<p>Yes, I think that your daughter’s friend may have a problem, unless such a loss “sobers” up the friend permanently–teachable moment and all that.</p>
<p>I guess you’ll know if this develops into a habit (e.g. addiction).</p>
<p>“Full financial aid? What an abuse.”</p>
<p>This is not need-based aid. It’s based on academics.</p>
<p>Well if it is not need-based aid, and the friend comes from an upper-income family, then maybe the friend does have enough money to be extravagant.</p>
<p>Is your d’s friend male or female?</p>
<p>Would not want to be the future spouse…</p>
<p>Just curious why the gender of the friend is relevant, Calmom? It seems like most here believe the amount is high, regardless of gender (& even regardless of age of the gambler).</p>
<p>It’s in the gene I think. Risk taking. I like to gambling and one of my daughter does too. However, the other one does not like to gamble at all and so is my sister and my mother. I happen to inherit the gambling gene. However, lately I don’t gamble at all because there are so many professional gamblers out to take money from tourists and amateurs like me in Las Vegas(and online too).</p>
<p>hmm …
fair enough … but only if you’d be unhappy if your kid wasted “only” $150 on … a fancy dinner, concert tickets, theatre tickets, sports tickets, etc. If the gambling activity is held to affordable entertainment for some it is a fun activiity … however, if it gets out of control it can be a problem.</p>
<p>Yes, Dr Google, there is a genetic component to gambling, but also, a side effect of some medications many people take. </p>
<p>I read something in the fine print about possible side effects of antidepressant medications, causing an increase in gambling and sexual addictions. </p>
<p>And, medication for Restless leg syndrome Requip-from 2007-
[Gambling</a> and Restless Legs - Primary Source - CBS News](<a href=“http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QZHPRfyNJwwJ:www.cbsnews.com/8301-501263_162-3152310-501263.html+antidepressants+side+effect+gambling+addiction&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com]Gambling”>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QZHPRfyNJwwJ:www.cbsnews.com/8301-501263_162-3152310-501263.html+antidepressants+side+effect+gambling+addiction&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com)
GlaxoSmithKline added “gambling, sexual or intense urges” to its list of side effects in its television ad for its drug Requip.</p>
<p>I guess I would suggest that the OP–gently–suggest to her daughter that a real friend doesn’t put another friend into dangerous or tempting situations. Just as you wouldn’t take your alcoholic friend to a bar, you might not want to encourage this friend to go on a casino trip. Besides, it’s probably not much fun to be the person with a $20 limit on a gambling trip with a person who has a $1000 limit–even if they can afford it.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s hard to know if losing this amount of money indicates a REAL gambling problem. Atlantic City provides a lot fun for the young, single 20 year olds, and it would be sad if the OP’s daughter misses out on group outings to a fun destination (especially in the summer)</p>
<p>3togo, I get your point, and I’m not saying any gambling whatsoever is going to necessarily lead to addiction and a warped view of the value of money. However, I do make a distinction between spending $150 on an event where there is some kind of value for the money and one where the odds are stacked against you to the point where losing is the most likely result. I just think $150 is a lot to lose for a college student who can probably not afford it and that there are better ways to enjoy yourself that don’t waste significant sums of money for the sake of the thrill of wasting significant sums of money.</p>
<p>Don’t get the idea that I’m a puritan on the subject -S and H sometimes enjoy a casual game of poker with friends, but they would never risk even close to that amount ,even though they can “afford” it. For them, it’s a respect for the value of a dollar kind of thing. For some who have gambling issues, it can be a lot more than that, though.</p>
<p>
This is loaded with a value judgement … if I pay $150 for theatre tickerts I get the enjoyment of the show and I am absolutely out the $150 … if I go to a casino with $150 in a pocket I get the enjoyment of the evening and I have some possibility of bringing some of the $150 home. If done in moderation gambling is a form of enterntainment like any other. Personally I get a thrill out of gambling on games with some skill (blackjack and poker for example) while pure chance games like slots do nothing for me … then again I enjoy musicals and hate the opera … we all have forms of entertainment we enjoy and will pay to engage in.</p>
<p>^^^ I can’t argue with you there. It is what you said - a value judgment based on the fact that you are more likely to lose your money than win.</p>
<p>roshke: ‘lose’ ‘part’ or ‘spend’ mean the same thing but with different connotations. In final analysis it is what one wants to ‘buy’ for certain amount of money. Some like to buy clothes they don’t need, some buy time in traditional form of entertainment and some buy time in casino entertainment.</p>
<p>While I am not a fan of gambling, and prefer to be risk avoidant, I understand 3togo and simba’s logic. Whether a person spends $150 on a theater ticket, a nice dinner or even a nice bottle of wine, that money is spent-- its 100% chance of never seeing that $ in one’s pocket again as it was spent on the evening’s enjoyment. At a casino, one may spend $150 on the evening’s enjoyment, but there is actually a small chance they could recoup some, or maybe, for good cardplayers, possibly all of that money. So, in actuality, while all of these activities are seen by the person engaging in them as their source of evening’s entertainment, there is actually a chance it could cost the person in the casino less when the evening is over than it cost the person at the restaurant or theater, and all have enjoyed their evening’s entertainment. Just something to think about…</p>
<p>I am still waiting for the answer to your question in post #65, HImom-- I was wondering trhe same thing…</p>
<p>I can’t say I never gamble , because I do buy lottery tickets from time to time , but as far as casinos go , I just don’t get it
We had a man work for us for years that had a gambling problem and when he passed away unexpectedly , he left his wife with a mountain of debt , no home a really old car and that’s it…
This was a retired , high ranking member of the US Navy who had owned very fine homes in different parts of the country.</p>
<p>Agree-- <em>any</em> addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc) can have devastating effects of families, but recreational use is different, and thats what I am referring to.</p>
<p>And I hope the debt was only in his name. If there is nothing much in the estate, whe would not be responsible for his debt if she isnt on the loans, I believe.</p>