Dev Buddy Burned Out by Skin-Betting,Looking for Advice on Recovery & Boundaries

[Darker45]

I remember some of my friends got involved in DOTA II skin betting. I didn't try it myself. I though it was purely for fun, not as serious as betting real money, which I prefer over skins. I even lost interest chasing after skins eventually.

It's only now that I read about somebody who got addicted to skin betting and is even losing several thousands in dollars. Skin betting sounds childish to me. Of course, I can't relate. I might be wrong about the kind of fun you get to experience from it.

Anyway, I'm glad your friend has completely stopped using gambling websites. Never mind that he's ashamed about his past experiences. What's important is that he's gone past that phase in his life. I hope he keeps it that way.

[m2017]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Another typical story when someone wanted to get rich quickly and easily without much effort. For some reason, everyone thinks, after watching streamers, that they will be able to do the same (in gambling, newcomers also focus on "stars", for example, poker or lucky ones who have won the jackpot). It is impossible for everyone to become rich. It's like a zero-sum game: someone must always be a loser.

Your friend, having given up gambling, fell into the same trap with skins. This often happens. Online games have already become deeply embedded in the lives of ordinary people and the organizers of casino these games take advantage of this, creating conditions similar to casinos (causing addiction in pursuit of winning). These can be skins, as in your example, and also, another striking example is loot boxes (paid).

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

I easily managed to avoid it. I just never played CS:GO. I suppose that the way to "leave" a virtual casino is exactly the same as in regular gambling. That is, you just need to focus on other activities to distract your attention, which will instinctively return to gambling out of old habit. You need to find a hobby that captivates you more than gambling.

[₿itcoin]

Your friend at this point dont need any advance, he should learnt from the experience he got in the process. Whenever you lose as a gambler you dont chase after loss, the moment you start to do that, you will most likely lose everything.

I think if you call it just “an experience” is kinda undersells mate. it not seems anything harmless to me, although he didnt spent too much time on it but it seems very serious gambling disorder to me even more than sports betting/casino betting, spacially when he is very young guy. seems it is no longer at that level, like just a lesson learned, real harm is awaiting. Yeah you could say he is no longer in it quitting is huge however such shit runs deep. i think this friend could not go through a learning curve, he really needs tools maybe therapy or support group.

[maydna]

From fun become curious and then addicted. That is what could happen to someone who insists on winning. He doesn't realize that using small money is enough to know how the work.

I don't know about skin betting. But it is good if your friend stops using gambling websites. It is not easy to stop after losses but your friend can do that.

[Dave1]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

No, I'm not into this kind of gambling, CS:GO, but yes, I've heard that this is a growing sports/gaming in the last couple of years already and perhaps there are really horror stories of some individuals, regardless of their social standing, like maybe having a good job that's why they were able to spend a lot of money into it and becoming addicted like your friend. But at least though, he had realized his big mistakes and completely stop.

But just imagine those who can't and still find this sports as somewhat a competition obviously as it involves some kind of money and then there are a lot of them falling into the addiction. I managed to escaped gambling addiction though when I realized that I need to change as my kids is growing up and so my priorities are different now.

[swogerino]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

Just like any other gambling addiction even this one can be overcomed. First is the acknowledge of the problem by the person, second he needs to desire the recovery with all his own determination and lastly finding a new hobby. Since he is a junior developer he has a lot to learn and pursuing bootcamps, certifications and personal development courses can be his new hobbies which will make him busy for a fairly heavy amount of time and he mostly with the involvement in such activities will probably forget about gambling and any addiction he maybe involved. If none of these works and he still continues then only rehab centers can bring him back to reality.

[Oluwa-btc]

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

Things are becoming more advanced this days haven't heard of skin betting as ot may seems fun though but in as much as you play for the fun you play safe and bet with an amount you can afford to lose other than throwing money at any bets that comes your way. I know some person's find it thrilling with betting on different things in regards to them having fun.

[Mahanton]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

Just like any other gambling addiction even this one can be overcomed. First is the acknowledge of the problem by the person, second he needs to desire the recovery with all his own determination and lastly finding a new hobby. Since he is a junior developer he has a lot to learn and pursuing bootcamps, certifications and personal development courses can be his new hobbies which will make him busy for a fairly heavy amount of time and he mostly with the involvement in such activities will probably forget about gambling and any addiction he maybe involved. If none of these works and he still continues then only rehab centers can bring him back to reality.

