avoid losing out everything they've worked hard to benefit.

Talking about kids, they'll have multiple factors, in future, that'll lead them to gambling, but they can be stopped or trained not to fall for those factors. You can't say that all the kids or adults in gambling legalized countries would venture into gambling, due to ads. When we train kids the right way, it helps kids to follow the right route of life. So, parents need to help the government in the fight for gambling addiction in the life of growing kids. If nothing is been done, they'll go through a difficult time, growing up and won't be able to resist the ads like you said. Hence, in the case of OP and his kids or younger siblings, it's important to teach or help them avoid these people while still toddlers. And, they've been numerous contributions on what should be done with the adults, who tend to alter the future of these kids or influence them in the wrong way. In all the responses, risk is also involved. Since we can't determine the relationship between Op and his elderly neighbors or friends. Which results to the kids, listening to their conversations. When these kids are allowed to sit or play around environs where gambling is constantly a topic of the day, it'll affect their mental health and victimize them into falling for gambling adverts. They all fall in same category as kids that watch their dads gamble or follow them to gambling rooms or shops.

Gamblers bragging about their wins, push newbies to play games recklessly thinking that a million is gotten within a short period. Newbies tend to suffer massive loss for gambling to make quick millions. They'd never complain or reason in details about the losses, as the win big syndrome deceives them to continue, and soon they'll recover the whole money with millions left. The goal is to impress the society and display wealth. Gambling isn't happiness for these gamblers, spending money made via gambling is a preferred joy. Those who win big in millions doesn't see gambling this way, most of them have been gamblers for a quite a long time. And they fail to inform friends about the stress attached to gambling. All of their concern is showing off big wins to the society, or social media. Many influencers are beginning to get exposed for sharing fabricated winning slips on their social media page. They'll soon get lesser people who would trust these methods of publishing betting results. 

AI is used, doesn't mean AI accurately does the predictions. I don't trust AI as a tool that'll be utilized by experts for forecasting. If not it would have been adopted already. The whole concept of AI is to help humans in performing research and providing a summarized answer. However, they tend to send outputs that seem to be beyond these, yet nothing special about AI other than for research purposes in form of discussions or chat. Which is the main purpose, people use AI for almost every possible questions they've got. It'll be silly to entrust our funds in the hands of AI, in terms of gambling. Sports prediction can be expensive, and it requires due diligent analyses to predict and stake money on games. Else the player will keep on losing money like Op's friend. A gambler who is not proficient enough can easily purchase predicted games from sellers who claim to be experts, than depending on AI. Human brain is far, far better than AI and their development process. The model may not be trained well enough to decide or predict sports results like humans do. And since the results relies on humans, artificial intelligent is quite useless in such matters. Human brain can change thoughts in split seconds, and the game would change immediately. That's why no model or method of predicting games works consistently correct. AI can still get us to win, but it'll be once in a long while.

If relationships were initially meant for good and bad, I don't think these disputes would be coming up. Both parties feel too important and wants to know everything. No need taking sides on who boosts about being a gambler and taking advantage of the family money. The wife on the other hand, isn't perfect. She must have an attitude the husband doesn't like and he adapts to it. The whole thing requires a mutual understanding, so far the gambler controls or manages the amount he spends on gambling, falling into a quarrel shouldn't be raised up. As the wife or the non gambler, is expected to understand, the gambler isn't irresponsible. If you read the response of the member who doesn't care about his wife's attitude of shopping with her friends, exemplifies the same point I'm voicing out. Once both adults execute their plans and attitude moderately, the whole complains on your second paragraph will be pointless. I notice, some people will never be satisfied, due to their family rules, you're right. But, we can adapt to that and minimize the gambling habit to her own suggestions. Because, she doesn't feel good about gambling, doesn't guarantee her to stop her husband from gambling. In such cases, the man can easily hide his habit, to maintain a peaceful home. Unless the gambler is addicted, which I'll never be support, the woman is always right to stop them. But a responsible gambler should get the respect he deserves in every home. 

