We All Start 'Just for Entertainment',,, But When Does It Become a Problem?

[angrybirdy]

For me personally, a hobby begins with free time and ends when the desire to pursue it begins to consume, for example, work time. Let me explain my point. Each of you has time that you are forced to spend earning money. This time is critically important to you, as it provides you with the means necessary for existence (or even survival in our world). If you significantly reduce this time, you will begin to have problems. Sooner or later, this will lead to financial problems, then to financial ruin and the inevitable humiliation of an existence. These are very unpleasant things, and you will immediately understand where the line lies between a dignified life in which a hobby is present and a humiliating life in which a hobby has become an addiction.

I get where you're coming from and I think, hobby is supposed to enrich your life, not compete with the responsibilities that make that life possible. I think the challenge here is recognizing when something you enjoy starts taking priority over the things that keep you stable. At the same time, I don't think the line is the same for everyone.  Some people put a lot of time into their hobby because they're trying to build or gain something out of it and not because they're addicted...For me, it's all about balancing the things, If it's adding to your life instead of creating problems, then it's probably still just a hobby.

[Orpichukwu]

Most gamblers aren't gambling because it's fun or entertaining, they are gambling to make some money, those who are gambling for entertainment purposes only are extremely careful, they use money for ticket like advent only, they have no desire to win big money and it's never expected until it becomes a reality and so they welcome the wins, but if it never comes they have no reasons to make it come alive, for them it's not necessarily that they must win.

Well i don't think those who are gambling for entertainment alone are the ones who are careful with money and their time. Anyone can be careful enough; let me take myself as an example. I can still say I'm gambling responsibly because I don't allow myself to gamble to that stage where it will start affecting me financially or restrict me from doing other things which I should be doing, but my purpose for gambling is not for entertainment alone. I still want to win and make all efforts which could increase my winning chances. At the same time, I don't chase losses or the winnings too much; I know my limit and how to call it a day when it wants to escalate to a state where it will affect me.

The day a gambler starts to chase either his loss or chasing money is the day they drift off the path of responsible gambling, their target will change, their aims will add up and running after money will be the only option they have left, even though they are making money elsewhere they would rather start funding their gambling with the money to bring their unrealistic dreams alive.

Chasing of losses is just a result of lack of control, and when it comes to the mindset which the gambler started gambling with, some are not prepared from the beginning to accept losses, while some lose chasing as a result of putting in much more than they can let go of, and they always believe they have a better chance of recovering what was lost if they keep on trying, while in reality the more they try, the bigger the loss will get.

[DabsPoorVersion]

Many people call gambling just a hobby. We say, "I just play for fun", "Nothing more than entertainment." Tbh, most people probably start like this.

But question is, "It's just a hobby",,, until when?

When is it no longer a hobby?

• When you go beyond your budget?
• When you no longer feel excitement when you don't bet on a match or game?
• When you start hiding your losses from family or friend?
• Or when you keep looking for an excuse to make ''another bet'' to recover money you lost?

My question is not ''Am I addicted?''

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

The thing is, a person will never see and understand immediately once we crossed the line. Gambling as a hobby and as an addiction is not always clear to that specific person. It is more like a behavioral changes to appear over time. This often happens when gambling is no longer an optional activity or some kind of entertainment. Something you can avoid doing even for a long time. But if that person becomes uncomfortable when not gambling, that is when the situation becomes serious.

[jcojci]

I don't treat gambling as a hobby but only as a way to have fun in my free time. I don't just use the money to gamble although I allocate some monthly and I don't need to make an excuse to avoid gambling.

The consequences of gambling are losing money and I can accept that and only spend money that I can afford. I never go beyond my budget and if the amount almost reaches my allocated money, I will stop immediately before the bad thing happens.

[Pandu Geddon]

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

We, as gamblers, should understand and be aware of those limits. So when we start getting close to them, we should have an alarm to stop us from going further. 
It starts from gambling more often, exceeding the usual budget, to hiding our activities from anyone. 
A lot of people don’t realize that they’re already addicted to gambling. Just try to stop yourself from gambling for a while. Can you resist, or does your common sense lose to the addiction?

[Agbe]

Many people call gambling just a hobby. We say, "I just play for fun", "Nothing more than entertainment." Tbh, most people probably start like this.

  It is not every gambler started with the mindset of fun but the join to make profit from the.game and that is why we have heard of students and others who used their final money to gamble to double their deposit and if unfortunately they lost everything. From my personal experience, a friend of mine first joined gambling to make profit and not because to have fun but in the process we all see the fun while participating in the casinos.

[len01]

Would you believe that there are gamblers who genuinely see gambling as nothing more than a hobby, allowing them to stop and come back whenever they want without becoming addicted?

Someone who treats gambling as a hobby doesn't think about it beyond simply wanting to have fun. They don't let it interfere with other aspects of their life, and they only gamble when they can afford to. So, even if they gamble every day, they never cross the line between a hobby and an addiction.

