Adrenaline Rush

Yesterday, I gave another first time away. And that is, it was the first time I gamble on soccer. Yes, I place some bets before hand but the results of those bet will not come until the end of Euro 2008. Yesterday the bet that I placed was for matches on that day. Anyway, I did not place a lot on it. Only put in the smallest bet allowed to have some fun in it. It was money I could afford to lose.

But this few dollars bought be great lessons which are quite worth it. First thing is I am quite surprised that betting can cause so much stir and excitement that other people would also like to join in. Because one colleague of mine who never follows soccer saw us (three of us including me) placed bets on soccer, so the excitement rub off on her and she also placed a bet as well.

Lesson no 1: So gambling can really be contagious because of the excitement.

This morning when I wake up, my mind and emotion is eagerly, enthusiastically, 'passionately' wanted to find out what is the result of the match that I betted on. It makes me very excited and want to find out the result as fast as possible. This feeling of excitement wanting to know the results can really be addictive and I believe this is one of the feeling that gambling addicts are looking for.

Lesson no 2: Gambling is addictive because of the excitement when the result is in the process of coming out.

I can go onto lesson no. 3 but it is not something that I experience but it is something that I thought of. If a person actually did won some money out of it, it whets the person appetite to bet bigger and more because there is a direct correlation between the excitement that you get and the amount you betted, and when you actually did win something, the winnings become the cherry that on top of the nice ice cream cone that you have. It makes your experience even better and more addictive. And with that you will be in the trap and difficult to come out of it.

Please please, refrain from betting money that you cannot afford. In fact, as much as possible try not to gamble. We have seen what damages addictive gambling can do to a happy family. And if you do gamble and won some money, please think of the less fortunate and donate some of your earnings to charity. If you did not win anything, congratulations, you are at the moment safe from the trap or not too deep in the trap and still can come out.

Cheers!