Gambling is ruining my life but it's because I keep winning

[Deleted member 1659]

Legitimately not trying to brag so I won't say how much I'm up.

Every year I start gambling on a small amount on regular season games in various North American sports - hockey, basketball, and football only. I never bet playoffs ever except in the NBA. I selectively bet in combat sports and tennis as well. I'll also bet money in international hockey tournaments. The amounts per bet are small, $50 at most to start and I slowly ramp it up or down as my bankroll grows or shrink. Once the NBA playoffs ends I'm done betting for the year for the most part and I wait until the NFL season restarts and start from square one.

Usually at the end of a given year I end up slightly above or below break even. Losses are never catastrophic, winnings are never life-changing - amounts to a nice PC upgrade at best. 2020 and 2021 however I had my best year ever and my bankrolled swelled. I kept winning my biggest bets.

The issue was I wasn't able to enjoy the money. First I had to pay off some bills that my parents incurred on their home. Then I plowed most of the rest into retirement and tax sheltered investing accounts. I continue to do this as the stream of income comes in from month to month.

The remaining was put into riskier investments in the stock market, cryptocurrencies, sport card collectibles and upgrades on day to day luxuries.

So with the NBA playoffs coming to an end soon, what has become a major stream of income for 2021 will be ending. The problem I have is twofold.

The first is that I won't have what has become a major source of monthly income for the next four to five months. This isn't that bad, I don't really care about money but it was nice to have an extra source of income coming in for the entire year.

The second is that I get very little joy out of things not related to gambling during the lockdown and I don't know what to do for the next few months for fun. City is still on lockdown, I can't enjoy modern games due to the worldwide chip shortage. In the past I'd be able to enjoy the summer stress free but paradoxically I now want to seek it out due to my incredible gambling run over the last 12 months.

 

[LProtagonist]

I know at face value it doesn't sound like it's a big issue in your life, but when you mention that you feel like it's the only thing that's giving you joy, well, that doesn't sound healthy. Might not be a bad idea to see someone professional about this before it turns into a full blown addiction and causes issues because in the long run... it's not designed for you to win.

 

[Eggiem]

I think you may have a gambling addiction

I want to go all in on crypto

That is I want to throw all my liquid assets into ethereum and stake it. The interest will sustain me. My job will provide me with normal cash which I'll keep a small amount to pay bills for. The rest I wanna throw into ethereum. Tell me why I this is a dumb plan. Edit: Sorry about the...

www.resetera.com

That was on May 5

 

[Wrexis]

I get very little joy out of things not related to gambling during the lockdown

Click to shrink...

You have a problem.

EDIT: More info based on post history:

Do you Gamble?

I actually do gamble. My stats for 2020-21 if anyone is curious: $19110 wagered on the NBA, winnings: $3837, 74 bets. $24744 wagered on the NFL, winnings: $11895, 45 bets $9753 gambled on NHL, winnings, $21, 88 bets. $100 gambled on MMA, winnings $260, 1 bet $20978 wagered on American...

www.resetera.com

I actually do gamble. My stats for 2020-21 if anyone is curious:

$19110 wagered on the NBA, winnings: $3837, 74 bets.

$24744 wagered on the NFL, winnings: $11895, 45 bets

Click to shrink...

$9753 gambled on NHL, winnings, $21, 88 bets.

$100 gambled on MMA, winnings $260, 1 bet

$20978 wagered on American politics, winnings, $17986, 3 bets.

Total: $74,685 wagered, winnings $34,000, 211 bets.

Click to shrink...

 

[Nakenorm]

Yeah this doesn't sound too healthy OP.

 

[WinniethePimp]

Having been around a few people in my life that were addicted to gambling...i can relate to how you feel and would also recommend you seek help in some capacity because some of what you say are among classic telltales signs of someone with at least a slight gambling addiction.

 

[LProtagonist]

I think you may have a gambling addiction

I want to go all in on crypto

That is I want to throw all my liquid assets into ethereum and stake it. The interest will sustain me. My job will provide me with normal cash which I'll keep a small amount to pay bills for. The rest I wanna throw into ethereum. Tell me why I this is a dumb plan. Edit: Sorry about the...

www.resetera.com

Click to shrink...

Okay yeah I'll double down on my previous statement, it sounds like you're developing a problem surrounding gambling/risky investments.

 

[Deleted member 8752]

I know at face value it doesn't sound like it's a big issue in your life, but when you mention that you feel like it's the only thing that's giving you joy, well, that doesn't sound healthy. Might not be a bad idea to see someone professional about this before it turns into a full blown addiction and causes issues because in the long run... it's not designed for you to win.

