Why Do Gamblers Do This?

[Davidvictorson]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

[Oasisman]

Because everything was fun until you ran out of money and start facing financial issues. Addiction may not be noticeable to someone who's still in the process, it tends to be realized after everything is gone and ruined.
Those tales were not gonna be uttered and shared when everything is still fun. So, we're gonna be seeing more of it as there are many people who has compulsive gambling activities. They'll soon realize what type of hell they're getting into.

[Oshosondy]

why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

With my experience when I was an addict 4 to 5 years ago, I thought I can gamble and make money from it as an income, moving from one strategy to another. It started with high odds, latter thinking to use high amount of money with low odds to make money, and later was the online odd low matches. I thought something like a means of earning something weekly or monthly is possible. Because of low odds, I won most of the time, but because of high amount used, I noticed that I lost than won in just two or three matches lost after like 10 wins. What causes me to lose high amount of money to gambling was that I thought gambling can be a means of earning income but which I later found I was wrong.

[Plaguedeath]

Because if these people was realized it and prevent from huge losses, they wouldn't create that thread. The funny thing is why there are a lot people share their loss story and there's no one share their huge winnings, I don't think any gambler wouldn't ever hit huge multiplier or win big amount money, even though their losses might be bigger than their winnings. It just make the gambling society looks bad, while it's actually not.

[DaNNy001]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

For me I think it's probably just human nature for you. They actually Dont think are doing something stupid by going all in with their habits until the damage is actually enquired and thats when you actually know that your gambling habit are getting out of hand. For me, i think the losses are part of the process so no need to say too much about it although its really hurts sometimes especially when you think you can take the risk and decide to go all in with your stake.

[Pierre 2]

I think its mainly about gambler mindset. Besides earning or losing money, gambling is a game some players win or lose. Gamblers think there will be time that they will win and get back everything. This false reality can be really damaging in my opinion. Some gamblers don't realize they are losing their life savings anytime they keep playing and losing. Reality hits hard only when you are broke, too broke to even keep on gambling.

[klidex]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

I want to ask, are you also one of those people who like to play gambling?
If you are one of those people who really likes to gamble, you must have been able to get answers to what you asked in the thread that you created.
If my answer to your question is that every gambler must feel his own pleasure and sense of satisfaction when gambling so that what is in their minds and suggestions is just to go on and on playing gambling so that without realizing it they lose everything and in the end the regret they can feel later day.
So it's a little difficult for gambling addicts to stop or feel regret early when they still have a lot of money.

[Vaskiy]

Gamblers used to realise what they've done is wrong only after experiencing massive loss. I personally experienced losses and when we're on the losing streak, our minds never give up. Our mind intends to recover the loss and the same makes us increase the betting amount. The same most of the time leads to loss. This is how most of the tales gets created. When we share the experience it gives some peace of mind. This is my personal story Be a Responsible Gambler

[davis196]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

Lack of self-control? Being in denial about your own addiction? Trying to escape and hide from your problems(but they hit you eventually)?
Most gambling addicts are desperately trying to hide their addiction. When they hit rock bottom, they come up with the realization that opening up and talking about your problem is the only way to solve it. Another thing is that their sad stories might help in preventing other gamblers from sinking too deep into addiction. It's something like "I've been damaged by this shit, don't go this way.". It's a cry for help, but it's also a warning.  

[Mauser]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

I would say that it's very similar to why people rarely go to the doctor. If they only have a little pain they don't want to go and will wait until things get better by themselves or worse. It's hard to realise that we have a problem and need help. Also these are stories of a few unlucky gamblers, there are millions of gamblers out there who don't share their stories online. Most of the gamblers I know only play from time to time and don't spend every day at casino. It's a recreational hobby that they only spend a little money on it and would never go so far to bet all their life savings. 

[_act_]

Because if these people was realized it and prevent from huge losses, they wouldn't create that thread. The funny thing is why there are a lot people share their loss story and there's no one share their huge winnings, I don't think any gambler wouldn't ever hit huge multiplier or win big amount money, even though their losses might be bigger than their winnings. It just make the gambling society looks bad, while it's actually not.

For people that have lost so much, know that they are losing, not winning. Can someone that lost so much share his winning when he has more losses than winnings? I want you to also know that there are some people on this forum that share their winnings too, especially those that won huge, I have seen many of thise winning posts on this forum since when I joined. Know that this gambling boards is for us to know more about gambling, one of the things we know are the experiences of people when they are gambling and how to avoid the bad ones.

