Surprising predictions part 4

 Going broke playing games: Tips to avoid gambling away your life savings

Gambling in all forms has long been considered an enjoyable pastime, but some people let the thrill of victory go to their heads and gamble away the money they should be using to buy groceries or pay off their student loans. Unfortunately, once you start down that road, it can be hard to get back on track. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you start betting away your cash or your credit line. If you think that gambling could become a problem for you, read on for ways to keep your budget in check so that you can avoid going broke playing games.

Gambling online is more accessible than ever

Gambling has always existed, with the earliest evidence of dice being found in Ancient Egypt. However, it's never been so easy to gamble as it is today. With a smartphone and an internet connection you can be betting on anything from horse races to slot machines at any time of day or night. But just because it's easy doesn't mean that it can't be dangerous for those who don't know how to gamble responsibly. Here are five ways you can make gambling safer for yourself, and help prevent going broke by playing games. 1) Understand what you're getting into. As we mentioned earlier, all kinds of gambling have been around since ancient times. That means there's plenty of research out there about what sort of strategies work best. Make sure to read up on them before making any decisions! 2) Take baby steps - For example, try not to bet more than 1% or 2% of your bankroll when you're first starting out - this might seem like an impossible amount but believe us; once you get addicted it'll seem like nothing! 3) Put limits on how much money you spend - It sounds simple enough but many people tend to lose track once they start playing so don't leave this step out! 4) Set aside some fun money for gambling - Many gamblers end up spending every penny they have and go deep into debt without realizing it. Setting aside a certain amount of cash specifically for gambling will let you keep tabs on your budget better. 5) Keep track of your finances - One major problem among gamblers is that their spending quickly spirals out of control without them realizing it, which leads to debt problems down the line. A way to curb this effect is to periodically (say every month or two) look over your financial records (bank statements, credit card bills). You may notice something unusual happening which can then be addressed right away before things get too bad! Try these tips to make gambling safer for yourself and help ensure that you won't go broke playing games. Finally, remember that luck only lasts so long. In other words, if you want to keep winning while gambling online, you need to find another source of income. Gambling itself isn't a sustainable business model and eventually the odds catch up with even the best player- some say within 200 hours of continuous playtime! Be smart about your game play, put in the time necessary to make smart choices and stay afloat financially. Good luck! 1) Understand what you're getting into. As we mentioned earlier, all kinds of gambling have been around since ancient times. That means there's plenty of research out there about what sort of strategies work best. Make sure to read up on them before making any decisions! 2) Take baby steps - For example, try not to bet more than 1% or 2% of your bankroll when you're first starting out - this might seem like an impossible amount but believe us; once you get addicted it'll seem like nothing! 3) Put limits on how much money you spend - It sounds simple enough but many people tend to lose track once they start playing so don't leave this step out! 4) Set aside some fun money for gambling - Many gamblers end up spending every penny they have and go deep into debt without realizing it. Setting aside a certain amount of cash specifically for gambling will let you keep tabs on your budget better. 5) Keep track of your finances - One major problem among gamblers is that their spending quickly spirals out of control without them realizing it, which leads to debt problems down the line. 6) A way to curb this effect is to periodically (say every month or two) look over your financial records (bank statements, credit card bills). You may notice something unusual happening which can then be addressed right away before things get too bad!

Start by setting a limit on how much you will spend

It can be difficult to set a limit on how much you will spend at the casino or in any other place where you are betting money. When you bet, it's easy to lose track of what you're spending and before long, all of your money is gone. To avoid this, set a limit before going into a game. Once you hit that limit, stop playing and take the rest of the night off. You'll want to make sure you go home with more than what you came with so don't gamble anything more than your initial amount. You should also know that casinos have different rules for cash out requests so find out the rules beforehand. If possible, have someone else drive you home after a night of gambling so as not to tempt yourself by having access to your own car. If not, remember not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs because doing so could result in criminal charges and serious injury. Alcohol slows reaction time and heightens emotions; driving when intoxicated is never a good idea. 