Click to shrink...

Co-signed. Just because you're winning doesn't mean it's not an addiction.

 

[Forkball]

Watch the hammer scene in Casino and tell me you want to keep gambling.

 

[greepoman]

I want to warn you that all this gambling income is taxable and you are supposed to report all this gambling income at tax time. This means possibly a large tax surprise at tax time. You will owe capital gains on any crypto you sell too. Make sure you set aside money to pay the taxes.

Technically you might be able to get away with not paying if the places you're gambling don't report the income but remember that banks are required to report certain transactions so that might increase your chance of audit as well.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

I think you may have a gambling addiction

I want to go all in on crypto

That is I want to throw all my liquid assets into ethereum and stake it. The interest will sustain me. My job will provide me with normal cash which I'll keep a small amount to pay bills for. The rest I wanna throw into ethereum. Tell me why I this is a dumb plan. Edit: Sorry about the...

www.resetera.com

That was on May 5

Click to shrink...

Wow.

 

[seroun]

That's exactly how it gets you.

You don't feel like you are addicted because you are getting something out (our you have, up until this point). But as you speak about, you feel the scratch and you "get very little joy in things that aren't related to gambling". Please talk about this with a professional before it gets worse.

 

[Deleted member 1659]

I think you may have a gambling addiction

I want to go all in on crypto

That is I want to throw all my liquid assets into ethereum and stake it. The interest will sustain me. My job will provide me with normal cash which I'll keep a small amount to pay bills for. The rest I wanna throw into ethereum. Tell me why I this is a dumb plan. Edit: Sorry about the...

www.resetera.com

That was on May 5

Click to shrink...

Okay yeah I'll double down on my previous statement, it sounds like you're developing a problem surrounding gambling/risky investments.

Click to shrink...

I might have been unclear.

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Watch the hammer scene in Casino and tell me you want to keep gambling.

Click to shrink...

That dude was caught cheating tho. Also modern day casinos and betting sites aren't connected to the mafia.

 

[TaterTots]

I too was pulling in pretty good money during the 2020-2021 season, but I started finding myself getting more stressed as time went on so I just stopped. It sounds to me like you already have a problem since its the only thing that brings you joy right now. Might wanna take a step back before you get deeper into the hole.

 

[Soda]

I might have been unclear.

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Click to shrink...

You were perfectly clear: the only joy you find right now is from gambling. You're an addict.

 

[Wrexis]

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Click to shrink...

You were perfectly clear: the only joy you find right now is from gambling. You're an addict.

Click to shrink...

Requoted for emphasis.

I actually don't see a point in this thread. You don't want to stop, what do you want us to discuss then?

 

[Deleted member 1659]

You were perfectly clear: the only joy you find right now is from gambling. You're an addict.

Click to shrink...

You gotta read it in the context of the post. I can't find any joy in doing anything else because my city is currently still on lockdown. We can't eat, watch movies, go to the gym, gather around in outdoor parks and have BBQs with our friends. You can't even go to a hardware store to buy a microwave because it's not considered essential.

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

 

[LProtagonist]

I might have been unclear.

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Click to shrink...

I'm not going to play armchair psychologist or anything, but many people talk about how successful they are at gambling until... they're not, and then they finally realize it's a problem. I would seriously consider talking to a professional and seeing what they have to say. You can't blame everything on "well we've got lockdowns so there's nothing else to do".

 

[Deleted member 1659]

I too was pulling in pretty good money during the 2020-2021 season, but I started finding myself getting more stressed as time went on so I just stopped. It sounds to me like you already have a problem since its the only thing that brings you joy right now. Might wanna take a step back before you get deeper into the hole.

Click to shrink...

Might be differing personalities but prior to the pandemic I enjoyed submission wrestling a lot. I was doing it 5-6 days a week in the summer. Incredibly stressful. I have found that without stress in my life, I get incredibly bored and unmotivated. Gambling is right now the only thing I can do that induces stress. Since gambling season is coming to an end in a few weeks (NBA playoffs), I gotta go without stress for at least two months.

 

[Soda]

You gotta read it in the context of the post. I can't find any joy in doing anything else because my city is currently still on lockdown. We can't eat, watch movies, go to the gym, gather around in outdoor parks and have BBQs with our friends. You can't even go to a hardware store to buy a microwave because it's not considered essential.

