Why Many Gamblers Keep Returning After Saying “I’m Done”

[Mahiyammahi]

I don't know what catagory I fall in , Cause it's not boredom nor gambling is easy but these two resemble very close of what I do in gambling. I've taken the oath that ain't gonna gamble anymore , well I was able to control my desire to not gamble at some extent. But whenever I feel that lets do some gambling I just have done it , and stopped for next couple weeks.

Saying I'm done is just an overstatement due to the emotion and feeling while gambling at that time. But trust ourselves that we'll always come back to gamble.

It's not about quitting when we say I'm done, we're done at that time when we're frustrated due to losses.
So, we're done to betting at that time but we know ourselves better and we gamble again and again.

It's true that we most often time stopped gambling due to losses. But whenever we are in Healthy position with our funds we always comes back to gambling. I think it's not about fund but about realization that gambling is causing some serious issue on our life.

[Royal Cap]

But I don't think it's always the memories of winning or the desire to recover losses that bring people back, sometimes people come back just because they think they won't make the same mistakes again. In reality the same people come back several times and make the same mistakes again.  Another thing is that boredom is true for many but not for everyone. If I lose badly, I usually stay away from gambling for a while and do something else. Most of the time I play offline driving games on my phone, I think it's relatively easy for people who find a hobby or entertainment other than gambling to not come back.

[Slow death]

In most cases where people promise to stop gambling for a while and then go back after a few days, it has to do with addiction. Dependence on gambling prevents the person from living normally in the real world; they start to see time dragging, and they can't concentrate on everything they do in the real world. So eventually they go back to gambling, promising that they're only gambling that day and that they won't do it again. The saddest part of all this is that sometimes the person has family and friends who love them, has a job, has many options for entertainment, but still only sees gambling.

[Judith87403]

In most cases where people promise to stop gambling for a while and then go back after a few days, it has to do with addiction. Dependence on gambling prevents the person from living normally in the real world; they start to see time dragging, and they can't concentrate on everything they do in the real world. So eventually they go back to gambling, promising that they're only gambling that day and that they won't do it again. The saddest part of all this is that sometimes the person has family and friends who love them, has a job, has many options for entertainment, but still only sees gambling.

What you’ve just described is nothing more than a behavioral addiction. A situation whereby a person really wants to stop something, probably due to the fact that it’s causing them some obvious harm, but the habit keeps coming back and every effort appears to be fruitless, because that activity (gambling in this case) has suddenly become their source of excitement, even though there are several other activities that could actually excite them, it still turn out to be like the only thing that gives them relief and interest is that activity.

[YellowSwap]

Many gamblers quit gambling at first out of frustration, they have lost money that they aren't ready to lose and this makes them to become mad, it's all out of frustration.

So when they say that they are quitting it's not like they really mean it most of the times, unless the decision was made out of been cold about gambling.

Even if they decide to quit as a gambler it's not a forever decision, they can still come back later in the future.

[nara1892]

Everything you said is true, OP, especially point number one. I truly feel it and just discovered this fact, and I think point number one is what makes gambling successful and has grown to be as big as it is today.
In gambling, the result of winning provides an incredible dopamine rush to the brain, which is very pleasurable and exhilarating, while the dopamine is absent in losing. On the other hand, the brain usually works more easily to remember something pleasant than something painful, and indeed, this is the reason why gamblers keep coming back.

[salad daging]

No other reasons than greed. The person is greedy and gambling sites teach him lessons that will not make him continue to be greedy. Anyone that does not look for money by all means in gambling will not be affected.

Once a gambler is greedy, everything will fall apart, from wanting to recover losses, wanting to win big, wanting to play longer, continuous deposits, no boredom because of losing continuously because emotions continue to increase if you often lose and it's all because of greed.

For me, looking for profits in gambling will end up crazy, the illusions and expectations that he wants will not be achieved, he will go bankrupt because of his hallucinations, it is not impossible to win but winning consistently is difficult, the chances are small.