The issue differs per spouse, like the first guy, who talked about explaining things to his wife before using the 1% of his income to gamble, similar attitude elsewhere can lead to an issue. But not big, as the funds are moderated. Yet if 1% of the income keeps disappearing each month, it'll be a cause for alarm on the wife's side. Because it's unusual to see a particular amount of money disappearing from the account each month. That's why in cases of using joint accounts, the both parties need to agree on the gambling activities of the man or woman. And to keep the non gambler on the trail, s/he needs to be updated. Most gamblers can cease the opportunity to initiate their wife into gambling as well. By telling her it's only for fun, nothing else. This will help both parties not to feel cheated or thinking that the money meant for feeding is being used for gambling. Remember, like I earlier said, not every woman would be glad to figure out such habit from her husband. Depending on her various family rules. It could be her family disregards gamblers. The issue will be hard to resolve, unless the husband stops gambling. Hence, a player with joint account, can easily find a different method of raising money he'll use for gambling. To be on a safe side, his wife won't notice in one bit, the husband's habit. As men we have to be observant of things that'll upset our women. Hence, if she constantly discuss about her hatred for gambling, we need to do that with caution. To maintain the respect she's got for the head of her family.

Families with joint or linked banked accounts would question one another about how they spend money. I don't know how you'll be able to escape such questions from your wife, if she focuses on asking about your activities or notices that you are a gambler. It's not simple to keep the truth away from them. Except you don't have a joint account with her, I'd say your decision is great and it also makes you a loving husband not every woman would feel comfortable about having a gambler as a husband. We've had similar discussions in this forum about letting our spouse know about our gambling habit. But, it feels good to discuss gambling with our wife, if she's not worried about it. From the Op's idea or strategy, 1% is great for any household and our partner would be happy to discover how money conscious her spouse is, instead of winding up the income. Causing trouble for the family. Which is basically where the family problems erupt. And why most women hate gamblers. Aside that, if you're a responsible gambler, it'll be rare to find her sad or wary about the gambling habit.

Isn't it being biased, if they think losing is shameful and winning a thing to celebrate? Aside doing it as a way to promote the casino, most people want to show off, with the big wins. The whole concept is not common amongst one set of gamblers, almost a good number of gamblers, influencers, celebrities tend to display their wins to their followers. Social media lifestyle is filled with fake claims and fabricated winning slips being published on pages, either to fetch followers or to promote a casino. Wise or intelligent followers who questions these posts, begin to ponder about why the losses are not promoted. At least to make it look real. Sharing the wins once a while, is deceitful and naive players would think the player just tried for the first time and won big. But, if he published losses too without feeling ashamed, when he wins, his followers will understand that he was one time a loser and now a winner. So, when they want to gamble it'll be on the back of their mind that losing is also applicable in gambling. Another reason why they don't share losses is because of criticism from the same followers. Social media is getting toxic on daily basis, both the influencers and their deceived followers are not to be blamed.

AI will be a proficient tool for link sourcing on previous games, to read and analyze games. Other than that, I don't see AI any effective in helping us win our games. Those bots only perform better in giving answers to already existing events. So, it's like a means of getting a summary of all the sources available for a question, unlike google. Depending on AI for a future event is a waste of time. Soothe Sayers don't get gambling predictions right, not to talk of AI. Sports results changes, and a player's mistake can ruin the predictions of anybody. Any team can win in a sport competition. Therefore, making the prediction of a game very confusing on who actually would win the game. Somehow the casino business owners, have a glimpse of what the outcome of a game would be, that's how they manage to set up odds. Games can be robbed, in favor of the casinos across the world to make more profits. These strategies helps to make it difficult for gamblers and any tool they try to improvise for prediction. Imagine if AI correctly predict games, casino business would be out of market already. As all gamblers would take the advantage of using AI often and often. Hence casinos make a difference by manipulating their odds such that when majority of people plays a particular odd or in support of a team to win, the odd will be small; paid less. While the little amount of gamblers who chose contrarily to the multitude would be given a huge odd; big pay. And most of the times the majority of gamblers would lose out, because the big team ends up losing to a smaller team. Isn't it a questionable outcome? but, since it's a sport game, anything can happen.

Looking at the Op's perspective, gamblers shouldn't think a player can't make a living through gambling. Because as gamblers we are supposed to have met players who actually earn significant amounts through gambling. Don't know for online gamblers, but physical casinos comprises of these kinds of gamblers. And they also have comps that help gamblers to stay winning by earning points. On the other hand, it's not wrong to think of gamblers not winning consistently in gambling, especially for gamblers who haven't seen or read about such people. Somehow, these people who make a career out of gambling begin early to master how the machines work. Though risky for any other gambler, but a well strategized player that understand the house edge can make a consistent money via gambling. Your second paragraph is right, and it's one of the strategies of professional gamblers. They don't worry about winning big in gambling. The motive is enjoying the process and mastering slot machines or poker games. I grasp Op's obsession about such gamblers, as it sounds like they don't trust the power of gambling. The risk is high, but I keep telling people, that doesn't make it impossible.