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

My advice is to explain these feelings to a doctor or addiction counselor (maybe via telemedicine) and get their opinion. I'm not qualified by any means to diagnose addiction, but if you're disagreeing with all of us, go ask a professional. If they say it's not an addiction, carry on. If they say it is an addiction, seek professional help before it gets out of hand. I'm saying this genuinely because it sounds bad to me even in the context of being in lockdown, and I personally know people that have ruined their lives (at least for a while) due to gambling addictions.

 

[Lange]

You should stop, nothing prevents you from having bad luck eventually.

Don't go down this road, there are other users warning you.

 

[shaneo632]

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

I...am like the exact opposite of this mindset. I struggle to understand this.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

You gotta read it in the context of the post. I can't find any joy in doing anything else because my city is currently still on lockdown. We can't eat, watch movies, go to the gym, gather around in outdoor parks and have BBQs with our friends. You can't even go to a hardware store to buy a microwave because it's not considered essential.

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

Where do you live where the lockdown is this severe? Aren't most major cities on their way out of pandemic conditions (except India?)

 

[tokkun]

I might have been unclear.

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Click to shrink...

You also said you don't care about the money. So what does it matter if you are "too successful" or not?

From the outside, it seems like the straightforward answer is that it's the well-documented dopamine release associated with gambling. Neurotransmitters - especially dopamine - are associated with a lot of addictions. If you are really into the stress aspect, you may have an issue with cortisol as well. The prudent thing to do is to take the summer off to let your brain chemistry normalize. The fact that you are having difficulty taking a couple months off ought to tell you that it's getting out of whack.

 

[Fatoy]

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

You might not be a gambling addict (it sounds like you are at the moment, though), but you're an adrenaline junkie who needs a healthier perspective.

I know people like you. I've been people like you. Always need to be going somewhere, doing something, booking something, buying something, making something. Never able to sit still. When's the last time you read a book? Listened to music without simultaneously doing something else? When's the last time you properly clocked off work?

What makes you feel alive today - that constant pressure - is going to kill you early if you let it. The crypto and the gambling sound like just a symptom of something deeper.

 

[Ploppee]

You gotta read it in the context of the post. I can't find any joy in doing anything else because my city is currently still on lockdown. We can't eat, watch movies, go to the gym, gather around in outdoor parks and have BBQs with our friends. You can't even go to a hardware store to buy a microwave because it's not considered essential.

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

Might be worth trying to learn a new skill or something? Just because it's not a physical addiction doesn't mean it can't be damaging. Try looking at it rephrased as 'alcohol is the only thing that bring me joy' you would say that person has an addiction.

Try and find something to challenge yourself, learning a musical instrument, art, coding, writing? Something that will give you that reward feeling too. I'm not saying you'll need to quit completely but try and spread out the things that give you satisfaction.

 

[Deleted member 1659]

You should stop, nothing prevents you from having bad luck eventually.

Don't go down this road, there are other users warning you.

Click to shrink...

Stopping won't be an issue. NBA playoffs end in like a month. The issue is finding something else to do.

You also said you don't care about the money. So what does it matter if you are "too successful" or not?

Click to shrink...

Winning.

 

[HazySaiyan]

Honestly sounds like a gambling addiction, I think so far you're lucky that overall you're up. If you can I'd try and seek some professional help before it gets worse.

All the best OP

 

[rjinaz]

Picked up a guy doing lyft one time. I was driving him to a casino. He talked about how his whole life had become gambling. How he would constantly get into fights with his wife over it. He said he usually wins though and that he has literally made millions doing it so his wife usually forgives him. But then he would talk about not having kids and living in a small apartment. I think they both knew there was a problem and they didn't want to make themselves financially vulnerable. They were both living to support his habit.

So I don't know. I think even if you are winning mostly it can lead to problems. Eventually your luck runs out.

And despite him apparently having millions, enough for him to brag about it, he didn't even give me a tip. Full of shit or an asshole but either way probably not a good person did gambling make.

 

[Alucrid]

you're not winning that much if you can't pay the scalping prices on new gaming hardware

 

[Ouroboros]

Buy a home gym with your winnings since your city is still in lockdown.

 

[Culex]

Just because you may be net positive doesn't mean you don't have a problem.

Ive also known people who clearly were losing all the time but would conveniently leave out that part of the equation, and only focus on the wins.

It's how insidious a gambling habit can be.

"but maybe this time!"

