Yep, got a new job and I couldn't stand by seeing people simply trying to buy a dream, make some money, who knows it was more than a flutter seeing people everyday, some spending hours on the slots to been a virtual race every minute of the day, they would come from work and spend most if not all of the wages, seen people trying to copper up for a pound bet to some putting on some right crust, they always tell you when they have won but never on how much they have lost. Please remember this is a shop, not online either by laptop or phone which in my view makes it all to easy to get caught into a trap, soul destroying isn't close, I have much respect to the people who do gamble and for sure no way judge them, it's just the fact always, always there is only one true winner and I think we know who that is.
Very though provoking post. Gambling is not an issue for everyone and I like many probably envy those who can have a bet for enjoyment, play within their means etcÂ
But it must be soul destroying seeing people in a shop day in day out scratching money together to feed their addiction and chase a non-existent dream.
Like you not judging these people as they are just like me and others on here but it’s much more visible than say an addict like me sat behind a mobile phone betting.
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I often wonder why I became someone who gambled and gambled it is indeed thought provoking. I'm not sure if there's even an answer, I've just accepted now that I can't gamble ever !!
Well Im going to respectfully disagree with some of what you are saying there LUFC. Nothing personal but Its my considered opinion and Im entitled to say it.
Its not an illegal activity and people gamble. I have to (reluctantly) accept the fact that some people gamble in a very limited way and walk away...ie a pound on the lottery or a small bet.
However I dont use that information to "respect" any gamblers or think its any sort of non problem, wholesome activity we should be particularly proud of.
The religions consider it Immoral/Amoral and although Im not religious, they are along the right lines there. Its a very self centred activity and I didnt see any people in the bookies or arcades I particularly respected. Someone should have held up a mirror because I thought most of them were sad characters (and I was just the same as them).
The truth is that most of them annoyed me and its not an environment I even liked...thats what the drug of gambling made me put up with...im surprised I didnt go online as its an activity I like to be alone with
I dont even think it generates he/shes one of us camaraderie. The truth is I didnt really want anyone else to win infront of me...I wanted to win or I thought I did...turns out the addiction is a whole lot more complex than the money.
The banter I heard makes me cringe now and I saw many heavy addicts that were not facing the truth and maybe never will. I saw many people who were clearly mentally ill just as I was in my quieter way
That would be like saying I respect people who have a drink or a smoke. We have to look at the factual basis that these things are toxic to the system and I know gambling is highly toxic also.
Many of the sugary processed foods are also in a category that hasnt been given full recognition yet. We can all be on the addictive scale to something but gambling really does stand out as one of the worst
Oh all in moderation I hear some people cry but these things were designed and marketed to be the addictive. The confusion about gambling is that it acts just like a substance and should be classed alongside the main substances.
I think its an extremely dangerous activity as it creates addicts fast. Damaged or vunerable characters like me couldnt walk away and dont realise how fast we become hooked.
Gambling dens push this activity and I dont really make any excuses for the staff...oh its only a job or they need to work etc etc. It was me vs them and they couldnt really look me in the eye with pride as they knew it was a mugs game...
No I dont like them (why should I on a recovery forum) Never helped me one bit and wish they would get another job
Betting "Shops" are very dangerous as is online although I accept that online poses a whole new threat of 24/7 in peoples homes. I call the gambling dens as they felt like dens of iniquity
So maybe we agree on some things but I would never give the gambling dens an easy time. I would ban the whole lot of it...seriously as we've both seen the misery it causes.
I would certainly heavily regulate it. For ages the lottery was not allowed as they feared what it would bring...Instead the gambling floodgates have opened and its a highly dangerous problem going exponential
Best wishes to everyone on the forum
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