Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses ?

[AbuBhakar]

It is not only a matter of greed or poor character. Sunk cost fallacy- Gambling addicts tend to roll dice in pursuit of looting since they have already lost a substantial amount of money, surrendering would be tantamount to acknowledging that they have squandered their time, energy and finances. Previous victories bring the illusion that they can win again and as long as they have hope, they will continue to work. Passion and the want to get everything back surpass the reasoning and it is extremely difficult to stop fighting even when the statistics is firmly against them.

And that is the reason why many people lose more than they want to recover. They use everything they have, and in the end they realize that they made a very wrong decision. Sometimes there are even people who sell property just to recover from the loss, and they believe that they can still win even though it is obvious that they are just wasting money. Once you start, it becomes difficult to control, especially for those who want to recover and are consumed by emotion.

[rachael9385]

The main points are belief in winning again and a strong desire to become rich. These two traits definitely exist in gambling addicts, which is why they are unable to think of a good strategy when gambling. Instead of truly trying to beat the gambling system, they choose to become beggars to it. Honestly, with addicts like this, I even wonder whether they can recover from that kind of mindset.

People who gamble do not get rich but suffer more losses. I think addicted gamblers are not happy with the current situation. So they gamble to be very fast or very good. But it's foolish to apply strategy in gambling, because not many strategies work here. The gambler is already losing money and can't accept losing. They go astray at some point and it turns into addiction. So every gambler should not run after losing money,Be more careful with your mind set. And the thought of earning money through gambling should be abandoned. Then gamblers will be mentally strong.

Addicted gamblers would give anything not to be addicted to gambling, like you said it is not a situation that they ae happy about. sometimes they feel like they have no choice but to chase losses because it is the only way for them to get back what is already gone. There are lots of reasons why people get addicted to gambling and chasing losses is actually one of those reasons

[Yablee0]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

The answer is very simple, addicted gambler can do anything regardless the implications just to ensure he wins back his lost and that's very ridiculous because the more he strive the more lost he get. However the fact remains that when a folks is addicted to gambling he automatically becomes blind from raw facts, perhaps become far from reality and you see most of his decision become influenced by his emotions and when it has gotten to such level it's become something mouth can't explain.

Furthermore, an addicted gambler is more likely exposed to so much risk and negativity that's the more reason it's best never to be addicted at the first instance because the outcome is always unspeakable.

[tech30338]

its because of false advertisement and also thinking so much of winning, people think even though they lost a lot in gambling there will be a chance that they will be able to get it back because , of the big prize or pot when they win, but the problem is its just for a show and there is no way they will be able to win, some casino stage a win just for other addict to think that there will be a chance that they will win, so if you are thinking that you can win think again, there are lots of loses than winning.

[KiaKia]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

They lack the will to make the right decision, even outside of gambling if you keep chasing what you have lost you might keep losing even more, once something is gone it's better to learn from it and never try chasing again.

I have learned this not from my gambling activities but my true life journey, I faced difficulty financially and I tried chasing some which resulted in more losses, until I stoped chasing and focus on something else.

Learning to let go isn't a weakness.

[Leahized]

Addicted gamblers would give anything not to be addicted to gambling, like you said it is not a situation that they ae happy about. sometimes they feel like they have no choice but to chase losses because it is the only way for them to get back what is already gone. There are lots of reasons why people get addicted to gambling and chasing losses is actually one of those reasons

If a gambler realizes that he is truly fully addicted, he can often make wrong decisions. If not addicted will only lose money but most of the time it is wrong. Because we can never adapt to loss.In fact, gamblers always start gambling with high spirits. Losing a very small amount of money immediately changes the mindset and the decisions taken at that time are wrong. So one should always refrain from emotions and while gambling.

[Mehmet69]

If a gambler realizes that he is truly fully addicted, he can often make wrong decisions. If not addicted will only lose money but most of the time it is wrong. Because we can never adapt to loss.In fact, gamblers always start gambling with high spirits. Losing a very small amount of money immediately changes the mindset and the decisions taken at that time are wrong. So one should always refrain from emotions and while gambling.

But the addicted gamblers I have seen have never been emotional. Gamblers never make decisions based on emotion. Addicted gamblers are always focused on the game. Winning or losing does not make them emotional.

Addicted gamblers never worry about their losses. Rather, they think that they will recover the loss in the next bet. But because of their very small mistake, they lose again and again. Unable to control their greed for small wins, they wait for big wins. They face small losses again and again for a big win. Yet they do not get emotional while playing.

[taufik123]

-snip-
Addicted gamblers never worry about their losses. Rather, they think that they will recover the loss in the next bet. But because of their very small mistake, they lose again and again. Unable to control their greed for small wins, they wait for big wins. They face small losses again and again for a big win. Yet they do not get emotional while playing.

Not a small mistake, but Addicts make the mistake a fatal mistake that makes them suffer more losses, when they should have made a profit,
then because they are too greedy they don't take it and choose to continue gambling non-stop.

Waiting for a big win that never comes will only make other wins ignored.
Addicts are more emotionally and mentally unstable because of the big wins that never come,
the addict always thinks that they can achieve them but in the end too many defeats happen.