In addition, if you plan to stay out late drinking or partying, drink plenty of water before getting behind the wheel. Driving while hungover may lead to an accident due to slow reflexes caused by fatigue. And finally, keep an eye on your children while they play video games: Too many people gamble their lives away without realizing their losses until they are struggling financially. Some common causes of loss include addiction, poor decision-making skills, lack of self-control, genetic predisposition towards addiction, family history of addiction and depression. Parents need to pay close attention to the habits of their children so they can identify signs early on if one is developing a problem. Parents should also talk openly with their kids about gambling so they won't feel ashamed or scared if something goes wrong later down the road. For instance, if they start coming home drunk or high from school every day, parents might want to ask them why. They might not tell them right away but eventually their guard will drop and the truth will come out. Even though it's hard sometimes, parents should remain positive and supportive through all stages of recovery. Most importantly though, parents must monitor what games their children are playing so they aren't tempted by titles like FIFA Mobile which offers casino-like features such as virtual coins to buy packs of cards from the store which could easily entice a child into gambling his allowance or even worse. In fact, some video games now offer players loot boxes, random prizes that players can purchase using real-life money. Other recent titles like Star Wars Battlefront II and Counter Strike: Global Offensive both offer opportunities to purchase loot boxes in order to receive special items. Kids who enjoy these sorts of games are often drawn into buying loot boxes in order to improve their chances of winning. These types of purchases often range from $1-$2 per box. Parents should be aware that these purchases add up quickly, especially if kids do this regularly.

Do not chase losses

This might sound counter-intuitive, but the best thing you can do when you've lost a lot of money is not to chase that loss. You will only end up losing more money. Instead, focus on regaining some of that lost capital by taking a break from gaming and coming back with a different strategy. If you're still feeling down in the dumps or are having trouble coping with the problem, talk to someone about it before it gets out of hand. ~~~ The people around you are probably not going to understand what's going on in your head, so don't get too wrapped up into discussions with them. It's just one game; if you lose this one then there will be another game later on where you'll be able to recoup the losses. Don't go all in: One way that many gamblers fall into a pattern of going broke is by being over-aggressive with their bets. Just because you have an incredible hand doesn't mean it's time to put everything on the line; there could always be other cards coming out next round which will spell disaster for you. Even if you think that all of your opponents must already know that they have been beaten and are giving off hints such as folding earlier than usual, stop yourself from putting too much at risk for one round. The goal is to walk away after this session with more money than when you first started, not less! Avoid betting against players who seem unbeatable: When you see a player who seems unstoppable and like he never loses, steer clear of him. Chances are he knows something about the game that you don't. Additionally, some casinos offer very good odds for certain hands if it appears that the dealer has drawn an undesirable card; these hands may seem impossible to beat but should actually be pretty profitable if used properly. Focus on long term goals instead of short term gratification: At the beginning of any gambling session, it's tempting to buy chips and gamble big right away. Don't do it; set some limits for yourself, even if they're low ones. Use those small bets as an opportunity to practice while also trying new strategies or winning streaks. Gambling is often seen as something fun or glamorous, but all it takes is one bad night and your world could turn upside down forever. Remember that you have plenty of options available to entertain yourself, so it's worth making sure that you take care of your finances before throwing them all away on a fleeting game.

Set boundaries with family and friends who encourage you to keep spending

It is important that you set clear boundaries with family and friends who encourage you to keep spending, even when you don't have the money. It may be difficult, but if they are more excited about your wins than they are about the progress you are making, it's time to start setting boundaries with them. You could tell them that while you appreciate their encouragement, they can't offer any financial advice until they have read a book on personal finance. Or if someone offers to buy you something with their own money because of a winning streak, ask them not to do so anymore and explain why. If necessary, change phone numbers or social media passwords so people can't keep in contact with you as easily. In some cases, it might make sense to cut out the person entirely if they're always encouraging you to spend without concern for your welfare. And sometimes, these friends know what they're doing—they're betting against you. They see how much you've spent already, and want to make sure you go bankrupt before everyone else does. Don't give these people any power over your decisions. Limit your exposure to them by blocking calls, unfollowing on social media, or changing email addresses if you need to. Remember that this will hurt at first, but there will come a point where these friendships have faded and now your bank account won't be drained at such an alarming rate.

Recognize the signs you are getting into trouble.

It's possible that some of the following signs may apply to you, but it's important to take time and really evaluate if they are. 

-You're using money that you don't have for things that you can't afford 

-You're spending more time thinking about how much fun you're having than how much money you're losing 

-Your friends or family are telling you that what you're doing is dangerous, but you don't listen. -Your ability to control yourself seems to be slipping away. For example, you might gamble longer each day or find yourself trying risky things in order to win bigger payoffs.