 

[N64Controller]

OP are you Michael Jordan

 

[joedick]

What you're describing about the pandemic is something millions of people have gone through. And yet your entire post was about gambling and how you won't know what you're going to do without it. I'm far from an expert, but I'm siding with the other armchair psychologists in the thread.

 

[Transistor]

I might have been unclear.

I don't want to stop gambling because I'm TOO successful and there's nothing else to do right now due to lockdowns.

Click to shrink...

You're always successful until you're not.

Quitting while you're ahead is your best option.

 

[rjinaz]

Just because you may be net positive doesn't mean you don't have a problem.

Ive also known people who clearly were losing all the time but would conveniently leave out that part of the equation, and only focus on the wins.

It's how insidious a gambling habit can be.

"but maybe this time!"

Click to shrink...

Oh yeah this is quite common. For example I have a family member that still brags about the 5k they won in the lottery.

The thing is they spend hundreds of dollars monthly on the lottery and have for years.

There is absolutely no way he is net positive even with that win and yet in his mind it showed it was all worth it and he doesn't have a problem.

 

[Kill3r7]

Gambling for a living is risky but certainly a viable and lucrative profession, as long as you have boundaries and control. I have two acquaintances who do it for a living. Although they primarily play card games.

 

[skullmuffins]

you're not winning that much if you can't pay the scalping prices on new gaming hardware

Click to shrink...

 

[Shelbyville Milhouse]

Yeah OP, you have a gambling problem.

 

[apocat]

I never particularly enjoyed watching movies or playing video games. I need something stress inducing in my life.

Click to shrink...

I'm going to echo the sentiment already repeated throughout this thread. This is an addiction. You're riding on the high that you get from adrenaline and dopamine.

 

[Chairmanchuck (另一个我)]

OP: "Gambling is ruining my life."
People posting in this thread: "Seems you have a problem."
OP: "Well actually there is nothing at all to do at home besides gambling. Doesnt seem to be a problem."

 

[Arkeband]

This is textbook gambling addiction.

All incredible runs eventually end, you don't want the opposite problem where you're broke or in insane debt, and then feel obligated to gamble to get yourself out of the hole.

Get yourself professional help NOW and force yourself to get out while you're ahead. It might seem reactionary but it's not.

 

[Soda]

OP: "Gambling is ruining my life."
People posting in this thread: "Seems you have a problem."
OP: "Well actually there is nothing at all to do at home besides gambling. Doesnt seem to be a problem."

Click to shrink...

It's the thread OP posted a month ago about wanting to put 100% of their liquid assets into crypto that really tipped it over for me.

 

[Zombine]

Didnt you end up winning big during the election as well? I remember that back in November. I don't know what to say other than like it's been said in here earlier, "you're a big winner until you're not." I'd say if you can allocate "fun money" and use that for your habit that's okay, but if you begin to ride on your winnings you are destined to crash eventually and might need assistance.

I see no problem if you enjoy it, allocate appropriate spending towards it, then if you win to pull out a percentage to save or spend on life things.

 

[GamerJM]

Topic title made me think of this

 

[brjuntinaar]

Op, it doesn't look like logic is getting through to you so not sure if you will hear this, but you saying other things don't give you joy is a textbook sign of an addiction. People get addicted to things because they like them. The problem is that there are downsides to the behaviors, and the addict likes them so much they can't stop. The post you made about risking it all in cryptos is going to become a prophecy — you will risk it all and lose it all at some point —unless you get some help. Google gambling addicts anonymous or something like that and try sitting in a Zoom meeting, see if the other people in the room are speaking your language.

 

[Kyuuji]

You felt the need to make a thread on it, refer to it as ruining your life and speak to not being able to enjoy things unrelated to gambling. That's an issue. It's better you look to resolve it now while you're ahead, rather than waiting for the lows to come crashing down making the issue unavoidable.

 

[bytesized]

Consider yourself lucky that you can stop now without having destroyed your life and stop

 

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I say this half-jokingly but if you want stress and something to do to take the time away without gambling RL money then start doing nuzlocke Pokémon runs

 

[Cyanity]

Might be differing personalities but prior to the pandemic I enjoyed submission wrestling a lot. I was doing it 5-6 days a week in the summer. Incredibly stressful. I have found that without stress in my life, I get incredibly bored and unmotivated. Gambling is right now the only thing I can do that induces stress. Since gambling season is coming to an end in a few weeks (NBA playoffs), I gotta go without stress for at least two months.

Click to shrink...

if you're looking for stress, may I recommend PoliERA? Either that or start doing outdoor extreme sports.