[Hazink]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

You refer to them as addicts, which means they are no longer thinking about the losses but are just focused on the possibility of winning. They are either being driven by the desire for what the expected winning can do for them, and they believe in themselves to have both the skill and the luck to make things happen, which should be more than the upper hand the casino have against them.

[Derekfunds]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

You refer to them as addicts, which means they are no longer thinking about the losses but are just focused on the possibility of winning. They are either being driven by the desire for what the expected winning can do for them, and they believe in themselves to have both the skill and the luck to make things happen, which should be more than the upper hand the casino have against them.

The fact that a gambler focuses on the possibility of winning doesn't mean they don't think about losses off cause everyone I mean every gamblers always think about loss but it is just unfortunate that they can not help or do something to stop or eliminate it other than to stay focuse on trying to win to recover what they have lost so far. I know for sure that anyone who is into gambling must definitely have the mindset of winning even those that claims to gamble for fun.

[virasisog]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

It might be because some of them already experience winning a huge amount, that they simple think that it could happen again if they just continue to gamble.
They believe that they could get lucky and make it big if they continue to gamble.
There are so many possibility and I think each gambler has their own reason why they continue to gamble despite Lossing.

[LOVER BOY 422]

Why do gambling addicts often believe they can “win back” losses despite statistical odds being against them? Is it because a weak mind or lack of will power that they have these doubts ?

In the game of gambling the more reason why losers always believe they can win ,is because of their efforts put in gambling,I'm a gambler so when I keep losing the chance of hitting them back is always sure in due time,so we have it at the back of our heart that losing is our tradition already,so the more we lose ,will still hope for our winning in future, gamblers never give up weather they win or loss they keep gambling,this is perseverance and consistency.

[Bitinity]

The question, is it only addict who think that there is a possibility to win back losses or you are trying to say that anyone who think that there is possibility to win back losses as addict? I think all gamblers believe that there is a chance to win back losses, it does not make all of them as addict. Thinking/believing that there is a chance to win back losses is normal in gambling and it cant be called as addicts. What is upnormal is when gamblers think like that then force themselves to keep playing without having limit. In other words, it is fine to believe that there is a chance to win back losses but we also should know that there is also bigger chance to lose more and more.

[fruktik]

Because they have spent a lot of their resources due to greed in gambling and are carried away by their emotions, they don't want to accept the fact that they are losing all they have gotten since they have decided to gamble for money and not for the fun, if they have won before, they always feel they can win again and so they keep on gambling with the hope of winning is close and keep on chasing their losses.

I'm currently experiencing this. I've been playing the same slot for several weeks now. Why do I do this? I can't shake the hope that I'll finally win a decent amount of money. I've already lost so much, and there's no result. This situation makes me feel resentful about the money I've lost. Somewhere inside, a voice tells me to keep going. So, how do I understand all this? Why is this happening? Is it faith in victory or is it an illusory pursuit?

[Fredomago]

The question, is it only addict who think that there is a possibility to win back losses or you are trying to say that anyone who think that there is possibility to win back losses as addict? I think all gamblers believe that there is a chance to win back losses, it does not make all of them as addict. Thinking/believing that there is a chance to win back losses is normal in gambling and it cant be called as addicts. What is upnormal is when gamblers think like that then force themselves to keep playing without having limit. In other words, it is fine to believe that there is a chance to win back losses but we also should know that there is also bigger chance to lose more and more.

Absolutely right, an indication of addiction is when you are pushing yourself to keep playing even you already consume what is supposed budget for your gambling activities, if you unable to prevent yourself on keep adding more money and still getting same results, that's a sign being addicted, but if you are just thinking that there's a way that you may win with the help of luck, there's a chance that you may find that good analysis or assessment that may help you to pick the right game that may give you decent chance of winning back.

[Fivestar4everMVP]

The question, is it only addict who think that there is a possibility to win back losses or you are trying to say that anyone who think that there is possibility to win back losses as addict? I think all gamblers believe that there is a chance to win back losses, it does not make all of them as addict. Thinking/believing that there is a chance to win back losses is normal in gambling and it cant be called as addicts. What is upnormal is when gamblers think like that then force themselves to keep playing without having limit. In other words, it is fine to believe that there is a chance to win back losses but we also should know that there is also bigger chance to lose more and more.

Your opinion is correct and if we are to be sincere with ourselves, there is always the chance to win back what we have lost since outcomes in gambling is always unpredictable, concluding that it's impossible to win back loses means we are indirectly saying that outcomes in gambling has become predictable.

Everyone gambling as a chance of winning and losing, those who lose and continue to gambling has a chance of winning or still losing, if they luckily win, that win can be considered as them winning back the money they had previously lost either in full or part depending on the amount of money they won.
So, believing in the possibility of winning back loses isn't something that is to addicted gamblers alone, every one gambling directly or indirectly believes they could win back money lost even though this believe comes from different angle.

[DaNNy001]

Because they are people who believe in luck or some mythological belief, they think they are going to win all the time when the real driving force behind this is greed and avarice

Believing in luck is a personal choice because everyone is entitled to their own beliefs but It is very important to apply logic when it comes to this. luck is not something that you can always get in gambling, gamblers that are mature dont always depend on luck to win but more of logic