What is a degenerate gambler?
A degenerate gambler is someone who bets more than he can afford and can't stop. Bettors throw the word around as a joke, often about themselves, but the meaning underneath is a person whose betting has started to cost him things he needs.
Two ways the word gets used
Around a sportsbook "degen" is mostly friendly. A guy who bets the Tuesday night hockey game from Finland, or has action on a preseason game, will call himself one and laugh. That use is about how much someone likes to bet, and on its own it says nothing bad.
The older meaning is the one that matters. To a bookie, a degenerate was the player who bet with money that was already spoken for: the rent, the car payment, the money he owed somebody else. He wasn't a good customer for long, because a player who can't pay is a problem for the book too (the credit and collections page explains why a bookie worries about that more than about any sharp). I'd rather book a hundred recreational players at $50 a game than one man betting his paycheck.
How it shows
The signs are about money and behaviour, not about how often someone bets:
- chasing, which means doubling up to win back what was lost the day before
- betting money meant for bills, or borrowing to bet
- hiding bets or losses from a partner or family
- feeling restless or angry when not betting
A bettor who keeps a set unit and a bankroll he can lose has a plan. The one who keeps raising the stake to get even has stopped betting and started digging. The test I'd use is a plain one: would you be comfortable telling someone close to you what you lost this month?
If it's you
It is a recognized problem, and it's not about being weak. There are free, confidential helplines and counselling services for problem gambling in most places, and support groups run by people who have been through it. Regulated books usually have to list them, often at the bottom of the page, and most offer deposit limits and self-exclusion as well. The responsible gambling page says where to start.
The book will always take one more bet. Stopping is the only move that is entirely yours.
Related questions
What is a unit in sports betting?
A unit is your standard bet, the amount you put on an ordinary play. Bettors count their wins and losses in units so a record means the same thing whether the player bets $10 a game or $1,000.
How do you win at sports betting?
Most people who bet on sports lose over time, because every bet pays the book's cut. The few who win do it by getting better prices than the bet deserves, staking small and the same every time, and keeping an honest record. No system does it for you.
What is a bookie?
A bookie is a person who takes bets. He sets a price, takes your money or your word on it, pays you if you win and collects if you lose. The word is slang for bookmaker, and it usually means a local, independent one.