I feel irritated, from not gambling in 2 days, which is a terrible feeling, but good progress. Yes, only two days away from the machines is a tremendous feat for someone like me.
So as I sit here twiddling my thumbs and with time on my hands, I am pondering the experience of playing 'the games' here in Newfoundland, and the supposed changes to the 'system.' Most people will tell you, you just can't win like you used to...back in the day of the two option games and whatnot... There have also been implementation put into place by the NL Government to make the experience all the less 'appealing,' deterrents as is said. You can read the official rules, regulations, and changes here. So the machines are now slower, even more time consuming, and you're forced to watch each reel stop on its own...
After an hour a screen pops up to indicate exactly how long you've been wasting your money...not to mention the necessary clock with correct time...
An the hours of operation, this is what impresses me most. I'll be the first to agree, no one should be out gambling at nine in the morning (although shamefully I have), and you can't do it after midnight anymore...OK, understandable. Yet what I see now ion mid-afternoon are plenty of mothers out gaming away, because there's no sense to have a night out anymore in their minds, and the mornings are out, so i can only assume the kids are coming home to an empty house. Waiting for Mummy to come home to make dinner, and she will, if she's not winning that it...you just can't leave a paying machine...
Kudos on trying to limit accessibility, congrats on forcing us to cash out (we'll only recycle if we are 'winning'), and a job-well-done on attempting to change a compulsive gamblers habits. I can think of a much more effective way to force change...take them away. Like the drugs on the street you so actively pursue, or even the contraband tobacco seizures we see televised so frequently on the NTV Evening News...although tobacco itself isn't illegal, it is bad for us, right? And you don't know what you're getting off the rights, or what other avenues it can lead you down...I've made my point.
1. whatever % of the population here??? It's a bigger number than one would care to think.
Please rid us of the Video Lottery Terminal Sickness.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Saturday, October 13, 2007
"Gripped By Gambling"
This is a very interesting story, perhaps one we can all relate to...you'll need QuickTime for proper viewing...
Gripped By Gambling
Gripped By Gambling
Strategy on Problem Gambling???
Here's an article I found on Gamblor's World...interesting...
http://kching.blogsome.com/2006/12/08/nfld-vlt-tweak-curbs-use-among-gamblers/
This indeed did annoy people ( not me, I never did like the stop button ), but it certainly didn't deter the general cg population for very long...great job...
http://kching.blogsome.com/2006/12/08/nfld-vlt-tweak-curbs-use-among-gamblers/
This indeed did annoy people ( not me, I never did like the stop button ), but it certainly didn't deter the general cg population for very long...great job...
Friday, October 12, 2007
Unite!
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VLT's
VLT's - Video Lottery Terminals - also know as the demon that has clutched me, as defined by Wikipedia:
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.
A VLT is similar to a slot machine, except that it is connected to a centralized computer system that determines the outcome of each wager using a random number generator. Although the outcome of each wager is random, VLT operators are able to program in advance the total amount and number of payouts that its central computer system will allow at its connected VLTs. In this manner, VLTs can be thought of as computerized scratch-off lottery tickets.
Canada
New Brunswick was the first province to introduce VLTs. They were introduced in the early 1990s, and as of 2005 all provinces permit VLTs due to the massive revenues they generate, except British Columbia and Ontario. Ontario has recently passed legislation that could allow VLTs in the near future, however. VLTs are located in licenced establishments that are not accessible to minors.
The prevalence of VLTs in Canada has prompted criticism both domestically and abroad. Some critics contend that the massive social costs brought on by VLTs actually cause the provinces to lose a greater sum than is generated by the machines. VLTs are accepted by the majority of the Canadian population however because any harm associated with VLTs is theoretically isolated with the abuser.
The payouts offered by VLTs are invariably poor. For example, in Las Vegas most slot machines offer a theoretical payout of approximately 98 cents for every dollar they take in (98%). By contrast, Canadian VLTs pay out 74% of their intake, on average. In Saskatchewan, the VLTs pay out 93% of total cash in.
