How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Mods, if I am posting this in the wrong forum feel free to move/delete it. This is a serious post, and I am honestly not a troll. I know I will get made fun of and flamed but if I can help save one person from making the same mistakes that I did, than this post was worth it. Now, onto the story.

Hello, my name is Scott. I am from Houston TX. Everything was fine up until the summer of 2005. I had never been in a casino, never even played poker before. One day I was flipping through the channels and saw a poker show on TV. During the program, a commercial for an online poker site came on. I decided to check it out. After a while at the play money site, i soon switched to the real money site. I set up NETeller and was ready to play. OK, I made a $50 deposit, lost it quickly, another $50, lost it again. I only had about $200 in my checking account mind you. I then withdrew the remaining $100 and built that up to around $500! I was stoked! I got cocky and moved up to 10-20. Not only did I lose it, but I lost it fast. Well, that was it, I had no more money in my account so I was done gambling for the day, right? Wrong... Little did I know NETeller (and every other similar site) GIVES you credit! They give you money in advance to gamble with! I had $550.00 available so I took it, and I ran that up to 1K playing that blackjack game that the poker site had! Then, I lost it all playing that blackjack game... Well, I didnt play for about 4 months. I paid back NETeller (My bank wouldn't pay them) and everything was fine, until I got the gambling bug again. OK, what I did was in addition to NETeller, I set up Firepay, Central Coin, Click2pay, and about four of the other smaller ones... I built up my credit with all these companies to where I had about $750.00 in credit with them. Well, one major poker site does NOT have a limit to which you can deposit, so I made a $750.00 deposit from 8 different companies into one large poker site. I had $6,000 sitting there in front of me! Time to play 30-60 and some major blackjack! I will spare you the details, but I lost it all in about 3 hours. All of it. Now my credit it shot, my life is ruined, and I cant even open up a bank account anywhere in TX. The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do. Please PM me if you need help or are in a similar situation. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Goodbye.

Scott

*

Edit/MH: OP has been banned for making troll posts. Thread locked.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really online poker didn't ruin your life. Bad decisions played the major factor. And now you have learned. You are 6k in the hole. It may seem like a lot right now, but you'll get through it.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do. Please PM me if you need help or are in a similar situation. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Goodbye.

[/ QUOTE ]you're a dumb ass and you ruined your own life(Serious post)

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Looks like a troll post to me.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Really online poker didn't ruin your life. Bad decisions played the major factor. And now you have learned. You are 6k in the hole. It may seem like a lot right now, but you'll get through it.

[/ QUOTE ]yeah dude for real, there are guys that are millions in the red and they pick themselves up and get back on track. 6G's realy is no big deal

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

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my life is ruined

[/ QUOTE ]

Going $6000 into debt from gambling sucks but really in the grand scheme of life this should be considered a mere flesh wound. Glad you found out early that gambling is not for you.

Now pick yourself up and move on a little wiser for your negative experience.

Best of luck.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

The actual moral of the story:

-proper bankroll management
-don't gamble with money you do not have and/or absolutely can't afford to lose
-don't be stupid

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

bbv?

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do. Please PM me if you need help or are in a similar situation. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Goodbye.

[/ QUOTE ]you're a dumb ass and you ruined your own life(Serious post)

[/ QUOTE ]

People need to learn to take responsibility for their actions.... poker didn't do "anything" to you, you did it to yourself.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

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People need to learn to take responsibility for their actions.... poker didn't do "anything" to you, you did it to yourself

[/ QUOTE ]
Exactly.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

how many hrs of real poker there????
or you lost it all in blackjack.
What really ruin your life is yourself there. You are too greedy. you win up to $500 then you though it was too easy and want to win $1 mil???? that's where your life start ruin.
Greedy is your worst enemy not POKER.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Move to BBV please [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
NETeller, I set up Firepay, Central Coin, Click2pay, and about four of the other smaller ones... I built up my credit with all these companies to where I had about $750.00 in credit with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can someone tell me if these companies give credit? (I only use Neteller, and as far as I'm aware, it doesn't.)