[Princess Leah]

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

As fun or entertainment, it can be managed for instance when people see gambling as a form of entertainment, they do it within their budget and spend limited time doing it, you can say you gamble for fun and you've spend almost all day gambling, it makes no sense since such amount of time shouldn't be spent on entertainment alone.

 However, a hobby is something someone loves doing at some point can be managed too but relating with gambling i don't think people should take it as a hobby cause they'll easily cross the line, then lose control and that's when mismanagement of funds, greed and so on comes in.

[qwertyup23]

When you go beyond your budget

Well, this fact alone cannot establish that one's purpose has converted into as a means for profit. If someone went beyond their budget, it could be that he enjoyed the game too much. This fact alone, personally, cannot be said that one's purpose has changed.

When you no longer feel excitement when you don't bet on a match or game?

Now this is a good indicator in which we can reasonably deduce that one's purpose has changed. However, if you find the game not as appealing or satisfied, then the obvious choice would be to quit and stop. However if despite these objections and the player still continued to play, then we can at least infer that he's now playing for profit.

When you start hiding your losses from family or friend?

Like on the first answer, this fact alone cannot establish that one's purpose has changed from entertainment to profit. It is very much possible for you to hide your losses to your friends because you just play for entertainment.

Or when you keep looking for an excuse to make ''another bet'' to recover money you lost?

Hmmm, this fact alone can be considered as a 50/50 but if you combine it with other indicators mentioned above, it may or may not establish such purpose. The strongest indicator would be just playing just for the sake of it; or if you continue playing despite feeling bad or nothing about the game.

[Tetu100]

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

I will be giving you a straight answers here. The main reason most of us cross certain lines we shouldn't have crossed is mainly because with don't want to let things slide. We intend chasing every single lost without thinking on the consequence that is involve. However,  no doubt, not everyone that started gambling had the initial intention of making money from it. Some just choose it as a way of catching fun when been depressed, while some see it as a way of testing their gambling skills and and so on. But things later change when the initial mindset switch into something else, it could be greed or lost chasing, it could be misinformation by friends about gamble or whatever. But where things becomes more complicated or problematic is when you think that gamble can solve all your entire problem.

[Awaklara]

Would you believe that there are gamblers who genuinely see gambling as nothing more than a hobby, allowing them to stop and come back whenever they want without becoming addicted?

Maybe some people are like that, but I used to think gambling was just a pastime for fun too. But I once got addicted to gambling without even realizing it. At first, I only used a portion of my salary to gamble. But after gambling for a while, I eventually started using my savings to gamble. I just want to say that in gambling, everything can turn out differently. We can plan gambling as a hobby or another kind of fun. But before you realize it, at some point, you might regret gambling more than you intended.

[HelliumZ]

Would you believe that there are gamblers who genuinely see gambling as nothing more than a hobby, allowing them to stop and come back whenever they want without becoming addicted?

If I answer your question, I will say that I have seen many gamblers who initially took gambling as a hobby but eventually that hobby turned into an addiction and caused serious disasters. In my real life, I saw a school teacher who initially took gambling as a means of passing the time of loneliness. Because he had only money in his life but no happiness. The reason was that he did not have any children but his wife divorced him and because of this he was so mentally broken that at one point he kept gambling as his life partner. Although initially it went well, he could not get himself out of his gambling addiction in later life due to which he spent his later life in severe addiction and misery. Because when his job ended, his gambling addiction did not end. As a result, even though he did not have money, he fell into a very difficult disaster in his later life due to his addiction.

[Kelward]

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

I will be giving you a straight answers here. The main reason most of us cross certain lines we shouldn't have crossed is mainly because with don't want to let things slide. We intend chasing every single lost without thinking on the consequence that is involve. However,  no doubt, not everyone that started gambling had the initial intention of making money from it. Some just choose it as a way of catching fun when been depressed, while some see it as a way of testing their gambling skills and and so on. But things later change when the initial mindset switch into something else, it could be greed or lost chasing, it could be misinformation by friends about gamble or whatever. But where things becomes more complicated or problematic is when you think that gamble can solve all your entire problem.

It is very possible to derail from responsible gambling to entertain oneself to gambling irresponsibly for various reasons which gradually starts without the gambler's intentions. Irresponsible gambling can start because of various reasons like the ones that you elaborated, the moment a fun gambler begins to go beyond mere entertainment while gambling that is a red flag for begining of out of control gambling. If you see wins as your right because you have given a lot into gambling you will get into trouble because you control nothing as far as gambling outcomes is concerned, the most you can do is chase loses which leads to addiction. If you must derail from gambling for fun you should atleast continue to use amount that you can easily give away.

[$crypto$]

I believe most gamblers who got into problems with gambling is when they does not even realize that they had became addicted to gambling especially when they are always trying to ask for loans from people around them whenever they ran out of gambling funds. Gamblers would need to realize that once they are always thinking about gambling for most of their time in their mind, it meant that gambling is no longer an entertainment for them but instead it will become an activity that might destroy their life due to their addiction on gambling.

