He will spend 48 strait hours on the computer playing poker only getting up to use the restroom or grab a snack or something. They live 7 hours away, so we don't see them very often, and last time we went to visit them, his dad blew us off all weekend long to play poker. His dad recently got sick and had to have surgery, then had some major complications from the surgery that very nearly killed him, making the last memory my fiance would have had of his dad one of being blown off. I would think that nearly dieing would get his attention, but I think hes worse. He has no desire to quit, doesn't think its a problem. All this really bugs my fiance, but he doesn't know what to do about it, he says it makes his dad happy, but I think that sometimes people cut themselves to be happy, that doesnt make it a good thing! His Dad has actually made a lot of money off it, he literally won over $20,000 in one night, so he has no financial reason to quit. Anyone have any advice?
2006-12-13 06:44:39 · 9 answers · asked by ASH 6 in Games & Recreation ➔ Gambling
The fact that he wins is the reason that he is hooked. They have a toll free number for gambling addiction. 1-800-gambler, they might be able to give you some information that may help. Most gamblers don't see the damage they cause and will not realize until they have made the ultimate gamble and lost everything: their home, their car, even their family. Personally I hate gambling, no amount of money is worth losing everything. The risk of losing it all is not worth going for having everything.
2006-12-13 06:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gambling is an addiction and most people don't realize it. You didn't say if your future in law is retired. It could be that he is bored. Try to arrange a special evening well in advance for a special occasion, try to divert his attention from the computer.Your fiancee` should be honest with his dad and CALMLY explain his feelings about the non quality time he is now receiving, Maybe if dad is into other sporting events surprise the two of them with tickets to such event.
The key is to find out the reason he is so infatuated with the on line poker and start from that point.
2006-12-13 14:55:58 · answer #2 · answered by gacohio@sbcglobal.net 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he's not losing money, it's not a problem-- at least to him. Trying to "fix" him will only alienate him more. Sounds like the thing you and your fiance really have a problem with is where he is placing his priorities, not the fact that he's gambling. Your fiance might try having a non-judgmental conversation with him, where he expresses his real concern-- sadness that he doesn't get to spend more time with his dad. Maybe you and your fiance could take the first step-- share his interests by having a poker night with him!
2006-12-13 14:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by webguru1311 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
playing poker isnt necessarily gambling. as long as u play at a level u can afford, even if u loose it will b ok. i play at fairly low stakes, $1/$2 limit, less than $100 no limit, n usually $10 sng tourneys. i win overall. not a lot but im up in all 3. if i found myself loosing, id just play at a lower level. they have em all the way down to 2 cents limit n $2 no limit. hard to loose much there, so id think.
but the truth is, i actually hate to gamble. i just love to play poker, n u cant get people to play right unless its for money (n sometimes even then they dont n u have to leave the table).
now its true he has a problem, but i bet its not a "gambling" addiction (no pun intended), its probably a "poker" addiction. and as webguru1311 said, he has a problem w his priorities. only thing i can say to that is try to get him to c some kind of counselor. n hey, at least hes winning, n there r a lot of worst addictions a person could have.
2006-12-13 19:32:25 · answer #4 · answered by john 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Confront him and talk to him and tell him how you feel about him blowing you guys off. Warn him that if he doesnt stop soon he may never bea able too.
2006-12-13 14:48:09 · answer #5 · answered by Matt!!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get him to play on BetZip instead
its free and you can win a few bucks sometimes anyway
"if ya find something you like to do when you are old, you better do it." a wise old chess player told me that 20 years ago
he liked to gamble his money on horse, wasn't leaving any to his kids
2006-12-13 14:49:04 · answer #6 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's not your problem at this point. When he starts asking for money don't give it to him. Nothing else you or fiance can do.
2006-12-13 14:47:11 · answer #7 · answered by Pam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he has a gambling addiction. try to get him to gamblers anonymous. good luck with that.
2006-12-13 14:47:32 · answer #8 · answered by SKYDOGSLIM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take away all of his internet access
2006-12-13 14:47:13 · answer #9 · answered by crazypinkswtheart 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