I have been using the self exclusion for a while and its been a great help, but sadly it only works based on you. I just find it hard sometimes to get through on the phone and they stopped allowing you to email the info in. This was much easier and more private than talkin in public places or sneakin in calls at home. Anyway my fault is more with they only ban you from the shops you ask to be barred from, so many times i asked to just do any shop in the area and was told she can't do that. Though one day an amazing girl said that she could see other shop's in the area i was using in and she added them all, then asked where I walked from to get there, then my work route, where i lived, she done what i had wanted yet more needed help with and barred me from shops i didnt even know where they are or were. And still dont. But the next time i called i got the usual i need the address of the shop or i cant do it and only that one. Now im not sayin the system is poor as uts saved me a lot, but ut could be more helpful or atleast the staff you talk to somrtimes. Anyone else had this issue or similar.
Hi
Yes I know what you mean and in that sense its the people who took all my money regulating their own operation. Inside I feel that they are not going to be highly effective in monitoring entrants but it was enough for me backed up with family monitoring. I think self exclusions work as part of a process backed up buy other measures.
If a gambler is likely to break them or keep finding a place round the corner than they will not be effective and are often used by a confused addict to pay lip service to the problem.
I was ready and they did draw a line for me. I made sure I didnt feel welcome and it did sraw a line of shame for me. I dont know about other people but that was enough for me as I was an anonymity gambler and just wouldnt have faced the possibility of being caught or the risk of non payment ( as if I would have won)
If the addiction remains strong and doors are left ajar there is always the avenue to gamble.
I agree the system is iffy and the self exclusion process is like an admittance they are peddling misery. I believe they are a selling the drug of gambling so the process is a bit surreal and is not 100% reliable. I say surreal because the people that took thousands off me are suddenly being all helpful as if they dont know they are bankrupting people
I have to say its like a drug dealer running a self exclusion scheme...its starts to look more than odd.
However a recovering gambler must get all the help and self exclusions are a positive mental step when ready to deal with it. I would say that some restriction on cash access and close monitoring is just as important if not more so
Best wishes
Exactly, ive used it for ages but always at some point gone backwards. But i was using a shop for a while and lost a lot n then one day ein enough to say im even for the last few weeks to be told are u not banned. I was about to flip when the lad said look its expired but still counts for 6months or something but I will pay ubthis win, at thar point anger turned to shame and relief. I was about to go mad sayingbive been in here losing form weeks and no one questioned it but now I have a win ur saying in band. So first thing I done after getting my miney, called the exclusion and got my subscription back up and that was last time i gambled, 23 days and counting. So many things hit me hard that week that i realised its time to grow up and do something about it.
But i do agree with so many things u said. Its likr they will help but small amounts if barred youbfrom ever shop they would lose their funding.
Thats good Lindsay25.
Focus on that shame and anger. They were never your friends and they were selling you a dream. Of course we were angry. Are there really any good feelings in a bookies? I think they are depressing places and I always did. It was my addiction to machines that brought me in there and I threw away thousands....literally chucked away thousands of pounds.
It pains me to think of them counting my money. I spend my money carefully now but much more importantly I am in control of my life.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
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