Hi all,
I found out 2 years ago that my dad has a serious gambling addiction, I knew he gambled but not to the extent of which i found out. He rang me up out of the blue one day apologising and saying how sorry he was for letting me and my younger brother down.
My parents divorced in 2010 and up until then we were a close family the 4 of us, then the divorce happend and my dad said he just lost control of everything, It came out a few days after him admitting to me of his problem that he had lost £100,000 in 5 years.
I was shocked, I knew he gambled as he was asking me for money over the last few years to the point where he owed me £2,500 but i just couldn't belive how much he had spent. Since the divorce me and my brother rarely see him, we live with our mum, I am 25 and brother 22 and see our dad 3 or 4 times a year.
I am back on here as over the last two years my gambling has got quite bad too, i used to just do £5 a weekend and have it under control then all of a sudden a few years back i lost £600 in two weeks, that was my first major blip, i have had two since then with my worse one being last month, £1,400 lost in just 4 weeks after not gambling for around 4 months. I seem to just have the urge every now and then to gamble and it costs me.
I have £3,000 savings and my dad is paying me back £150 a month, but this month he said he cannot give me it and not only that he wants me to lend him £100, i asked him why he needed it and he said worked mucked up his pay, of course another lie of the dozens i have heard over the years and i know he is gambling again and i refuse to give him any money.
I just worry that I will let this addiction take over me too like it has done my dad, he has lost over £100,000 since 2010 yet still feels the need to gamble, i don't get it as he will never get close to winning that kind of money back. Just thought he had got over his addiction after paying me back for the last 5 months with no lies but now its like he has gone back to the excuses and lies and back to his gambling ways.
Just after any advice, how do i stop the addiction from getting to much for me like it has my dad? I have downloaded betfilter for my iphone since my last blip a month ago and it has helped a lot but after a few weeks gamble free I found myself logging online on my laptop, i just want to forget gambling and stop but there always seems to be a way to gamble.
You can beat it if you want to, it takes strength but its doable. I would call the helpline and see if you can get yourself to meetings or counselling. YOu have seen the devastating effect it can have, you are likely to want to do everything to stop it. I wish you good luck x
Hello CM3003
Welcome to the forum Gamcare have a helpline where you can speak with an adviser about your concerns the helpline is open 8am –midnight every day and the contact number is 0808 8020 133. There are blocks you can also use for your laptop please find information here http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/blocking-software#.VBwD8fldXww
There is counselling available and services across the Uk and there is no cost to you advisers will be able to help you with information about some local counselling.
Keep posting we are here to support you
Take Care
Forum admin
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