Solid perspective acknowledgment really is the foundation of recovery without the first step nothing else sticks connecting it to him being a junior developer makes sense since channeling energy into coding bootcamps or certifications can not only fill the time but also build confidence and open doors having a structured path to focus on can replace the urge to gamble with progress that actually pays off long term.Determination has to come from within otherwise slipping back becomes very easy self motivation mixed with new goals can act like an anchor during the recovery process pursuing personal development learning new skills or even working on passion projects could give him that sense of achievement gambling once tricked him into chasing small wins in coding or completing milestones can deliver real satisfaction and slowly rewire the mindset.

If it becomes too overwhelming or he cant manage it on his own professional help like rehab or therapy might be the safety net he needs some people also benefit from support groups or online spaces where they share progress setbacks and encouragement with others on the same journey connection can break the isolation that often fuels addiction. Accountability partners, friends, mentors, or colleagues can also make a big difference having someone to check in with regularly helps keep momentum alive and reinforces commitment even simple things like a friend asking about progress on a project can shift focus away from gambling and onto healthier pursuits.

[lionheart78]

I think if you call it just “an experience” is kinda undersells mate. it not seems anything harmless to me, although he didnt spent too much time on it but it seems very serious gambling disorder to me even more than sports betting/casino betting, spacially when he is very young guy. seems it is no longer at that level, like just a lesson learned, real harm is awaiting. Yeah you could say he is no longer in it quitting is huge however such shit runs deep. i think this friend could not go through a learning curve, he really needs tools maybe therapy or support group.

If the person is a minor and suffers such shock, I also think that he needs to undergo a full therapy or rehabilitation.  The state of mental shock with a minor often times stays, and unless fixed, it will affect everything in his life.

Maybe you can reach out to him and advise him to talk to his parents about what happened, if you can convince him, then that would be great, but if he doesn't agree with the idea, you can try several times . Just make it in a friendly manner that won't make him feel uncomfortable

[₿itcoin]

But why are people still even following this streamer blindly to the extent of starting gambling with a whole $300? That amount could be a small amount for someone who is a developer, but it's still too much to start gambling with unless you are aiming for high profit.

Since he's already aware that he's addicted and has stopped visiting the casino, he should just continue that way and avoid visiting any streaming channel for the time being. If possible, avoid social media, as gambling ads just fly around without control, especially on Meta, which could easily drag him back to gambling.

In fact just keep away from streamers won't help out at all, yes it is a begin however I guess it is not enough. i think the reallity is, making hype by using influencer, & campaigning by using celebs literally could rewire anyones brain. I have seen time & time again that skin-gambling content & even celebrity-endorsed promos normalize the way of behaving of youths viewers, making them more vulnerable to run after their digital hope. You know ads hit em extremely hard & push them back into the spiral.

[Sanitough]

I know skins can be bought, I have a kid who spends on them to upgrade his online character but I honestly had no idea they could be gambled. Now it makes sense: since skins have value, they can be traded, so it’s basically gambling in disguise. Instead of money, they just use skins. Pretty clever setup.

But when it comes to addiction, there’s really no difference compared to gambling with real money.
At the end of the day, skins can be converted to cash or traded, so the same risks apply.

[len01]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

Your friend seems to be experiencing psychological distress after losing more money and feeling depressed, becoming mentally unstable. Don't worry, it's treatable. The first step is to tell his family about his problems and allow them to gently persuade him to see a psychologist. After that, I'm sure everything will be fine, as judging by your story, this is the first time your friend has experienced something like this. This will make recovery easier.

Ops can you give us more insight into what skin betting means because from the look of things, it seems that this game is very new to us and as I googled it nothing really relevant came out.

Skin betting isn't new and has been around for a long time. These skins have a certain value and can be used to bet in place of money. I recall there was a casino on this forum that offered this kind of betting, and I once bet using Dota 2 skins, but unfortunately, I forget the name of the site.


Edit : https://www.besoccer.com/new/10-best-csgo-gambling-betting-sites-1325012

[dimonstration]

I know skins can be bought, I have a kid who spends on them to upgrade his online character but I honestly had no idea they could be gambled. Now it makes sense: since skins have value, they can be traded, so it’s basically gambling in disguise. Instead of money, they just use skins. Pretty clever setup.

Skins on steam games like CS:GO/CA2 is the most popular games that skins has high value and often being use by some casino as currency to bet since there’s a market for this item.

This skin gambling was popular few years ago but now I thought this is not popular already.

But when it comes to addiction, there’s really no difference compared to gambling with real money.
At the end of the day, skins can be converted to cash or traded, so the same risks apply.

