Do Not Ever Borrow or Lend Money for Gambling

You had been playing poker for hours, and you had been on a winning streak. That had all happened one hour ago, and since then, your luck has turned, and you have been losing a lot of money. Nevertheless, you firmly believe that you will regain your winning streak, and intend to keep on playing until you do so. Unfortunately, the money you have on hand for this particular gambling session is running dangerously low. A friend of yours is nearby, and you ask that friend if you can borrow some money so that you can keep on gambling. You assure them that when you win, you will repay them in full. You feel slightly uncomfortable asking a friend to spot you for gambling, but you believe that you will get your winning streak back soon.

Does any part of this ring any bells?

Regardless of whether you are the one who lent the money, or if you are the one who asked for the loan, this kind of situation can often mark the end of a friendship between two people.

In any kind of relationship, financial issues can potentially be a very sensitive point. When a person owes a friend an amount that is more than what they can potentially pay back, it can create a very awkward sort of situation. If a person who gambles for recreation develops a gambling problem, the awkward situation created by a financial debt hanging between two friends is aggravated further and can create a great deal of tension. There is no simple, step-by-step way to deal with a situation like this, whether for the lender or the person who has been lent money.

When this kind of thing happens, there is no real way to undo the damage that might be done. The best way to minimize or avoid disaster is to avoid these sorts of circumstances altogether. The most obvious way to do so is to keep this from happening at all. If you have already used up your bankroll or gambling budget on the gambling table, continuing to spend on more bets would be quite counterintuitive. For the time being, stop gambling. Take yourself out of the game so that you do not have to rely on someone else for more money. There are other ways of recouping one's losses that do not involve risking friendships.

If, on the other hand, you are the one who has been approached by a friend who wants to borrow money, politely refuse. If possible, try to convince your friend to stop gambling by reasoning with them or distracting them with other kinds of fun activities. After all, when you lend or borrow money for gambling, you are not just wagering finances, but friendship, as well.