You can't beat a machine...really, how can you? The odds, well, they're stacked, and not in my favour, or yours.
I wish I lived in British Columbia, or for the time being, Ontario...
I live in Newfoundland, in my estimation, and probably as fact, one of the poorest provinces in Canada. VLT's are in every bar, on every street, some have 3, some 5, some even 10. When the money is out (Social Assistance Day, Old Age Security Day, Pension Day, as we call it here), you have to wait to get one. And people wait...I've waited... Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying only those availing of social programs are gamblers, this is false...but ask anyone in my town...they'll tell you the same thing. In a small out port community, with no industry, no jobs, and too many people with too much time on their hands, this is an easy trap to fall into. Perhaps it is indeed designed that way...but it should never be.
I'm nearing my 10Th anniversary of being an almost daily VLT player...I am 28 years old. The legal age to enter a bar in Newfoundland is 19...you do the math. I'm tired.
I'm also broke, in debt, uneducated, mentally ill.
Now I understand many will say that my gambling is my choice...and they're right, it is...or at least once upon a time it was. Indeed I did have many a problem to contend with before I started this, most not dealt with by the proper methods, most not dealt with at all. But the addition to VLT's to this area certainly paved a lovely escape route for a person like me. Sadly, there are many like me here. I know my life for certain would be much easier if the option to play was not available, but the government wouldn't allow that. They would much rather prefer to send me to a recovery institution out of province, for a total cost of $56000. I am one person, if that is the price tag for one persons recovery, they they are willing to pay, I shutter to think of what revenue they are actually extracting from these machine. For every working person, it is there hard earned money, if they are compulsive gamblers or not. Social Assistance programs are funded by 'the working man's' dollar, so it is till their money. Of course the same can be said about alcohol or drug addiction, any addiction, and the ability to control all of these substances well indeed be a difficult venture...but pulling slot machines out of local bars seems fairly easy to me. They know where each and every one of them are. They Own Them!
As for people having a choice to play or not, being able to play responsibly as they say, that ability is long lost after a short time of indulging. At least for someone like me. I'm out at the bars gaming nearly every day, mostly I see the same faces. Some do come in every once in a while, with a selected amount of money to play, as an evening out, relaxation, entertainment, and leave afterward. But too many others have lost that sense of control. Far too many. To take away the option to play from the occasional gambler wouldn't really affect them at all, would it? In my estimation, if you are craving this, or waiting for this as a 'night out', you already have a problem.
I guess since I have no partner or children to care for or consider, the only person I continually hurt is myself. No, that still is not a good thing, but there are so many people feverishly addicted to these machines, who are literally taking the food out of their children's mouths. You can place total blame on these people, for being careless and irresponsible, but if the VLT's weren't there...I guess they'd find something else to do. And if not, I think maybe they may spend a little more time at home...
A Video Lottery Terminal or VLT is a gaming machine that allows gamblers to bet on the outcome of a video game.
A VLT is similar to a slot machine, except that it is connected to a centralized computer system that determines the outcome of each wager using a random number generator. Although the outcome of each wager is random, VLT operators are able to program in advance the total amount and number of payouts that its central computer system will allow at its connected VLTs. In this manner, VLTs can be thought of as computerized scratch-off lottery tickets.
Canada
New Brunswick was the first province to introduce VLTs. They were introduced in the early 1990s, and as of 2005 all provinces permit VLTs due to the massive revenues they generate, except British Columbia and Ontario. Ontario has recently passed legislation that could allow VLTs in the near future, however. VLTs are located in licenced establishments that are not accessible to minors.
The prevalence of VLTs in Canada has prompted criticism both domestically and abroad. Some critics contend that the massive social costs brought on by VLTs actually cause the provinces to lose a greater sum than is generated by the machines. VLTs are accepted by the majority of the Canadian population however because any harm associated with VLTs is theoretically isolated with the abuser.
