I think that this is a bad mindset to enter the new year with. Im my opinion, gambling shouldn't be a big part of someone's life so I wouldn't be in a rush to gamble for a new start in the beginning of a new year. I think that it's only safe to gamble healthy amounts so that it wouldn't make a difference either way.
Well I gambled only the result of my signature campaign so I don't feel too guilty ^.^
And I tried my luck again with next week payment! Spent some times in the casino poker (texas hold'em, where you play against the bank) and went from 17$ to 111$ =D
So it's not good to play too much but when you do 6 times the initial amount that's still a good news!
That's really sad to loose all your earnings go down in gambling. The same happened with me, I too lost around $160 in gambling. But the only difference is that I lost through sports events and you have lost it through casino. The year start has given big loss but the addiction keeps me alive into the gambling network.