Time to call it quits

I am telling my story as a way to say goodbye and maybe help someone who may be in the same situation. I have been "working" BJ for 15 years. I have read just about every book, studied many counting, money management and tracking strategies. I have had good years, bad years and a great deal of enjoyment with this challenging, exciting and sometimes crazy game. However over the past 2-3 years I began to get caught up in the game too much. It stopped being fun and became an obsession. I have not posted much on this board but I have been here since the early days.
I know that the lack of control I have is my own fault and I do not wish to judge anyone or their ability to control their own actions.
What I want to tell everyone is that it all came to an end on Thursday.
I was in AC, had been there three times this week instead of working, anyway I had a moment where I realized that my life can no longer go on in this direction. I had been down 4-5K on the day but also up 7K at one time. Money was not the motivation for what I did next.
I walked into the security office of the casino that I was at and asked to be placed on the excluded players list.
The guard almost shit, he called the head of the dept who immediately came to the floor to meet me. He and another guy escorted me up to their office where they treated me very well. I could not believe how professional they were. They explained all of the options including a total life long exclusion from all of their properties or if I went to casino control I could be excluded from all A/C casinos.
This is the option I opted for. They even took the time to call my wife, they asked me to sit in the next room over. I was able to hear them talking to my wife. They were even nice to her.
It was very different than I though it would be.
The most ironic part of the whole story is that for the past 10 years I have worked my ass off to stay off this list only to place my self on it. I choose to quit this way because I could not do it through GA or self control. I want to wish each of the best in your future. I envy you for your ability to control your actions and play with your head.
You passion for this game is what keeps you grinding and enjoying the ride.
Good Luck and remember no 6/5
BT

the truth is more bizarre than fiction :)

whay does it sound ohoney? what gain does he get from writting this post? . A counter lifestyle is the healthiest one, especially for a family person. Before You jump all over someone and judging him, try to figure out why you are so paranoid.

A counter lifestyle is the healthiest one, especially for a family person.

I meant a counter's life style is Not the healthiest (the not was forgotten)

BT3100,

You have done the right thing by excluding yourself from casinos. If you can not fight your own demon, then stay away by force from the demons' places. Good job & good luck. Do let us know your monthly progress after a month from now.

For casino gamblers, I think that enrolling in the self-exclusion program is a much better choice than that of the GA program. The blacklist program should keep you out of casinos for life (without weekly meeting), while the GA program requires you to attend the weekly meeting for life. It's pretty sad to hear the same old degenerated-gambelers' stories...weeks after weeks at the GA meetings for life. A side note: over a decade ago, out of curiosity, I once visited a GA meeting at a Saint Sean's Church. Believe me, in my opinion, it's worst than going to a dentist office, thus I would recommend BT3100's route over GA's if a compulsive casino gamblers ever ask me what to do. By the way, I've seen several candidates at casinos, who keep over drafting their credits & have gone into the credit department repeatly for more & more credits. Readers, are you one of the candidates?

I believe that NJCCC should require casinos to post the Self-Exclusion Notice by the CASHIER WINDOW next to the $10,000.01 sign. Another side note, for a few years, a compulsive-lady-gambler had lost $3,000,000 to AC casinos. Instead blaming herself for her degenerated bj habit, she blamed it on her casino hosts: "Knowing I get gambling problem...they did nothing..." Duh! She should have done what BT3100 has done... blaming the whole world won't help.

For the above mentioned candidates, below is some info about the BT3100's program. I think that readers should be made aware of its existence... just in case you know what.

For most people, a visit to a casino is fun. They try their luck, wager responsibly, have a good time and understand that gambling is a form of entertainment. They enjoy the excitement of the casino, the fine restaurants, the shows and the other amenities found in casino hotels.

For a small number of people, however, gambling isn't fun. Problem gambling includes what is often called compulsive gambling and pathological gambling. It refers to a condition where people are, to some degree, addicted to gambling. While the results of a gambling addiction can be devastating, there is help available for those people who need it.

New Jersey provides funding for education and treatment programs for people with a gambling problem. For information about these, you can contact the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey. That council and the National Council on Problem Gambling both operate hotlines that people with a gambling problem can call for help.

There are more than 45 Gamblers Anonymous meetings in New Jersey every week. If you or someone you know wants to find the nearest meeting, the time, day and location of each is available either through Gamblers Anonymous or the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

On March 23, 2001, Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco signed legislation which allows a person to voluntarily place him or herself on a list of persons to be excluded from licensed casinos and simulcasting facilities. The legislation established that those who place themselves on the self exclusion list are asking to have their names removed from casinos' mailing lists for advertising and marketing promotions and to be denied access to check cashing privileges, special club programs and credit at the casinos. Additionally, any person who gambles in a casino or simulcasting facility while legally prohibited form doing so cannot collect winnings or recover losses arising from his or her gambling activity. The winnings will be forfeited to the State with a portion to be used for problem gambling treatment and prevention programs and the remainder deposited into the Casino Revenue Fund, which is used to fund various programs throughout the state that serve the aged and disabled. While it will be necessary to maintain the self exclusion list and to distribute it to casinos so that it can be enforced, the legislation provides that this list will not be open to public inspection.

How do I get placed on the self-exclusion list?

You must fill out an application and submit it in person to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission at Tennessee Ave. and Boardwalk in Atlantic City, or to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement at 140 E. Front St. in Trenton. When you file the form, you will be required to provide identification and you will be photographed. Click for a copy of the self-exclusion application and for the instructions for completing the self-exclusion application.

Can I just mail back the completed application?

No. You must submit it in person. This is for your own protection.

Can I place my spouse or an elderly parent with a gambling problem on the list?

No. You cannot place anyone else on the self-exclusion. Placement on the list is entirely voluntary and must be done by the individual seeking exclusion.

What will happen after I sign up for self-exclusion?

The Commission will distribute a photograph and description of you to each casino. The casinos will then remove you from any mailing lists and make notations in their computer files that you are ineligible for any kind of credit or complimentary service.

What will happen if I try to gamble in a casino while I am on the list?

After you are placed on the list, a casino may refuse to accept your wagers and may ask you to leave the gaming area. If you do gamble, you may be unable to collect winnings or recover any losses.

Sources:
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ge/self_exclusion.htm

Further reading about the program:

http://www.state.nj.us/casinos/self-exclusionbrochure.pdf