Gambling Addiction at its Worst!

[Darker45]

I was reading the news this morning and one of the headlines was about a terrible stealing incident involving an alleged gambling addict. The man is an employee of R&L Investments, one of the Philippines' oldest stock brokerage firms. He was able to orchestrate a way to suck at least ₱700-million worth of stocks from the company to support his gambling addiction. This is around 14 million USD, huge enough for the company to decide its closure after 5 decades of operation.^[1]

This case made me remember another news that shocked the country and beyond more than a couple of years ago. This incident involved another gambling addict who tried to burn down the casino inside Resorts World Manila. The man entered the casino fully armed and attempted to steal chips. It went awry and much worse from there, and ended up burning himself alive. The gambling addiction of the perpetrator had reached its worst end after initially causing separation from his family, selling of properties including his home and car, incurring huge debts, and so on. The incident claimed dozens of lives.^[2]


I want to ask my fellow gamblers here, what is the worst thing you have done for your gambling hobby or habit? Have you come to the point of getting addicted to it and how did you counter it?

Sources:

[1] https://www.rappler.com/business/244378-philippine-stock-exchange-pushes-audit-white-collar-scandal-rl-investments?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1x-wyi3G8i19_o5Hw37UzaYLnA0_jpzxVw_V7KOEXr5Fz0n5DmllJMu-Y#Echobox=1573401216

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Resorts_World_Manila_attack
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3702217/manila-attack-resorts-world-casino-shooting-fire-36-dead-philippines/

[Upgrade00]

I think gambling addiction should be treated like other forms of addictions, and those affected should get medical care. Also gambling websites as well as casinos should have a bold sign advising people to 'gamble responsibly', similar to what alcohol beverage companies do. Not just as a measure to absolve themselves from blame but to protect those that patronize their services.
Personally, I have never been addicted to gambling.

[swogerino]

I have not done anything of this level and I don’t think I will ever do such things.These things are made by ill people who have the addiction as their illness.They will do anything to achieve their goals just like a drug addict would.I think that some years in jail would be the right punishment for such persons and also there to be treated for their illness.

[Oasisman]

Gambling addiction is very similar with drug addiction, both have psychological effects once an individual becomes stressed out due to massive loss of funds.
I think It's time for the government to take actions in controlling the gambling addiction. Put up a rehab for excessive gamblers (I'm not sure if It already has in existence, specifically in the Philippines).

The worst thing I have done in gambling so far, is to hide my total monthly income to my wife so I could set aside some funds to gamble in sports betting  . Is this a sign of addiction? ? Lol

[crwth]

I did see this news a few days ago with regards to an investment firm, but what I didn't know is that the funds stolen from that stock have been used in gambling. It's saddening that one should have been trusted person was behind all of this, and it cost $13 million+ USD almost all the inventory of the firmed virtually zero. I hope it doesn't happen between any other brokerage firms in the Philippines.

You could see that in the articles, it started eight years ago with small amounts, and it lead to millions. Imagine that person who just started saying, "It's just gambling, it's entertainment, I would only use a little amount of my salary/wage" and making that an addiction.

Beware to everyone who is starting to gamble and may not make it back. It served as a gateway to the addiction. I hope no one suffers something like this anymore.

A recent article for reference: https://business.inquirer.net/282716/50-year-old-ph-stock-brokerage-shuts-down

[MATHReX]

"Addiction has many forms".
Any kind of prolong involvement for anything is injurious to health.

I do not have a gambling addiction but one of my friends is a regular to this.
We usually play with low stakes in a group just to have fun but this guy takes it a bit far.
I've heard he lost his expensive smartphone in one of his bets in poker which won't seem much at the time but it's not a huge leap from betting his smartphone to betting other valuables.
It's not worth it to bet on things that you can't afford to lose because it's going to affect one's life drastically.
We made him understand the cons if he continued doing this as there is no light in this path.