[Achalugo BTC]

It's true that we most often time stopped gambling due to losses. But whenever we are in Healthy position with our funds we always comes back to gambling. I think it's not about fund but about realization that gambling is causing some serious issue on our life.

Absolutely, when one is winning, they forget that they ever lose in gambling, and this is why they are to remain responsible in their gambling way, so that even if they returned back to gambling, they won't have any problem with their emotions, as they understand how the game is and keep their emotions in check, will really help them to stay focused in treating gambling as a game of entertainment because there is how it is designed to be.

[Maslate]

Everything you have said are on point. I guess gambling is really designed to keep gamblers coming back, not just to chase their losses and try their luck, but most likely gambling experience itself creates more dopamine rush that makes every gambler feel the excitement and feel coming back no matter how heavy their losses are.

And for others, they keep returning because there's one thing in their mind that they haven't done yet, that is to prove to theirselves that they are smarter than the casino and they can beat the house edge, until they find theirselves deeply attached to it and develop gambling addiction without them knowing.  

[L E G E N D A R Y]

Everything you said is true, OP, especially point number one. I truly feel it and just discovered this fact, and I think point number one is what makes gambling successful and has grown to be as big as it is today.
In gambling, the result of winning provides an incredible dopamine rush to the brain, which is very pleasurable and exhilarating, while the dopamine is absent in losing. On the other hand, the brain usually works more easily to remember something pleasant than something painful, and indeed, this is the reason why gamblers keep coming back.

That is it, the way brains do works at times is really amazing, but its important for gamblers to be at alert, as their brains might mislead them due to how their emotions or their minds react to a particular situation. That is why they always grew more urge to gamble more, even when they know their plans its not certain, they just want to give it a try and this moment makes them to feel more frustrated and worried to make sure they got what they want in gambling.

[Fortify]

Almost every gambler has said  “I’m Done” but they usually come back and sometimes it takes them few days, weeks or months to come back.
For many people quitting gambling is harder than expected.
This now raises an interesting question Why do so many gamblers come back even after deciding to stop?
Below are the reasons that I spotted out or noticed as someone who is also a gambler for so many years now.

It is incredibly hard to quit after you've formed a habit in anything, but as a gambler be grateful that you've not also got a chemical addiction like drug addicts or alcoholics. Many people feel trapped because like anything taken to excess, they start to do things that cut them off from the world - staying in all day (sometimes due to no money), not seeing friends or family as much and thinking about this one activity far too much. The fact that you sink so much money into it is often the most painful and hardest part to give up. Everyone who quit has accepted that fact and that they'll never see the money again, whether you've lost a hundred dollars or five hundred thousand - just let it go so you can start rebuilding.

[Oshio-man]

Some can say that they are done with gambling because they have concluded in their mind that they are not going to recover their lost, but after receive some orientation from some progressive gamblers, it will make them to return back to gambling again but it will not going to be public, I don't think I will make such statement no matter what is going to happen in gambling because I have made up my mind never to use funds that will not make me comfortable when gambling, there are some gamblers that will pronounce such words after winning or losing some dollars in gambling but they are not going to make it work because they know how gambling work and it will be difficult to stop gambling after they have won or lost in gambling, for you to use such word I'm done is not good than to use am taking break from gambling for now,and it will make you to be bold to come back to gambling.

[Finestream]

Because let's be honest, more than getting the entertainment that the gamblers paid, gamblers do not just bet for nothing but to gamble for profits and make more money as much as possible. So if they have been losing for most of it, rest assured it would also be hard for them to leave gambling that way.

So instead of seeing them quitting and leave gambling for good, yet here they are still chasing their luck and never give up that one day, they will hit the big win and cover up all their previous losses and eventually make the most of their desired profits.

To gamble is to lose, but if you are smart and wise enough, you could make gambling as the best avenue to make you rich and make the most of your fortune.

