Gambling with ADD and ADHD

Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Let me disclaimer this piece by saying that I am not opposed to gambling. It is important to understand how gambling can be very dangerous for someone with ADD and ADHD. With impulsive behaviors can come bad decisions. And with bad decisions can come enormous ramifications. So if you do decide to check out sites such as eurocasino and play some of the games available, be sure to know when to draw the line, as you don’t want to make any decisions you may regret.

If you don’t suffer from these conditions it is possible to approach this hobby responsibly, with things like online casino free credit.

Self Regulation is a key to being successful. You need to know your own limits and not get too over-or-under balanced when entering such a potentially dangerous activity. It isn’t just people with ADD/ADHD that make bad decisions. But it is people with ADD/ADHD that will often make decisions we know we shouldn’t have made. So if you decide to gamble, here’s some pointers to keep in mind…

  • Only bring what you’re prepared to lose.
  • Leave the ATM card at home.
  • Play in games you understand and are comfortable with the rules.
  • Fight the temptation to play games you don’t understand.
  • If you’re not sure, ask your dealer or someone you trust about the rules.
  • Travel with a friend you know and trust. Ask that person to hold your money if concerned.
  • If you’re winning, know when is the time to walk away.
  • Avoid being distracted by other players.
  • Try to avoid alcohol in access.
  • If you’re a poker player, try to play in tournaments to minimize your losses.

There are some of you reading this that are obviously more experiences gamblers. But for a non-regular gambler going to a casino or poker game, be sure to stay in the comfort zone. It might be worth starting out with the less risky games such as using a scratch card casino, and working your way to other games. The worst decisions are when we try to over-complicate things.

One last piece of advice is if you have a bad night, it isn’t the end of the world. Try to minimize the damage and learn from your mistakes. When you try to compound your mistakes by making even more impulsive decisions, you will end up making regrettable choices. As the song says, know when to walk away; know when to run. If you know when to walk away then you can gamble to your heart’s content. There are many different forms of gambling though (you can learn more about it here). So it’s important to find the thing that you like doing most before you start gambling a lot.

For more information on my ADD, ADHD and Executive Functioning coaching, please visit www.adhdefcoach.com. In addition to working with clients in-person, I also work with clients all over the United States and World online, please visit www.onlineadhdcoach.com for more information. To learn more about my other services, please visit www.carrolleducationalgroup.com & www.iepexperts.com. I can be found on Twitter at ADHDGuru. You can also find me on Facebook, Google Plus and Tumblr. Feel free to email me at [email protected] or call 877.398.ADHD (2343) with any additional questions.

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