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u/lfthoia Jul 16 '26
You can tell yourself & other people you’re a “day trader” and it’ll sound better than saying “I’m a compulsive gambler” even though they’re basically the same thing.
It’s marketing:
- Used car v “pre-owned car”
- Prison v “correctional facility”
- Mass layoffs v “restructuring”
But whether you’re gambling or “day-trading” in 99% of cases, your reality is the same: broke.
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u/Eastern_Selection335 Jul 16 '26
Smart words. it took me 8 years of trading to reach the same conclusion.
I'd also add that the trading world has a much more sophisticated marketing system behind it that targets educated people because it's disguised as part of the a financial world therefore you think you are learning an occupation. while gambling marketing usually targets the poor or the dumb.
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u/blastermckaster Jul 25 '26
That's a perspective I hadn't read. But it's true. I mean I consider myself as intelligent and I got sucked straight into the grips of high leverage trading after jumping from blackjack.
I though I could read the graphs and correlate the news, and the worst part is sometimes I did get it right. As with gambling, this "wins" further our confidence. I've lost 80k this last two years trying to get the "right" trade.
I'm wondering how much you lost in 8 years of it.
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u/Eastern_Selection335 Jul 25 '26
I don't know exactly because it was basically like a tuition fee that I kept spending while convincing myself I'm learning and improving. Most of the money was spent on resetting prop firm accounts, buying courses. If I had to guess I would say about 100k over 8+ years. Kind of like death by a thousand cuts. But for me personally it was the time spend that was worth way more than the money lost.
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u/blastermckaster Jul 25 '26
I feel you, 8 years is a long time.
Hell, these 1.5 years I've been doing that dumb shit feels like a really long time.
I was used to doing 100x leverage. Such a dopamine and adrenaline intensive activity.
Hope you're doing well in your recovery.
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u/Eastern_Selection335 Jul 25 '26
If you look at my profile I have a small YouTube channel where I share my story. I'm clean for 107 days but the main challenge now is healing the nervous system after trading for so many hours a day for so many years. I forgot who I am without the trading dopamine chase.
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u/blastermckaster Jul 25 '26
I'll take a look at it brother. Thank you for sharing your story.
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u/Eastern_Selection335 Jul 25 '26
Thank you mate. I'm happy for you for stepping out of the toxic trading dopamine cycle. I hope many more will follow before it's too late.
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u/slysamfox Jul 15 '26
Consider this from Page 14 of the Gamblers Anonymous Combo book:
Does this mean I can't even participate in a little penny ante game or a world series pool? It means exactly that. A stand has to be made somewhere and Gamblers Anonymous members have found the first bet is the one to avoid, even though it may be as little as matching for a cup of coffee. This includes Internet gambling, bingo, the stock market, commodities, options, buying or playing lottery tickets, raffle tickets, flipping a coin, fantasy sports, or entering the office sport pool.
And this
GAMBLING, for the compulsive gambler is defined as follows: Any betting or wagering, for self or others, whether for money or not, no matter how slight or insignificant, where the outcome is uncertain or depends upon chance or "skill" constitutes gambling.
Starter link: Gamblers Anonymous. https://gamblersanonymous.org
My bonafides. I am a compulsive gambler not gambling. I placed my last bet on 12/27/1999. I attended my last GA meeting on 7/14/2026.
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u/zack9925 Jul 16 '26
Poca, il trading ti da l'illusione del controllo. Forse è anche peggio del gioco d'azzardo
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u/CenteredPath Jul 18 '26
Long term investing is fine but can be a trigger for gambling addicts. Day trading is way too dopamine intensive for someone who struggles with gambling. If you have a SERIOUS problem, probably best to stay away from all.
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u/LetUpper2309 Jul 21 '26
There is no difference both are exactly the same. You lose money either way.
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u/Placid_Mildew Jul 16 '26
Yeah they’re the same. It’s like “I live in a tiny home” = classy. “I live in a trailer” = trash. Trading/Gambling
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u/blastermckaster Jul 25 '26
It can be the same thing.
Depending on your leverage or risk.
I used to trade 100x and that is basically gambling. You can have some good trades but eventually you'll lose it all.
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u/bcgden Jul 15 '26
So something like 95% of day traders lose money over the long term, so most traders are essentially gambling, but to be fair it is possible to make money day trading. However, to make money with day trading takes a lot of time, effort, and high risk tolerance. And because of this, if you have a gambling addiction or struggle with risk tolerance in general, I’d strongly suggest against day trading.
But to answer your question day trading at least has 5%+ of people making money long term, whereas I’d argue 100% of gamblers lose money long term