[jakelyson]

I am sorry to hear that sad news.

That is the worst thing that can happen to a gambler. Isolating yourself from friends and family and then committing crimes. Gambling addicts have no control over their actions. So, it is up to us, their friends, to intervene whenever we notice that our friends are already too deep into gambling. If we caught it early, we can still save gambling addicts.

I think that some years in jail would be the right punishment for such persons and also there to be treated for their illness.

They have to face the consequence of their criminal acts but I do not think jail is the right place for them to fix their addiction. They need psychological help.

[Wexnident]

Well, gambling addiction may have been a factor but I suppose there were still quite a lot of problems with the mans life that resulted in such a situation to occur.

Also, I doubt anyone would do anything over the line IF it wasn't addiction. Addiction could bring the worst out of someone after all. Or rather, well, in this case, money could bring the worst of someone.

[Yatsan]

Gambling addiction is very similar with drug addiction, both have psychological effects once an individual becomes stressed out due to massive loss of funds.

No kind of addiction is good, But I think it's better to be addicted to gambling instead of drugs. At least you are not doing anything against the law, and beside's you are not damaging your health, The only thing that can be damaged is your money! lol
But yeah, any kind of addiction is wrong, but as long as you are not damaging your health or doing something that is against the law, I think you are all good. It's on your self if you want to stop or to do it in moderation.

The worst thing I have done in gambling so far, is to hide my total monthly income to my wife so I could set aside some funds to gamble in sports betting  . Is this a sign of addiction? ? Lol

Mine is after I receive my salary, I go gambling and bet it all in just one bet. The ending is I just lost my 1 month of salary. And after that, I keep on controlling myself when I am betting on something, That bet was a nightmare lol.

[Russlenat]

That's a huge amount of money loss, this man who steals money from the company might either commit a suicide or just accept this faith that he will end up in the jail maybe for good.

I am not sure how huge the punishment of that crime too but this only tells us a lesson not to spend what we can't afford to lose and always stay discipline when gambling.

I think of all the addiction, gambling is the most dangerous as it could destroy your lives and the lives of the others, especially the people around you.

[sheenshane]

The 2nd link shared by OP was in the year 2017, that was a bloody incident and a gunman was killed 36 people on the casino. But first, they thought that was Islamic State claimed the attack, but the fact a police officer who was addicted to gambling. Because of heavily indebted he's out of his mind because of addiction.

All forms of addictions are not good, while at an early stage much better we avoid this and as much as possible just control your self and set a limit on it. Self-discipline is a must while you are in gambling, once you have been hooked in gambling, you are no longer in your right mind when you are addicted. This is may cause serious mental illness.

[michellee]

Gambling addiction can give the worst thing in our life, and we already saw so many examples in real life. No matter what, gambling addiction is not just sucking our money but our life too, even our family. I don't have the worst thing that I did with my life or my closest family or even friends because I really realize that when I get an addiction to gambling, everything will become terrible, and I will lose everything I had. So we must prevent ourselves from an addiction to gambling, and we need to control ourselves even if we are losing the money, don't get into a deeper situation in gambling otherwise, you will lose everything you have.

[Pmalek]

Unbelievable! The guy was able to steal 14 million USD and instead of living happily ever after he gambles it away. People really do all kinds of stupid things when they are addicted and blinded.
The father of a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He says it is God's will that he got cancer. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he has been a passionate smoker for most of his life! NO, NO, it's God's fault. 

[stadus]

Unbelievable! The guy was able to steal 14 million USD and instead of living happily ever after he gambles it away. People really do all kinds of stupid things when they are addicted and blinded.

It will not reach that big if his purpose is just to steal and enjoy the amount, this is already accumulated due to his long time gambling addiction and it just come to the extent that he cannot cover his activity anymore.

The father of a friend of mine was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He says it is God's will that he got cancer. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he has been a passionate smoker for most of his life! NO, NO, it's God's fault. 