-There are times when you think about how much easier your life would be without all this debt and other responsibilities—it feels like it would be easier not to worry anymore. If any of these sound familiar, call 1-888-STOP NOW! Remember, there is no shame in admitting that you need help. You are not a failure because of your addiction; only an addict can make themselves fail by refusing to get help. The important thing is being able to recognize a problem before it becomes unmanageable. The first step towards recovery from any addiction starts with honesty and self-awareness so start taking inventory on yourself today! Make a list of your favorite games, how often you play them, and whether or not you spend money while playing. Keeping track will allow you to identify the most dangerous aspects of your gaming habits. Once you've identified those areas where you tend to lose control over money, keep these details in mind when planning future gaming sessions. Allow yourself to enjoy games responsibly by setting limits on time played and stakes played at. Put off buying new games until you've completed ones already in progress and know you won't miss out on something great just because it didn't catch your eye right away.

Go cold turkey.

This is not a solution but it's an important first step in order to stay on track. Don't start with one of the following steps. You need to do the hardest thing first. You need to stop right now and think about what it would feel like if you were successful at quitting for good and never gambled again. Imagine what life would be like without any cravings, any urges, any regrets, or anything else that might keep you from success. How would you feel? Happy? Relaxed? Free? All of these things are possible by just deciding that today will be the day you start taking back control of your life. It doesn't matter how many times you've tried before or how much money has been lost because none of those moments can exist anymore. Today is a new opportunity to make a fresh start and begin again - free from addiction. What will it take to get there? There are four main steps you should take to beat the odds and become a winner instead of a loser: 

Maintain strong willpower 

Stay away from triggers 

Learn coping mechanisms 

Be honest with yourself and others

Try out rehab treatments like Gamblers Anonymous.

This is a form of counseling that can help gamblers stay sober by connecting them with others who are struggling, teaching them skills for coping with urges and cravings, and exploring underlying issues that may have contributed to the addiction. This type of therapy also emphasizes building self-esteem and learning how to enjoy things in life without needing something else (like a game) as a crutch. The best way to avoid this problem is by simply not betting or wagering money on any kind of game. Even if you aren’t addicted, it can still be hard for anyone to resist the temptation posed by various casino games like poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, etc. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement, but don't forget to think about what will happen if you lose all your money - because there's always a chance that might happen. In fact, according to one study of those living near Atlantic City casinos (pdf), half the people surveyed said they've gone broke after losing too much money at gaming establishments. To avoid being part of these statistics, some researchers recommend taking breaks during play sessions or trying out treatments such as Gamblers Anonymous.: It's an organization where members can share their struggles with others while working on breaking old habits and behaviors in order to find healthier ways of coping with addiction. These services might even cover things like food and shelter in order to get addicts back on their feet again. Gamblers Anonymous. has helped many people break free from the grip of addiction so they could start living normal lives again; it just takes commitment and willpower from those involved to make changes, which is why so many return clients come back for more support even after years of sobriety. If you know someone who spends too much time gambling, reach out to him or her today and encourage him or her to seek professional help. We all want our loved ones to live happy lives without running the risk of ending up bankrupt due to a pastime we love. That's why I'm pleading with gamers everywhere to exercise caution when gambling for stakes. Remember, every time you win big and walk away grinning triumphantly, remember the other players who lost everything that day because of your luck. For example, the stories of parents forgetting their children at home or going into bankruptcy because of excessive use: Those are the most extreme cases I've heard but they're real possibilities when people allow themselves to become consumed by a single activity until they literally go broke. Not only does gambling cause mental health problems, a lack of financial security, and the burden of supporting a family on a limited income, but the addiction itself can put your very life in jeopardy. 

I'll never understand why people would willingly engage in a behavior that could end with disastrous consequences. One former addict told me that he would go days without eating anything or sleeping because he was just too focused on winning his next high. 

Gamblers Anonymous. is full of testimonies by reformed men and women who have given their lives to Jesus Christ and found forgiveness for their sins through faith in Him alone. There's no shame in admitting that you need help to stop this destructive behavior; rather than feeling guilty or embarrassed, try reaching out to Gamblers Anonymous.