[Fundamentals Of]

I'm sure there are also gamblers who are successful in controlling their gambling vice. But of course this is not the same story for every gambler. Some must have also lost the same control and are totally absorbed by their vice, reached a point of addiction, and lost their entire savings, or worse had their lives ruined. They're probably sharing this as a warning, because they want others to learn lessons from it and not experience what they've gone through.

[Questat]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

Because regret always comes last. Gamblers are expecting to win, they think gambling is fun and at the same time they also make money. Some gamblers do gamble for fun but eventually, they lose control that's why they were able to spend more than they can afford to lose. I think it's just normal that people make mistakes, what's not normal is when we already know the outcome of the said mistakes, and yet we are still doing it.

[mu_enrico]

Because people will keep silent when they win, thus you only get to read sad stories. This should be categorized as bias, but I forgot the exact category, probably in the same category as survivorship bias.

Also, self-serving bias exists: when people win, they will take credit for themselves, and not give credit to the game. Conversely, when they lose, they blame the game, and not their self-control.

[lienfaye]

You'll only realize your mistake after losing it all that's why regrets are always in the end. At first, you're able to control yourself and it is fun to win. But when losses are getting deeper and the way you gamble is out of control (facing problems like debt, relationship and health problem) it's the time that you'll be be hit to realize it is not right already and you will think to stop.

It's a human nature, until you never see the bad side you'll continue to do what you used to. In gambling, if you're not yet facing a serious problem, you can't think of stopping unless you are solely playing just to entertain yourself and not because of profit.

[swogerino]

In this forum and other forums where gambling is one of the topics of discussion, one of the recurrent topics is people who write about how their gambling addiction has ruined their lives. We usually encounter topics like "Gambling ruined my life,"  "I lost all my life savings to gambling,"  "I gambled away my entire salary," etc. Then they go on to tell a sad tale. It makes me wonder: why do gamblers tend to wait until they have suffered a catastrophic loss or a string of losses before quitting or seeking help?

That is simple.From my perspective,I mean personal experience whenever I lost money I could afford to and I was playing longer,had good session,got the bonus round in my favorite slot machine but in the end I lost some money I am not that sad,it is just momentary.Whenever I lose a big amount,I am losing money and keep adding money to chase my initial lost amount and I end up losing it all,a huge amount this sparks that sadness and rage in our mind that tells us why I were such a stupid person to lose money in a game I know I have no edge over it.This leads to creating such threads,I am one of such persons in the past but I have posted my experience in that Slot 101 thread we have here and didn't need to post a new one but you get the idea why such things happen.

[EarnOnVictor]

You asked such a question because you have your own mind and consciousness, but unfortunately, some people don't. I've never been so trapped in gambling addiction but have experienced it before I forcefully pulled back. This was possible for me because I have a strong mind, but some people have a weak mind that can't be easily checked unless they found help before they cross the red line.

I will not blame anyone, nature does not give us the same mental strength, which is why you see some people ending their lives due to a little issue. Also, my addiction to trading for over a decade made me realise what such people are facing, they can't control their minds again, and they might not be able until they are completely ruined.

That's why it's good to tell reasonable people how you feel, and they might be able to help you out or find professional help for you before it's too late.

[madnessteat]

~snip~

You don't sound like a gambler if you ask that question. I don't know a single gambler who hasn't once lost a large sum of money for himself.

I have lost large sums of money several times in my life and at such times we all think about quitting gambling. But that's not really the problem. The problem is that we allow ourselves to gamble with money that is not meant for gambling. If you allocate a few percent of your budget to gambling and don't go over that limit, you're unlikely to have a gambling problem, no matter how many times you lose.

[xSkylarx]

It's because they can't control themselves, and they have nothing to do but rant and express their feelings so that it can ease the pain. Lucky are those people like us who can control themselves, which means we don't get to the point of losing all though there are times we do this, but still we can control it, unlike others who, let's say, are addicted to gambling and always tend to sell their stuff or do anything like borrow money just to gamble as they can control their feelings.

[passwordnow]

It's because it's hard to control the excitement and goal that we're thinking of once we start to gamble. Those that are sharing their experiences have some lessons to tell and that's why they're giving others a warning on what they must do if they ever encounter that urge and feeling when they gamble. Acceptance is key on understanding that a gambler is already on a hard situation but, many are not going on that part because acceptance of failure and loss is hard to take.