You’re right. Skin gambling addiction is worst since it’s more expensive to purchase while it’s market value always depleting due to consistent supply in game.

[Die_empty]

I think if you call it just “an experience” is kinda undersells mate. it not seems anything harmless to me, although he didnt spent too much time on it but it seems very serious gambling disorder to me even more than sports betting/casino betting, spacially when he is very young guy. seems it is no longer at that level, like just a lesson learned, real harm is awaiting. Yeah you could say he is no longer in it quitting is huge however such shit runs deep. i think this friend could not go through a learning curve, he really needs tools maybe therapy or support group.

I have suffered from addiction and know what it means to have little or no control over an activity. Some people are not strong enough to overcome this abnormal behaviour without help. I was able to break free through meditation,  reading, and watching videos on YouTube.  Your friend needs help, and you can assist him.

The first step is for him to realise that he has a problem and is willing to seek help. These days you can access almost every service on the internet.  If he is too shy to visit a local therapist, he could seek help online..

[bitbollo]

I am sorry for your friends but this become the classic issue with gambling. People must be aware that gambling is like a "show" a mistification of reality
its really hard to be able to win with just few spins in a roulette or slot machines. In the most of cases you will lose a small % of your total but always this is a loss!
If you realize this, you will just stop gambling "seeking the good shot or the jackpot". You will just play for fun or at least you are aware that there is "no luck" unfortunately.

[Alex077]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot..

Just like any other gambling addiction even this one can be overcomed. First is the acknowledge of the problem by the person, second he needs to desire the recovery with all his own determination and lastly finding a new hobby. Since he is a junior developer he has a lot to learn and pursuing bootcamps, certifications and personal development courses can be his new hobbies which will make him busy for a fairly heavy amount of time and he mostly with the involvement in such activities will probably forget about gambling and any addiction he maybe involved. If none of these works and he still continues then only rehab centers can bring him back to reality.

fear enough bro, actualy confess & wanting to get better is great  however not enough I will say. i could say firmly that skin gambling actually predicts future gambling harm a lot. imo  if he go through cognitive behavioral therapy then it will surely reduce gambling severity. also practical steps are the main key here, he could do lock devices with blockers like Gamban & use self exclusion to block access. if guilt feelings stop him it is not a rare condition, better you could call a helpline of rehab center or NCPG for confidential support if you are from usa

[Outhue]

Hi everyone wanna share one of my friend's story.. he is jr dev and suddenly became heavily involved in skin betting, he is influenced by streamers, after witnessing streamers incredible wins, my friend just wanna try a shoot.. He began by throwing $300 worth of CS:GO skins for fun however things quickly got out of hand. He started selling gear, chasing wins & losing several thousand dollars in virtual loot. He has completely stopped using gambling websites however he is too ashamed of his habit to admit to anyone that he is losing.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

As a softcore gamer that I am I do know about skin gambling and trades but I've never for once tried it out because my level of gaming addict is not on par with those trading skins or gambling it away with the hope to make more money, I only game to have good time, some are captivating while others are boring.

In the end it's all a fun way to waste some free times away, either skin gambling or not it's still a form of gambling and what happened to your pal is what happens to greedy gamblers everywhere.If those skins are precious to him like it is to some gamers in the world he wouldn't need to gamble it away.

[Charles-Tim]

First of all, he does not need to be ashamed of himself because of his addiction or the money he has wasted on skin betting, he should even be happy if he has overcome it and not wasting money on it anymore.

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

It is still the same things as normal betting. Anyone that is gambling or betting should know when they should stop, especially when they are losing. I have not done anything called skin betting before but I like how I have much more control over myself while betting or gambling.

[Jawhead999]

I don't understand with your thread.

You explain a story where your friend fallen to addiction and he has completely stop gambling, which is good since it might be his best way to cure his addiction.

Then you ask how to cure the addiction, I mean, so which one is fall to addiction? is it you? why you didn't ask your friend how to stop from skin-betting since he was the one who had this experience.

[Davidvictorson]

Have any of you managed to escape the tidal wave of skin betting? After the virtual casino spiral, how did you regain your boundaries, trust & even your attitude?

I can tell you that the wave or skin betting has not hit my region yet. Because if it had a lot of persons would have been struggling with each addiction.However, I tell you that virtual football betting addiction, is the curse for the young people living in country. It's almost like they can't stop even when they want to. I have spoken to one who was addicted to it and all they could say is that, they wish they can stop.