It’s Talk Money Week from 7-11 November and we want to encourage gamblers and people around them to have more open conversations about money.
In this blog, Senior Practitioner Deirdre delves into one of the most prevalent money dilemmas individuals confide in us about: whether to lend or give money to someone struggling with a gambling problem. If you're interested in exploring more on this topic, please click the next post for further insights.
This is a question we commonly hear from people affected by gambling, highlighting the complex pressures friends and family can feel. Our experience is that lending money rarely helps in the long run.
We often ask, ‘what would happen if you said no?’ The answers we hear express the fears that lead families to lend money again and again. Some of the fears people have include:
I’m scared they’ll lose their home
Making payments for a loved one isn’t a long-term solution. If they have rent or mortgage arrears, they need free, impartial debt or housing advice as well as help with gambling recovery.
An adviser on our Helpline, who has lived experience themselves, told us:
“I paid my parents’ mortgage for them, because I felt my mum didn’t deserve to lose her home because of my father’s gambling. This cycle continued for a few more years. Learning to say no closed off one of the ways my father could escape the consequences of his gambling. When all those avenues were eventually lost, he had to move beyond acceptance of a gambling problem into actively working on recovery. My parents’ home was not repossessed and ultimately this was because my dad was able to break his monthly gambling cycle. I empowered this process by saying no.”
Find out where to get advice below.
It might feel like you’re helping your loved one by sparing them the high interest charges but it’s not unusual for callers to our Helpline to have several debts. Dealing with just one debt or the creditor who calls every day or charges the most interest doesn’t deal with the long-term problem or break the cycle of debt. Some debts may not be enforceable and there may be options for paying off debts that they didn’t know about or hadn’t considered.
Taking control of their debts could empower them and help with their recovery. Find out where to get debt advice below.
Generosity may adorn your character outside of gaming realms, but inside the casino's bustling walls, it's deemed a harbinger of bad luck to offer a financial lifeline to another gambler. The risk of not seeing your funds returned—quite a realistic one, I might add—paired with the notion that you're simply tossing your money into the wind, makes this a frowned-upon practice. This act could set a precedent for your own games, where luck may just keep passing you by.
The Curious Case of the $50 Bill
The reluctance to play with $50 bills might seem peculiar, but it's rooted in the fear of counterfeits, which historically have often been fifties. A more sinister backstory involves tales of the mafia's grim practices—leaving those they've eliminated with a $50 bill as a parting "gift" in the sandy graves of Nevada. So perhaps it's wiser to stack your wallet with $10s and $20s before hitting the tables.
Whistling: A Soundtrack for Misfortune
In the casino setting, not only is it seen as a precursor to bad luck, it's generally considered quite the nuisance.
The Bookworm's Curse: Gaming Next to a Reader
In a curious cultural twist, Chinese superstition warns against gambling near anyone engrossed in a book. The rationale? The Mandarin words for "lose" and "book" are phonetic cousins. While it's improbable to encounter someone reading in the midst of a casino's clamor, you might want to gently suggest your book-loving companion enjoy their literature in another room, particularly if you're indulging in an online betting session.
Charms and Omens: The Bright Side of Casino Superstitions
The Lucky Itch: Right Palm Fortune
Superstitions can be a mixed bag, with an itchy palm often seen as a sign of coming expenditure. However, flip that palm over to the right, and in many Western cultures, you've got yourself a signal that prosperity is just around the corner.
The Dice Ritual: Exhaling for Luck
The iconic image of a craps player puffing on dice before their toss has transcended from the silver screen to casino lore. Thanks to the musical hit "Guys and Dolls" and its cinematic counterpart in 1955, the act of blowing on dice became synonymous with a prayer to Lady Luck, a ritual aiming to tip the scales of fate favorably.
By the way, if you're on the hunt for more insights or seeking a place to test your newfound knowledge of luck and superstitions, check out this comprehensive guide to some of the best casinos at top-casinos.co.nz.
Unlocking Prosperity: The Power of Red at the Casino
There's something magical about the color red in various Asian cultures—it's often linked with fortune and success. Imagine walking into a casino, confidence radiating from you, adorned in a vibrant red outfit. It's not just about style; it's a strategic move to attract lady luck. Whether it's a red shirt, vibrant socks, or even crimson-hued undergarments, embracing this color could be your ticket to prosperity. Next time you're caught up in the excitement of gaming, either face-to-face or via the digital realm, why not experiment with red?
Cherished Tokens: The Allure of Lucky Charms in Gaming
It's a tapestry of belief and tradition—objects that may seem ordinary or eccentric, but to the hopeful gambler, they are talismans that usher in good fortune. You might spot a rabbit's foot dangling from a keychain or a four-leaf clover pressed within a book, but don't be surprised if you also see personal amulets, like a cherished piece of jewelry or a 'victory' cap, which has seen many triumphs. Carrying these lucky charms is a practice steeped in hope, a physical manifestation of the desire to tip the odds in one's favor.