[Nwada001]

The "I'm done saying" sounds like a temporary break being taken from gambling; each time we are experiencing a long loss streak, immediately we get over those losses and have balanced up our finances, and we can make a move to return to gambling again, as long as there is a chance of winning in gambling and we are not addicted. There is always a chance to get back to the game; the decision made is as a result of the losing anger.

[Dogedegen]

I like how you broke down the reasons, but I have some objections here. I would put the two biggest reasons as:

1. Addiction, which is a bit similar to boredom and habits but you have not clarified it enough there. If you have a habit of gambling, that is an addiction even if it is a mild addiction. Keep that in mind, because it is not something that you should build a habit to. Leave habits for things that are useful for you.
2. They didn't mean it, so it would be like some sort of rage quit. Many people are not so in control of their lives, so they can't just stop whatever they may want to stop or what they should stop. So it could be that for some reason they were upset and said that. It could be related to losses, or some things that may not even be directly from gambling. You could say it was a sort of heat of the moment reaction, and then they soon forget their words and get back into it.

Everything else can be seen as factors that make this easier. Crypto casinos make it easier to maintain the addiction, well actually online casinos were a very negative development when it comes to addiction because it makes it impossible to prevent someone from gambling. Depending on where people live, many people would have to go far away to gamble or they would be limited to a few places. It is possible to get yourself banned there by choice or due to misbehavior and then you can't do anything, but with so many online casinos you can't do that. Desire to recover losses also relates to addiction, as a gambler who is informed and disciplined would never think something absurd like that when you know it is not possible. It only happens to very lucky people so it is not realistic.

[Floxynice]

If anyone says he is done with gambling, then he should make sure he stays far away from anything related to gambling. He should avoid conversations about gambling, and he should avoid places where physical casinos or gambling activities exist. If he is into online casinos, he should delete gambling apps from his phone and ask to self-exclude himself. If he does not make any of these efforts, then just give him a few days, he will most likely return to gambling.

The outburst about quitting may just be an act of frustration after suffering a loss. When we see someone who truly wants to quit, we can tell by the efforts they make.

[TokenTikas]

This now raises an interesting question Why do so many gamblers come back even after deciding to stop?

Gambling attracts a gambler in a way that is naturally beyond imagination, that is why even if a gambler wants to come out of that casino, he starts gambling again after a few days. I thought about giving up the game many times but after a few days, started again. I don't understand how and from where I start gambling again. Making a decision is also difficult and not being able to accept that decision is even harder.

[Russlenat]

You are right in everything you have said there. However, just to add mine, I think financial desperation could also be the biggest reason why gamblers keep returning after deciding to leave gambling.

With their debts piled up due to gambling, some have already assumed that the best way to resolve their financial crisis is to become non-stop from gambling. For them, that's the only possible way that they can quickly regain what they have lost, that's probably one of the reasons why gamblers keep returning after so much losses and countless frustrations they feel when they are deeply at loss.

[Junii]

Yes what u are saying is right we discuss this here many times few things i will added from my side is that gambling creates hope as they say the world runs on hope a person will think may be the next one will hit even if we think deeply gambling is all about emotions and the emotion that comes after winning is of different level . Also for example if someone took a break from gambling and came after a break  the losses sart fade from the persons memory but the excitement of winning a person couldnt forget . Also the point about recovering losses is another trap if a person thinks that way like he has to recover the loss he/she  losses more and in todays world crypto gambling make it more worse because there is no barrier of time it is available 24/7 only deposit and internet is required u can gamble from home as well . So if this is that easy a person will get into trap easily . Moral of the story many peoples dont came into gambling for profits they are chasing the feelings and excitement seems like its a whole game of psychology if we think deeply.

[Sanitough]

Gamblers can hardly afford leaving gambling for good, especially if they have been losing a lot, that's why its never surprising for most of the gamblers still returning because they don't see theirselves losing until the end.

They enter gambling because that's where instant profits are fast realized, so they have to prove it that losers never quit, until they start building their satisfaction out from gambling. They have this false belief that a big win is just around the corner, so if they won't chase for it, then they will never experience that winning privilege when gambling.