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
NETeller, I set up Firepay, Central Coin, Click2pay, and about four of the other smaller ones... I built up my credit with all these companies to where I had about $750.00 in credit with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can someone tell me if these companies give credit? (I only use Neteller, and as far as I'm aware, it doesn't.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh EVERYONE on this forum will vouch for me, they give you credit...

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

I'll be ~40k in the whole when I graduate college, so dont feel bad. But I can still open a bank account and do have very good credit.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
NETeller, I set up Firepay, Central Coin, Click2pay, and about four of the other smaller ones... I built up my credit with all these companies to where I had about $750.00 in credit with them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can someone tell me if these companies give credit? (I only use Neteller, and as far as I'm aware, it doesn't.)

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh EVERYONE on this forum will vouch for me, they give you credit...

[/ QUOTE ]

If you're calling 'bouncing a check' giving credit, then yes. Otherwise no.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Scott,

Thanks for your honest post. Don't pay attention to the negative comments.

It sounds like you have compulsive gambling tendecies. I would suggest visiting Gamblers Anonymous. You may find a supportive environment there. Also bear in mind that losing 6K is really not that much money (although it may feel that way). I would suggest making payments to all these companies (even small ones, $5 or $10 every paycheck) so that your credit isn't ruined. Remember, they just want their money back. It will also be good for you to pay it back. An extra job and you will find this debt paid off sooner than later.

Make a pact with yourself to not gamble until this debt is repaid (at the very least).

Block access to credit with all these companies, including your credit cards.

Keep in mind that many many people have lost FAR MORE than you have lost. I lost 200K in one night at the Baccarat tables in Las Vegas. I felt absolutely horrible. Then I heard the story of a woman who lost 1 million gambling. Suddenly I felt less alone.

Get yourself into GA. Put this into perspective. Learn from this. Pay back the debt. Move forward.

All the best to you, Scott.

canada_dry

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

You are accountable for your own actions. You are 100% responsible for your own stupid decisions in this case. NOT online poker. So please change the title of your post to "I ruined my life being a [censored]."

This has got to be a troll post.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

"I know I will get made fun of and flamed but if I can help save one person from making the same mistakes that I did, than this post was worth it."

You were right. Hope you get this issue sorted out. GL.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

It seems to me that you were going to do something stupid, online gambling was just your chosen method.

If you are this careless and reckless, you were going to find some way to screw up your life.

Please don't blame online gambling, which when treated responsibly, brings fun and entertainment to a lot of us who can handle ourselves appropriately.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

The moral of the story is online blackjack is rigged.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Yes, a person is responsible for their own actions, HOWEVER, gambling, which poker is part of, can lead, for certain people, to a severe uncontrollable addiction. While I do support any type of gambling, on line or not, one must recognize the true potential of disaster for some when they get involved with gambling. To not recognize the fact that gambling, whatever the form, including the stock market, can lead to unstoppable compulsive behavior with disastrous consequences for some, is equivalent to living with a hood over ones face.

The potential for addiction , whether it is from gambling, alcohol or drugs, is real for many people. That does not mean that all potentially compulisive behaviors should be banned. It just means that one cannot deny the fact that certain behaviors, which for most, can be kept under control, leads to destructive compulsive behavior for others.

