Getting Gambling Help - Blackjack Apprenticeship

Getting Gambling Help

Card counting can be used to foster wise finance-management, good work ethic, and self control to take money out of casinos. But, like almost everything, there are ways that this information can be used to cause great damage to individuals and their loved ones. With that being said, we are very cautious about how and why people are using the information at Blackjack Apprenticeship.

We have spent plenty of time and energy wrestling our own demons. And with the amount of time we’ve spent in casinos, we know all too well the dangers of gambling addiction, and there is no shame in realizing that you have a problem.

 

We encourage you to take 5 minutes to answer the 20 questions at GamblersAnonymous.org and ask yourself if you can handle casinos and card counting. Rather than copy and paste their 20 questions, I thought I’d talk about a couple and discuss the dangers of playing the game for the wrong reasons.

 

 

#5.  Did you ever gamble to get money with which to pay debts or otherwise solve financial difficulties?

 

card counting is not a sure thing. As with any investment, no one should use money they cannot afford to lose. Being in debt is a situation where the risk of getting further behind is greater than the reward of potential gain. Furthermore, card counting isn’t a short-term investment. If you understand the math, then you know that you are just as likely to lose as to win in 5 hours, 10 hours, even 50 hours. Hundreds of hours are needed to reach the long run. If you are looking for quick gains, card counting is the wrong investment choice. A job is a much more sure short-term solution.

If you find yourself unable to not heed this logic, there is a good chance you have a gambler’s mentality and perhaps a gambling addiction.

 

#7 & 8.  After losing did you feel you must return as soon as possible and win back your losses? After a win did you have a strong urge to return and win more?

 

Chasing money or “going on tilt” (either from winning or losing sessions) is a sign that you aren’t thinking like a calculated investor. Whether it’s gambling addiction or workaholism, I’ve seen both gambler and professional advantage player (i.e. card counter, hole carder, etc) let their emotions control their lives, resulting in playing far longer than they planned to in the name of chasing losses or EV.

 

#13.  Did gambling make you careless of the welfare of yourself or your family?

 

I don’t care how well you know basic strategy and deviations, how quickly you can count down a deck. If you cannot handle using the knowledge in a way that furthers your life (and the lives of your family and loved ones), then you need to have the strength to step away from card counting and casinos.

 

There is no reason to feel disappointed if you decide card counting isn’t for you. And I guarantee that if it affects your life in a negative way, you will regret pursuing it.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

— Colin