The payouts offered by VLTs are invariably poor. For example, in Las Vegas most slot machines offer a theoretical payout of approximately 98 cents for every dollar they take in (98%). By contrast, Canadian VLTs pay out 74% of their intake, on average. In Saskatchewan, the VLTs pay out 93% of total cash in.
You can't beat a machine...really, how can you? The odds, well, they're stacked, and not in my favour, or yours.
I wish I lived in British Columbia, or for the time being, Ontario...
I live in Newfoundland, in my estimation, and probably as fact, one of the poorest provinces in Canada. VLT's are in every bar, on every street, some have 3, some 5, some even 10. When the money is out (Social Assistance Day, Old Age Security Day, Pension Day, as we call it here), you have to wait to get one. And people wait...I've waited... Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying only those availing of social programs are gamblers, this is false...but ask anyone in my town...they'll tell you the same thing. In a small out port community, with no industry, no jobs, and too many people with too much time on their hands, this is an easy trap to fall into. Perhaps it is indeed designed that way...but it should never be.
I'm nearing my 10Th anniversary of being an almost daily VLT player...I am 28 years old. The legal age to enter a bar in Newfoundland is 19...you do the math. I'm tired.
I'm also broke, in debt, uneducated, mentally ill.
Now I understand many will say that my gambling is my choice...and they're right, it is...or at least once upon a time it was. Indeed I did have many a problem to contend with before I started this, most not dealt with by the proper methods, most not dealt with at all. But the addition to VLT's to this area certainly paved a lovely escape route for a person like me. Sadly, there are many like me here. I know my life for certain would be much easier if the option to play was not available, but the government wouldn't allow that. They would much rather prefer to send me to a recovery institution out of province, for a total cost of $56000. I am one person, if that is the price tag for one persons recovery, they they are willing to pay, I shutter to think of what revenue they are actually extracting from these machine. For every working person, it is there hard earned money, if they are compulsive gamblers or not. Social Assistance programs are funded by 'the working man's' dollar, so it is till their money. Of course the same can be said about alcohol or drug addiction, any addiction, and the ability to control all of these substances well indeed be a difficult venture...but pulling slot machines out of local bars seems fairly easy to me. They know where each and every one of them are. They Own Them!
As for people having a choice to play or not, being able to play responsibly as they say, that ability is long lost after a short time of indulging. At least for someone like me. I'm out at the bars gaming nearly every day, mostly I see the same faces. Some do come in every once in a while, with a selected amount of money to play, as an evening out, relaxation, entertainment, and leave afterward. But too many others have lost that sense of control. Far too many. To take away the option to play from the occasional gambler wouldn't really affect them at all, would it? In my estimation, if you are craving this, or waiting for this as a 'night out', you already have a problem.
I guess since I have no partner or children to care for or consider, the only person I continually hurt is myself. No, that still is not a good thing, but there are so many people feverishly addicted to these machines, who are literally taking the food out of their children's mouths. You can place total blame on these people, for being careless and irresponsible, but if the VLT's weren't there...I guess they'd find something else to do. And if not, I think maybe they may spend a little more time at home...
Problem Gambling: Defined
Problem Gambling, as defined by Wikipedia:
Problem gambling is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behavior. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria.
Problem gambling is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behavior. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria.
Welcome
Hi! I am a compulsive gambler. Am I proud of this? Of course not. Am I ashamed of this? In many ways... Am I ready for recovery? I think I am...
In an effort to enter recovery, I am writing this blog. I'm very inquisitive, in most areas of my life, I need to know the facts. By maintaining this blog I hope to uncover some truths about myself and gambling, and hopefully provide useful information for you and I both.
Please feel free to add anything you wish.
Thank You.
In an effort to enter recovery, I am writing this blog. I'm very inquisitive, in most areas of my life, I need to know the facts. By maintaining this blog I hope to uncover some truths about myself and gambling, and hopefully provide useful information for you and I both.
Please feel free to add anything you wish.
Thank You.
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