[REMMURER]

I started playing scratch off lottery tickets about two years ago an now I'm addicted. Sometimes I spend 100 dollars a day thinking I'm going to eventually hit that one big ticket. How do you cure this problem . I can't walk past a ticket machine without buying at least one.

Let me correct that. I don't spend 100 every day. Maybe once a week, thanks

[nwsflash]

The first point of call is to see that you have an addiction to these lotto tickets... You could look around your local area for a gamblers announce group and get support there, you also need to take yourself away from having easy access to these places that sell these tickets, maybe walking on different streets away from these places... You need to also try putting the money into a savings account that you would normaly spend on lotto tickets and see how much your saving and watching the nest egg build !

Having an addiction is hard to kick and you really need to set your own mind set that this is it and you are going Cold Turkey and staying away for good from lotto tickets.

[Fr_Chuck]

If you are married, have your spouse control the money, don't give you access to the money. If not see if you have a mom or sister or someone that can take control of your money from you for a while.

If you only have 10 dollars in your pocket and you spend it, you don't have lunch.

It is hard to stop anything but there are groups, that help as mentioned.

[Thomas1970]

If all else fails, don't throw the tickets out right away. Take them home and collect them for a while. Eventually the reality may really set in as to just how much money you are actually losing.
It's kind of like with smoking. One of the best motivators for quitting is to abstain from emptying the ashtray for a week. It's usually enough to sicken even the most hardened cigarette smoker. :)
Or... you can always insist that stores round your change down to the nearest dollar, thus leaving you no coins to scratch the cards. As a bonus, the employees will certainly appreciate the subtle tip. :D

[walt17]

The amount of gambling losses you deduct can not exceed the amount of gambling winnings you declare. :(

[Julie Crowell]

I too seem to have a scratch off addiction. I once won $300 in one day on tickets and ever since then have not even come close to winning that amount. In fact, I have lost probably three times that amount trying to get that "feeling" back.. It is so not about the money as it is about the feeling you get when you win more than you paid. My obsession to now visit a casino is constant and has seemed to taken over all thoughts. My only hope is that with summer upon us, I can find other ways to distract myself. It doesn't help that they sell tickets literally everywhere I frequest everyday! I now try to take the $100 or so a day and put in a jar and remind myself that someday this will be a substantial amount. For right now though, the thought of escaping everything is taking over.

[Phason]

I love them. I can't walk pass a shop without buying one either. Try staying in or getting a close friend to hold the money for you. I get irritable and sad without them though.

[Julie Crowell]

Dfsdfsdrfgdfagda

[xphelper]

My wife is addicted also. Every time I go to our local Acme, she expects me to come home with food and rub-offs (and I do!).

[ryan2440]

I have a great idea you can send all your money to me so you don't have the funds to buy the tickets.:)

[pepsichallenge]

Gambling is only a problem if your losing right? Otherwise it's game time right? Well problem is the system of gaming especially with lotto scratchers or any game is this: The odds are set up so that the given chances you will lose more money than you will win. SO "chances" is the factor here. Reduce or eliminate the "chances" to lose on a permanent basis.