Why Do Gamblers Do This?

[Rigon]

Those who regret such things lose everything and come to the last moment of life and say all these things, they regret. But we should all be aware of their regret. Actually gambling is a very serious addiction and those who have indulged themselves in this addiction have never been able to lead a good life. In the first stage, when people benefit from gambling, people's thinking becomes different. As a result of this two-to-one profit, people slowly indulge themselves in gambling. At one time people became addicted to gambling. He destroys everything then he utters such words from within his mind.

[Solosanz]

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. 

It's really bad to see people are careless with their conditions and feel if they're fine, at least they need to share their stories with their close friends or create tweet for seeking random people's opinion. If both of the parties are fine, it's mean your gambling habit are fine and doesn't need to seek for a professional. But having own self control and know your limit is better because each people have different risk and how much they allocate their money for fun.

[jayce]

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.

This is one of the most realistic and best answers on this thread imo, which the losing gamblers tend to blame the game and/or the casino. Beside that, it causes the second biggest issue on gambling, which people will do anything to get money, like cheating the game or begging to other players. That's just because they definitely gamble to earn, instead of getting fun from it.

[noorman0]

The habit of gamblers is that the expectation of their luck is too great, that a string of small or tolerable losses they think is not a significant obstacle to taking a few more chances to catch up on past losses. Basically it is a self denial to the gambler that they already have signs of problem gambling based on their string of losses. They think they are still okay even though other people think otherwise.

Another reason is, in some parts of the world gambling is considered a violation of the norm. So up to a certain loss limit, gamblers are reluctant to seek help.

[Wexnident]

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?

It's a way of releasing stress. It's like how you want to punch something or go mad (in most cases) if something really really frustrating happened. In this case, it's not frustrating but a realization and sorts, and maybe to finish said realization, they just want to release it to whatever media is possible to them with like-minded people who can probably understand them. It's a psyche thing so to speak. I honestly wouldn't mind them, maybe say a thing or two if you want but relatively keep it positive since it's a sort of help no matter what imo.

And additionally, as they say, you only realize the dumb sht you did AFTER it already happened.

[brooksby]

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 think an addiction is an addiction. Science shows and doctors say that the biochemical activity in the brain is the same for someone who drinks as for someone who is addicted to gambling. Now why does an alcoholic not stop drinking before life is ruined? Because they can't. For gamblers that is the same and often times it is the damage caused that can turn into a wake up call and actually help you get away from what makes you unhappy. It can also lead into an evil downward spiral and actually destroy your entire life.

That's why it's even a good thing when you learn your lesson as a 20 year old gambling away your 2,000 USD savings and you think you ruined your life but you didn't because you can make a comeback.

If you are a father of two and have a wife and you gamble away your house, your savings, then lose your wife and she takes with her the kids. Well, then you did pretty much ruin your entire life.

This is not to say that gambling at a young age is good because it is a timely lesson. But if you fall for an addiction and get out of it again and learn from it, it's better when it happens when you are young I guess.

[Wapfika]

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?

Common human was seeking help or quit when the damage is done not before the damage done. Only few people has a very good self control and the rest behave the typical human behavior. People always have the curiosity to try something even they knew already what’s the outcome when they lose. The only thing that will let human stop from being curious like in gambling is when they experienced it already.

As the old saying says, Experience is the best teacher.

[LogitechMouse]

~

Let's revise that question. Do you think they will post what they feel, and seek help if obviously they aren't in need of some help??
I mean gamblers will post here, make some fairy tale stories and will seek for help because they obviously need it. They will not post here if they don't need it aren't they?

Anyway, to answer your question, I believe the reason is that they want to release their feelings to others, and one way for them is forums. Releasing your feelings with others regarding your problems is a big help for the person because that will ease the pain that they're feeling. Well, for sure most here will give advices, but the question is will that person do it? If we said that he need professional help, will he do it and find professional help?

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?

They will feel happy when they win thus, they will not quit. Who wants to quit when they know they are winning?
They will just feel regret when they lose money. Regret is always at the end of everything. If you did something wrong, you will feel regret in the end. If you made something bad to somebody, you will feel regret in the end. Gamblers will not quit when they are winning. They will just quit when they suffered losing.

[btc_angela]

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?

It's because they are afraid to be judge by others, specially their gambling addiction. So they try to hide it as much as they can to people around them and to their friends and love ones.

Until such time that it's too late already, everything is wasted, and their lives is ruined.

It's really hard to understand it, and most likely they are going to hide it for as long as they can.

[sunsilk]

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

Realization and regret is always at the end part of what we do.

When we gamble, we don't ask for help when we're just starting out. We're only coming out with that when we already experience those losses. And much worse is that some are seeking help to have more money to gamble than to seek help to stop their addiction.

