That's BS. Of coure it's not easy to start over, but he is 40 and he has like ~25 years of working life left before a possible retirement. Maybe more even.

It's not easy and it takes great amount of willpower to build a reasonable life after the kind of life he has been living, but to say it's too late and suggesting a life of grinding computer game when he is only 40 is ridiculous.

He would probably have to work in low wage jobs for quite a while, but with his university degree and his smarts he has time to build a career of some kind IF he can somehow get rid of the addiction.

cannot believe i actually read every post in this thread, just a sad depressing story.

If that happens then train stations in my opinion.

I think we need to get this mans picture to all airports, train station, hotels and street corners. Just to make sure petty crimes wont happen in US anymore.

Once you get into your 30's, 40's and beyond you will gain maturity and perspective and realize what Mike did is not that big of a deal...

Everyone needs to just chill out and let Mike live his life. He's a good dude that deserves our love and respect.

^ lol maturity at its finest right there

i understand that it takes a little bit of maturity to forgive someone for having an addiction. We all forgave the old man for taking tips to start SNGs at the Rio. We should forgive Mike for trying to make ends meet at the airport.

GPAD would you please STFU already you goofy troll. Better yet, go bowling with Pokerfan2008.

Do you want to have an intellectual conversation about this or are you just going to make juvenile remarks like this? Fact is, Mike owned up to his mistakes (none of which were all that horrible) and he is working to better himself as a human being. Not sure what else you want from him.

Admit you are a troll and maybe we can talk. Admit that you don't believe what you are saying and that you are trying to get a rise out of people. Admit that being a troll can be fun at times. Admit that you enjoy being sneaky with your trolly comments.

What do you think after reading VP's recent posts where we get to hear from the victims? Yes I know they are silly to give Mike $, yet Mike puts a lot of effort into fooling them. And the more VP posts the more Mike looks like the POS he is. I wonder how many people he has gotten a couple hundred from that really couldn't afford it.

What Mike did isn't that big of a deal? So because, in perspective, he didn't crash 2 planes into the World Trade Center, or kill 10 million Jews in Europe in WWII, we should all just say, "oh well, that's just Mike being Mike"? Even if he didn't kill someone, what he does IS a big deal. So conning people and lying to them is no big deal to you, huh? That kinda says a lot about your personality.

In the big scheme of things, Mikes actions are completely irrelevant. The reason we should be in this thread is to help Mike get out of this rut so he can enjoy the years ahead.

GrindNVGallDay you should hang out at bus stations and take grifters home in an attempt to rehabilitate them.

There is no getting Mike out of his rut. Gambling addiction is a disease that gets worse with time. He has been at this for far too long to change his ways. Even if he temporarily changes he will just relapse and repeat the same mistakes. I've seen degens do this first hand several times. You don't simply quit becoming a degen. You have to muster up the willpower to quit and then always keep your guard up and never cave in to your urges. Or you will relapse. Exactly like a drug addiction.

Agreed. PSUMike should go on The Apprentice.

GrindPokerAllDay is trying to get people here riled-up and his sarcasm is hilarious. I hope his end game is getting this thread shut down.

Excuse me?

Speak for yourself. If anything your statement illustrates a marked lack of maturity. Unless you don't equate maturity and wisdom at all..?

What a ****ing ignorant thing to say.

Agree 100%. Mike is taking advantage of good natured people. The people he is stealing from actually believe they are helping somebody who is trying to get a job. If he was honest and told them he needed $300 to gamble and get on a hot streak that would be fine.

Problem is, he has totally misrepresented his intent (this is fraud). Eventually these good natured people wise up to scammers like Mike. The unfortunate side effect is they will not give to the actual needy people. The fact that Mike has created this is a crime in itself!

P.S. I'm 50.

Mike is a scum-bag for taking advantage of people and lying to their face.

People are morons that actually will give a random guy not 1 or 2 dollars but a couple of hundred dollars.

In Mike's defense gambling is an addiction like any other addiction.

It's a sad story but although this is an addiction he's still taking advantage of people. For anyone that says Mike's a great guy etc. I have a hard time thinking what a great guy he is when he lies and cheats people out of money.

Put your personal relationship away for a second with Mike. If your mother/father/brother etc. gave a random guy 200 dollars and was sworn up and down the guy will pay them back and didn't what would you think of the person? Would you say oh that guy is still a great although he cheated my family out of money? Of
course not and now you know how ridiculous you sound!!

I am hoping Mike gets help and can overcome his addiction!!!

It's the liberal way of thinking.

The people he scammed must have money so it's ok to scam them, no harm done.

Just as an aside, and recognizing the other sources noted above, and with just a little irony, Scambook seems to possibly be a scam. The site has been redirected and does have a BBB alert.

Damn you GPAD. Got me.

Is a GPAD what the boys in the hood use to listen to music, watch videos, and surf the interweb?

Well done. Though it's not really fair to label anyone who doesn't sympathize with him as a 'troll'.

^I think he was trying to infer how Mike thinks about it.