Thanksgiving Tips For Impulsive Gamblers

Around this time of year most people are doing lots of spending. There is much planning to be made in regards to trips.

Family might be flying in from different states. For some, it may take a lot to really bring everyone together.

There are also many grocery store trips that will be made. Thanksgiving dinner is a tradition for most people. This is the season where people get together with their loved ones to carve a turkey, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Thanksgiving is a holiday where we should set out focus on the things in which we are most appreciative of. Whether it may be our jobs, the roof over our heads, the family we have or even the good health we are in. Thanksgiving is a holiday where many people all across the world show thankfulness and kindness.

Unfortunately thanksgiving is also a time where some big companies, such as casinos use the holidays to take advantage of those who struggle with gambling addictions.

Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season where people begin to splurge so most casinos use this as a way to entice and target people to come spend their money with them for  incentives.

Although the temptation might be seemingly irresistible, the action of stepping back into the gambling lifestyle may push a problem gambler right back into a spiral of addictive behaviors.

Thankfully, we’ve included ways casinos use promotions to tempt the public, and an easy guide to focusing on the holidays to block out any triggering promotions that casinos display this season.

Incentives Casinos Use

Aside from casinos many tactics use to lure the public in (Read:http://smartiopforgambling.com/addiction/do-casinos-enable-the-pathological-gambler/), they implement more enticing prizes and winnings around the holidays in hope that more people will come and spend their cash there with them instead.

So the normal tactics in which casinos generally use are the crazy and colorful designed carpets, these are not by accident. They are all part of the plan to keep you feeling as if you are enjoying yourself. Also, all of the bright lights and the repetitive noises, these are all aesthetically pleasing for most people.

In an example casinos create a sense of arcade and playground like an adult chuck-e-cheese’s.

Around the holidays casinos have “deals” they toss out to the public these most often look like these examples listed:

1.  Swipe your Club Card at any kiosk from 10am – 6pm and win up to $1000 in FREEplay! 
2. Gold Club members must earn a minimum of 25 tier slot points to participate.
3. Our casino will be giving out $15,000 in cash, gift cards and free slot play on Black Friday.
4. Every hour from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reward members will have the chance to win $300 in free slot play, plus if present, a $200 Macy’s gift card.
5. At 9:00 p.m., one lucky winner will win $5,000 in cash.
6. Free dinner for 2 when you win $50 at any slot machine.
7. Free car to one lucky winner. Every $20 bet is a chance for you to enter. Enter as many as 200 times!!

Although, reading these most people could recognize that you would still be spending your own money in hopes to win, inside of the mind of a problem gambler, they see chances to increase their current financial position. This is Clever in the sense of marketing how well casinos prey on the weak.

They create a facade to a person who maybe has only a couple hundred and  builds up the idea of them having the opportunity to double or even triple what they bet. This creates a desire for most problem gamblers, to keep going until they win big.

Unfortunately in most cases they will lose all they had to begin with before they even come to grips with the reality they have just been hustled.

Understanding that the casinos use holidays to trigger addicts and those who are in recovery with exciting gifts and deals, just might be the key to helping you stay away from dangerous relapsing situations.

Here is a small list of tips to steering clear of diving into gambling this holiday season. Hopefully by sticking to this plan you’ll only be diving into a delicious turkey dinner!

Trust Your Gut

Often times, we experience this “intuition” when we are faced with something that we are not too sure of. We get an uneasy feeling about the situation, no matter what it is. Something being said or done, or maybe just being somewhere, but then comes that sensation of “this isnt right”, and of course that’s where the saying “trust your gut” comes from.

When given a situation you do not feel confident about you should listen to that feeling and exit the situation immediately. As an addict, you are more in touch with those familiar feelings and should learn to recognize and identify when you’re in a high risk situation.

You might feel like gambling during the holidays is “harmless” because it was just this once, However, you should not engage in behaviors that have previously triggered a full blown addiction for you.

Do not go against what you are feeling if something is telling you “get out”, the n that is precisely what you must do to stay true to your successful recovery during this holiday season.

Plan Ahead

Holiday season is busy as it is, it is wise to build an itinerary for you and your loved ones. Perhaps sticking to a schedule might possibly help you distract any urges you might encounter with casinos and other gambling outlets pushing out promotions.

Having things planned will make it easier to stick to a schedule and avoid relapsing, here are some ideas of things to do during thanksgiving with family and friends:

• Black Friday shopping. Even if you are not spending much money, the excitement of waiting in line for doorbusters and rushing to the sales is memorable and quiet fun.
• Thanksgiving buffet dinner. Although not the traditional dinner, this is actually a pretty interesting take on tradition, with no kitchen time required from you or your loved ones, there is more time for you all to bond and spend quality time.
• Exploring,  Depending on your area, this might be a fun option. Hiking is a great way to get exercise and get outdoors and bond with friends and family over exploring trails.
• Volunteering. Giving back is a perfect way to express thankfulness during the holidays. Serving at your local soup kitchen or homeless shelter could be a reminder of how much you have to be grateful for.
• Browse through old photo albums. reminiscing on old memories is the easiest way to reconnect and bond with your loved ones during the holiday. Also, adding to the photo album could be a fun activity to add. Having a mini photoshoot and capturing the moments that are being created.

These are simple yet very fulfilling ideas to plan with your friends and family. If you’re busy with entertaining and hosting a scheduled itinerary you’ll have less time feeling pressure or temptations to gamble. You will be enjoying the holidays as you should be rather than stepping backwards into a spiral of issues that follow gambling addiction.

Your loved ones will appreciate the time you took to plan such a fun trip for the holidays and they will be be thankful for you. You will be thankful you fought the urge to gamble and be proud of yourself for following through with your recovery.

Avoid High Risk Situations

Sometimes when family and friends are visiting they want to take a step outside of their every day to day lives. They might be stuck behind a desk all day or serving others as means to support themselves, and the holidays are a perfect little getaway for them.

They often find vacation a way to have guilt free spending and because they save and have budgeted to spend they do not experience any of the shoppers remorse afterwards. However, this may be an event you might just have to sit out.

Ask your friends and family if you could all find another way to enjoy the time away from their regular everyday lives and celebrate the holidays with you perhaps spending another way that is not detrimental you your road to recovery.

Your loved ones will understand and respect that you are taking accountability for your addiction and see the changes you are making by following a safety guide to avoid relapse.

Gambling addiction is real issue, and unfortunately, healing is a rigorous road to recovery but it is possible. By seeking help when you need it you are taking action in taking control of your life. This holiday season take back your control over gambling.

Be thankful you didn’t give in and rejoice with your loved ones. Have a wonderful thanksgiving!