It's thesad truth but it strucks the reality for those people so that it will sink in to them eventually when they don't like what's happening to them anymore.

[danherbias07]

Because if it doesn't happen to them yet, they won't feel the remorse.

IMO, if there are gamblers who have a strong mental discipline, it won't really happen to them. As soon as they know where they are crossing the line then they would stop and try again the next day.
But there are those who will keep on chasing their losses as long as funds keeps on coming. Those are the wrong decision which most gamblers make because they tend to be emotional and looking for revenge.
Telling others about their story might be the only way to let out the regret. I usually just listen to them.

[rhomelmabini]

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?

It's for them to make the most of their story. LOL. Well, you can't make blame your addiction while you still has something to gamble with, you'd realize it when you have nothing. You yourself will not need any help when you think to yourself you don't need any help at all, that's the basic. Addiction is not easy to escape.

[aioc]

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?

People are having fun until they think that they can really make money on gambling, so they spend more than what they can afford to lose, changing your mindset from having fun or entertainment into trying to make money from gambling is like creating your trap.
People should mind or be conscious of what they are doing in a casino, and they should always ask themselves if they have fun and or feel bad losing after they log out, responsible gambling is always accessing yourself if you still have control over your bankroll.

[Yatsan]

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 how addiction works; you became unaware that you are being to hooked up on a particular thing and the moment you'd realize is when you cannot independently stop it and is needing professional help. Everyone's aware of the down side of things but why do they still continue? because they have their own purpose which is to gain profit from this industry. This drive simply pushes them to cross that caution. They are simply taking the risk straight forward. It might be cliché to some but you'd only understand it once you are in such situation. Likewise with vices; for sure you know someone who smoke which believed that it is a bad thing when he was a child but ended up being one. So in this matter, try to be more considerate; we are all going through different circumstances which pushes us to embrace risk.

[YOSHIE]

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?

Don't humans have greedy nature and they are never satisfied with something they want, no matter how much loss they experience in the world of gambling.

Many things that we see in wading or living the life of every human being in this world with actions that are never satisfied and never feel enough for their needs, if they bet, win, keep gambling again and also lose, they still want to gamble, that's what human greed is called, addiction that is controlled by lust.

Meaning: greedy no matter how they gamble with their money still makes them poor.
For example: gambling, not a few people think that gambling is a shortcut to get rich in a super short time, regardless of savings, selling houses, cars, salaries, and so on is used only for gambling.
Bottom line: gambling is okay, but try not to be greedy and miserly spending all your salary, savings and so on are only for the purpose of profit, instead they make and impact big losses for themselves.

[mvdheuvel1983]

It can never be me until it is you. This is what I think is the thought that runs through our minds when we gamble or even read to sad gambling stories. We think to ourselves that we are smarter and wiser than those who pour their hard-earned cash into gambling. We think that we are exempt, that we would get out before we reach that point.
But what we forget is that gambling is designed to rope you emotionally that before logic comes into play, you may have had already suffered significant losses and on the path to ruining your life. It is a psychological trick, a game of the mind. This is why, I do my best to be open and speak about my gambling to friends and family. They will always act as my voice of reason.

[Betwrong]

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 gambling addiction is a disease. Gamblers who have it have an uncontrollable urge to gamble all of a sudden, and can't think of anything else, including the potential consequences of such behaviour. They don't want to stop even when they lose everything on their balance on a gambling site and all their money altogether. In that case they want to borrow and gamble again.

So, we shouldn't judge them. Rather, we should help them to seek professional help.

[348Judah]

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?

You're being right because many gamblers have experienced these things a long and bad way, I believe most of them later Learnt the lesson of their life from their first mistake in gambling citing different experience that led them to it, the mistake most newbies in gambling commonly do is that they were always easily enticed to lust after money in a hasty decision making only because they got a clue on what they have no idea about a d dabble into it.

[Baofeng]

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?

Well in gambling, regrets are usually in the end. So when everything is working ok and you are winning in the beginning, you might not think of quitting to be honest. And so you go on, whether noticing that you are being eaten alive by this casinos as you continue to deposit and lost big money and then the big excuse, "gambling ruined my life" scenario in the end. Wherein you could have prevent it if you have total control of your self, but you chooses not to because it's enjoyable in the beginning.

[Crypt0Gore]

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 they have to lose everything first before they realize they have lost it all, if an addicted gambler still has some money left after a big loss, they won't feel satisfied, they will still believe in a hope that only exists in dreams.

Addicted gamblers don't feel sorry for themselves until they lose the entire money that has with them, let my make another money even after they feel sorry and pitied for all they've done, they will still gamble and keep the stupid lottery ticket idea alive, this us why its very hard to stop a gambling addiction.