I experienced that bitter sensation very early in my childhood:
One good friend of mine gave me a lot of very popular physical tokens that were used in a competitive, zero-sum game, because he didn't want them anymore or, better said, because he highly valued our friendship. This act of generosity was totally unexpected, so they were like a treasure for me.
A few days after, I was tempted to play by two children, and I accepted. As I had little experience in that game, and also because they were in cahoots, I started losing my tokens very fast, and I felt that sensation the OP explains in his initial post, so I kept playing in order to recover the lost tokens, with the reasonably expected result.
I remember that I was lucid enough to quit before losing them all, but I lost at least 2/3 of them, and it marked me for life. So there is only one sensible way to gamble,
the one Oshoshondy explained earlier today.
the feeling of recovering what was lost is a very common response of any gambler. we are all guilty of such emotion at one point in our lives. but the difference is, how we tackle them and move on to the next step so as not to be wrecked by this addictive habit. much better to pause and stop for a bit, to clear our heads and decide what's next...rather than continue your games and lost all what you have.
I've been there - the joy of the game becomes a test of pride. Doesnt every loss become a personal challenge? I broke that cycle by imposing strong rules. Each session begins with a limit: how much Im willing to lose and a win aim that signals quit. I respect the game and myself with this method, not merely to limit losses.
I found it best to gamble as amusement rather than ego war. I remind myself to be cool with leaving. Gameplay includes losing, which is good. Focusing on fun rather than results helped me enjoy my time, regardless of results. Experience, laughter, and memories around the table or screen are what matter.
Please try this method. Before entering a casino, consider why you're there: fun, right? Gamble to enrich your life, not control it. Joy, enthusiasm, and community are our motivation. Keep fun gambling alive by mixing thrills with mindfulness and self-care.
i would say, you have a very strong determination of following your rules for yourself. because most will bend their rules and follow their desire to play once they suffer losses. but if you stick to what you set to yourself, you wouldn't encounter any trouble as you are keeping your losses within your limits. now, if you go beyond and much more, for sure, that's when you start creating problems for yourself.