I am sorry for you that you got burned by the gambling bug. And i hope you will have it under control and stay away from it forever. If you are fearful that you will not be able to control it yourself, then i suggest that you call all of the online sites and nettellers of the world and tell them to delete your accounts and not let you ever sign up again, and if there are casinos nearby where you live, then go to them and tell mthem that they should never let you play there and should imemdiate stop you should you try to gamble there. I think as a result of the huge losses you suffered, you realize that you can not keep it under control. I hope you don't get burned again o anytone else, for that matter.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Totally wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be ~40k in the whole when I graduate college, so dont feel bad. But I can still open a bank account and do have very good credit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like you got ripped off.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Wrong. THe moral of the story is that if you finally recognize in yourself that gambling causes you to totally lose control, then one must totally stop that behavior forever and never gamble again and realize that forever you will be wrestling with the temptation.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

I think you are unclear about what true compulsive behavior is and how certain people are unable to control these impulses, no matter how much they want to. A compulsive and addictive type personality is a medically recognized psychiatric disorder.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think your story would be better titled "How credit abuse ruined my life". While there are undeniably some factors of poker/house games that can make credit abuse more tempting, this story doesn't seem too different from stories of people addicted to shopping on credit, buying investments on margin, etc. These are all some of the worst things you can do if you don't manage your credit properly. Putting the blame entirely on poker or gambling just seems a bit inaccurate... but don't take some of the other comments too hard, you can't just blame yourself either. Check out GA and get some help and things will turn out fine, you don't seem ruined.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll be ~40k in the whole when I graduate college, so dont feel bad. But I can still open a bank account and do have very good credit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like you got ripped off.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why is college bolded? I don't think he was talking about a collage.

OP, sucks that you had to learn this expensive lesson.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'll be ~40k in the whole when I graduate college, so dont feel bad. But I can still open a bank account and do have very good credit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like you got ripped off.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah; they havent teached me a hole lots yet

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Thank you for all the support (from the supporters) and I expected the hate post... Anyway, I have decided on filing chapter 7. In all im in debt $23,000 from other things (the gambling is 6 of the 23) and I just dont have the money to pay off this debt. Im only 22 years old so I will be fine in 7 years. Thanks again for all the support.

Scott

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

OP, don't file chapter 7 from 23K in debt. That's super weak. Get a job and start paying it off. 7 years is a long time too. Hope you don't plan on getting a car, getting married or buying a house in this time. Chapter 7 isn't the get out of jail free card it used to be. Trust me, it ain't worth it for 23K.

I'm sorry you had to learn this expensive lesson, but if there is one thing I hate, it is a man that doesn't own up to his responsibilities. You dug yourself into this debt, now man up, get a job and start paying it off. Don't just weasle out of it so the rest of us can pay it off for you (higher credit card APR, fee, etc.)

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Run up more debt before filing.

Maybe deposit to a different site and try to win it back. If you do, then dont file.

This is the obvious solution.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Please stay in Texas, and try not to breed.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Run up more debt before filing.

Maybe deposit to a different site and try to win it back. If you do, then dont file.

This is the obvious solution.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just got this PM. No joke.

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I hate to say it bud but you've got a damn good idea lol. I do have a couple of CC's with cash advances on them. I could get about 3K and see what happens. If I lose, I will file chapter 7, but I will try to run it up to 23K first. What do you think? Please keep this between us, thanks bud.

[/ QUOTE ]

Edit: Low life scum

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

First off, not cool to post a PM without his permission.

second off, WOW!

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The moral of the story is, dont gamble (yes poker is gambling) on credit. It is the worst thing you can do. Please PM me if you need help or are in a similar situation. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Goodbye.

[/ QUOTE ]you're a dumb ass and you ruined your own life(Serious post)

[/ QUOTE ]

Must point out that you made some extremely stupidbad choices. Also worth pointing out that you could have easily wracked up a trainload of debt through credit card companies. Some Americans are in debt for lots more than you because of their bad choices that had nothing to do with gambling.

Your problem may run much deepeer than gambling. It seems as though you a identified a symptom through gambling. At least it's a start for you.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

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Please stay in Texas, and try not to breed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your mom should have done the same.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Moral of the story:

If you lack self-accountability and self-responsibility, life is hard

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Not cool to post PM's man.

Re: How online poker ruined my life. (Serious post)
 

Don't play blackjack!