That's just plain stupidity, he can't say that, it wasn't God's will to harm his people, it was us who are abusing ourselves but every action of ours always has a consequence.

[Ucy]

I think gambling addiction should be treated like other forms of addictions, and those affected should get medical care. Also gambling websites as well as casinos should have a bold sign advising people to 'gamble responsibly', similar to what alcohol beverage companies do. Not just as a measure to absolve themselves from blame but to protect those that patronize their services.
Personally, I have never been addicted to gambling.

Nice one, especially the "I have never been addicted to gambling" comment.
People are unnecessarily complicating life with extreme lifestyle... moderation and self control is the key, but people don't consider.
I don't see anything wrong in creating a great game and charging people to play. It all boils down on responsibility. The gambling owners, as well as the gamblers have to be responsible for their own sakes. We have to be our brothers keeper.

[kaya11]

That's way too out of the line, hope I doesn't go that way. Luckily even though I gamble I haven't dome anything that is a crime that goes beyond human action, killing innocent people and stealing such amount of money. That is truly a work of the devil and nothing less, I bet maybe he is also using drugs when he did the crime or even when gambling as the Philippines is one of the world's drug infested place.

[shield132]

I think gambling addiction should be treated like other forms of addictions, and those affected should get medical care. Also gambling websites as well as casinos should have a bold sign advising people to 'gamble responsibly', similar to what alcohol beverage companies do. Not just as a measure to absolve themselves from blame but to protect those that patronize their services.
Personally, I have never been addicted to gambling.

To be fair no one cares what's written on cigarettes and alcohol beverages, when you want it, you buy it. Can say the same on gambling. No one knows that you can't win against casino? Just tell me, why aren't casinos going bankrupt? Because mathematically they have higher chance of win than you. But still some people think they are lucky enough to beat casino, yeah, there were really some people who just gambled 1-2 times and won huge amount of money but 1 from 10000 is so lucky, not everyone and it doesn't worth to take part in this competition to my mind.
Just gamble for fun if you can, personally I find live blackjack amazing thing for fun. Can't you get fun and it makes you nervous? Then just stop it.

[YOSHIE]

Very heavy for the fish to be separated from the water.
Most gambling addicts are like possessed by demons, close their eyes to their actions when they lose property and lose in gambling bets.

I am also a gambler, but for all that I can control, when my brain freezes in defeat.

If I read from the source, I can conclude that, that person has a bad factor in gambling betting and justifies any means for betting.

"The problem is very regrettable, the junkie is holding gambling not as entertainment, but as a place to ride his life / try his luck, so that when he loses, his brain is possessed with anger, crime, anarchism, so it is out of control, there is no balance in his life anymore so it is increasingly chaotic, time and money are all dissipated for uncontrolled gambling so as to damage his psyche.
This is someone out of control when addicted to gambling bets,
he forgot everything, this is fatal consequences".

[wildan88]

Well, gambling addiction may have been a factor but I suppose there were still quite a lot of problems with the mans life that resulted in such a situation to occur.

Also, I doubt anyone would do anything over the line IF it wasn't addiction. Addiction could bring the worst out of someone after all. Or rather, well, in this case, money could bring the worst of someone.

economic factors can make us desperate, so gambling becomes a shortcut and when the addiction is getting worse. as long I gamble, maybe I was lucky to never get a lot of money from gambling, so I'm not addicted to getting worse and ended up disappointed because of too many losses. so in the end, I could stop gambling.

[nydiacaskey01]

I want to ask my fellow gamblers here, what is the worst thing you have done for your gambling hobby or habit? Have you come to the point of getting addicted to it and how did you counter it?

So far I havent done anything foolish that would make it to the front page or even less. I try to discipline my self when it comes to spending my money on online games or casino. I am the type of person who track how much i already spent using a spreadsheet so that at the end of the day I can look at how much I already spent on something like online casino. Thats my way of reminding myself to stop.