My assumption is, when someone borrows money for gambling, he agrees that he has been addicted, not just entertainment or hobbies but wants to win again because he is addicted to the game.

People say --- a person who can set aside a little cold money to gamble then it's good can still manage his, a matter of more than that is no longer just a hobby.
For me it remains the budget that can see, whether this is for pleasure or want to get rich.

[Somto9Light]

Would you believe that there are gamblers who genuinely see gambling as nothing more than a hobby, allowing them to stop and come back whenever they want without becoming addicted?

Maybe some people are like that, but I used to think gambling was just a pastime for fun too. But I once got addicted to gambling without even realizing it. At first, I only used a portion of my salary to gamble. But after gambling for a while, I eventually started using my savings to gamble. I just want to say that in gambling, everything can turn out differently. We can plan gambling as a hobby or another kind of fun. But before you realize it, at some point, you might regret gambling more than you intended.

Most times what causes this shift is often a gambler’s misplaced priorities, possibly starts when they starts winning consistently and maybe using that money to solve some real life problems. If such gambler doesn’t maintain their stance, they can easily start placing more priorities on gambling since of course it has actually proven to be helpful in some ways. Then you’ll feel like if you put more attention there, perhaps you’ll be able to just generate some money there to help your overall finances.

[Nothingtodo]

Many people call gambling just a hobby. We say, "I just play for fun", "Nothing more than entertainment." Tbh, most people probably start like this.

But question is, "It's just a hobby",,, until when?

When is it no longer a hobby?

• When you go beyond your budget?
• When you no longer feel excitement when you don't bet on a match or game?
• When you start hiding your losses from family or friend?
• Or when you keep looking for an excuse to make ''another bet'' to recover money you lost?

My question is not ''Am I addicted?''

My question is, do we understand at what point we cross the line between hobby and addiction?

Many people can say that, but if you have the opportunity to interview most people, you will understand whether gambling is actually entertainment or sadness.
If you ask those who gamble and lose everything, you will get a clear answer that gambling was actually a trap for them. Maybe they gambled for temporary pleasure, but after losing everything, they now realize how serious a trap gambling was.
Gambling will be enjoyable for you as long as it gives you mental peace. But when it keeps you in a state of mental turmoil, gambling will no longer be fun for you.
In my case, I would say that I did not see it as a trap from the beginning. However my family repeatedly pressured me to get myself out of this gambling. However I try to control myself as much as I can and I succeed. However I never try to recover past losses after losing.

[Swordsoffreedom]

Would you believe that there are gamblers who genuinely see gambling as nothing more than a hobby, allowing them to stop and come back whenever they want without becoming addicted?
Someone who treats gambling as a hobby doesn't think about it beyond simply wanting to have fun. They don't let it interfere with other aspects of their life, and they only gamble when they can afford to. So, even if they gamble every day, they never cross the line between a hobby and an addiction.

I agree with most of what you said. But I disagree with this part. You are right that a person can really enjoy gambling as hobby, if he set budget in advance. He may be able to accept loss and not worry about it all day when game is over.

But gambling every day increases the risk in itself, because it can gradually become a habit.

You can't check it by seeing how he plays every day.
Rather, if he can be completely normal even after not playing for a week or a month then only you will understand whether it is really his hobby or if he has unknowingly developed dependency  

Nowadays online casino, sports betting app, bonus, VIP reward all are designed in such way that people come back again and again.

And I don't know if you know that a small number of problem gamblers generate a large part of casino's income.

[Yablee0]

Most times what causes this shift is often a gambler’s misplaced priorities, possibly starts when they starts winning consistently and maybe using that money to solve some real life problems. If such gambler doesn’t maintain their stance, they can easily start placing more priorities on gambling since of course it has actually proven to be helpful in some ways. Then you’ll feel like if you put more attention there, perhaps you’ll be able to just generate some money there to help your overall finances.

This can easily changed the mindset from just for entertainment into a real time business, forgetting that we have no idea or control over winnings.  No doubt, gamble can be very lucrative and friendly to all but it depend on your approach towards it. If you are always gambling with a little amount you can easily give away, then you will barely see gamble as a problem but if you are the type that think you can play smart on the system (or you're thinking winning is your right) then that is the genesis of your problem in gamble.

[SFR10]

When is it no longer a hobby?

Apart from the third one, I agree with the rest on your list... I've never shared my losses ^{[or wins]} with a family member or a friend, but I still consider it a hobby.
^{- As a casual sports bettor, I lose most of my bets (like the majority of users), but I don't chase my losses and I do know when I have to stop (I rarely spend half of the money that I've set aside for gambling purposes).}

[r_victory]

It starts to become a problem when your priority is gambling, when you can't do anything else but gamble, when you can no longer work with focus because you're gambling at work, you can't have a moment of rest with your family because, instead of being present with them, you're thinking about the bet later. In addition to what has already been widely mentioned, such as spending more than you should, incurring debt through gambling, etc.