ya meetings didnt do ainnhytg for me either the problem is family and friends mean well but gambling isnt really a disease like other addictions and most addictions arent diseases some have a chemical dependency gambling does NOT gambling is always a player WANTS to either action, money, both, escaping reality and maybe a few other reasons having someone truly explain the odds in a casino game if you are addicted to lottery or slots or table games can really open your eyes the house edge is so big you truly can not do these for a living and or expect to hit it big- if you are addicted to games that ARE beatable like Blackjack or Sports betting or Poker you just need to ask yourself is chasing a dream worth it while these games are beatable its the 1% that beats them. Now we all want to accomplish greatness but this road has a high risk and most fail. the more people you have dependent upon you should weigh heavily if your a kid with no spouse or kids dependent on you, I will give more latitude in terms of chasing your gambling dreams, but if you have people dependent on you you need to make an adult decision personal responsibility is EVERYTHING YES the choice is yours, but I would suggest that if you have a spouse or kids, you also have to consider their feelings also, gambling is a narrow road with little middle ground between Big Dreams and Heartbreak and the Falls can be great, and while maybe you can handle it, other people in your life maybe cant or don't deserve to go through it because they are not affected by gambling and the appeal isn't there for them to risk it all for the small chance of winning it all!!!! Meetings can only help but they aren't the whole solution- your right they occupy your time- they give you people that have been through the same stuff they aren't judgmental but they treat you like a child, its never your fault, your have a disease, which I dont agree with its never a bad thing to admit its ALL your fault when it is, and most gamblers its TOTALLY our fault because we risk everything and more than money for a dream and an opportunity!!!!Good luck to you

by Monique 04:23:29 AM 2012.12.09