Yes, a lot of Asians are affected by this invisible addiction too

[theking]

'I owed money to everybody': How this 'invisible addiction' is robbing Americans of their financial stability — especially the young




Noah Vineberg, a bus driver based in Ottawa, Canada, lost over $1 million to his gambling addiction.

Vineberg traces the roots of his addiction all the way back to elementary school, where he avidly traded marbles and hockey cards on the schoolyard.

“It wasn't until much later — like 16 to 18, 19 — I knew that I was gambling heavier than anybody else. And I knew that I definitely had a problem.”

It's a problem he grappled with for 48 years. But Vineberg is now in his fourth year free from gambling.

Many others are still struggling to find their way out their addiction. The National Center for Responsible Gambling points to research that indicates 1% of the U.S. population suffers from a severe gambling problem. And young adults are especially vulnerable, with an estimated 6% to 9% of young people experiencing problems related to gambling.

And while not all those problems are financial, they often come with a hefty price tag.

Gambling has long been one of Americans' favorite pastimes. And access to it has only gotten easier since 2018, when the Supreme Court overturned a decision that limited sports betting to Nevada.

Ads and apps have been popping up everywhere since, even some featuring celebrities like Aaron Paul and Shaquille O'Neal.

But those ads can have a troubling effect, says Vineberg. Because while they may show people winning, “winners” are not who the advertisers are really trying to target.

“The client they’re after is the ‘me’ that's going to go to four different check-cashing places … and going to just try and make enough on the weekend in my bets to cover my butt by Monday.”

And it's only going to get more difficult for people like Vineberg. More than two dozen states have legalized sports betting in the past few years. And according to a report by the American Gaming Association, sports betting and iGaming revenue grew by double digit percentages in the spring compared to the previous year.

[DuMa]

IT ruins lives I'm telling you.  I know of a family friend who had a mistress that he frequently taken to reno.  Lost his wife, his family, his business that they build together.  You don't see it coming at all.  The guy looks like a guy who had control over his family and his life but got caught with a mistress and gambling addiction. 

The only lives I can ruin is my own because I don't have any immediate family.  If I do, hell no, a single dime is going into the casino because I rather feed my kids.   At least I have that core principle down so I know I will be alright. 

My vietnamese janitor guy that I used to talked about on here just got evicted by his own son.  It was ok until his son got married and you know how it is, got influences by his wife.  What kind of son kicks their own parents out?  I mean sure if you kick out a guy who is loaded and can support himself but this guy is dirt poor like your boy the hmoobrock.  This is the first case I ever heard of in the viet community that a son kicked out his old father over stupid thing like gambling.  I mean the guy is retired so what else is he going to do with his life?  It is not like he's playing away other people's money and ruining their lives.  So then he got kicked out and is now forced to find part time labor job, weekend only to pay $450 a month for a shared mobile home.  I told him I wish I will never have to run into his son or I'll give it to him.  That idiot is in his late 20's so he should be easy for me to biatch at.  I'll kick his azz too if I have to.  Pisses me off. 

You want to know the worst part?  They all lived together, him and his mom and his other 2 sisters.  He got them all sided with him and even manipulated his wife to try to divorce him too.    What kind of evil is this?  With nothing left, he sided with me that he is planning to go into a monastery and become a monk.  That's his life in a wrap.  Gambling, it can ruin lives. 

[DuMa]

To make matters worse when it comes to gambling, we have youtube content creators who be pulling slots machine and filming about their big jackpot wins.  You see it, got influences by it and thinks how easy it is and when you go try it yourself, you then lose your azz off. 

The thing people do not know is that these content creators are having a deal with them casino.  They get a set amount of money for advertising for the casino.  So the casino gives them $1000 to play but any wins, the casino takes it back.  Their job is to lure other people to that casino and you know that the casino is a big big business empire industry. 

If you want to see for yourself, check out youtube influencers by the name of Lady Luck HQ  or Ng slots

These guys be pulling slots about $50 to $250 a hand.  Big bets, big wins for their audiences because that is what they like to watch and it is good for their youtube's algorithm as they are getting monetize.  They never or rarely show off their losing streaks though. 

Once again, gambling ruin lives.