60 year old, addicted to Internet Bingo

Dear @yvonne19,

welcome to the Forum, I am really glad you've found us. I appreciate the guilt can be all-consuming, but you are here, sharing and talking that is positive.

Please share a bit more about what has been going on for you, others might have been in a very similar situation and they can give you advice from their own experience.

Please also get in touch with us for one-to-one support, you can talk to us 24/7, you are not alone:

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/

Please reach out and take all the help you can get. I would strongly recommend you also contact your GP, just to make sure you have good support and to keep yourself safe.

Wishing you all the very best,

Eva

Forum Admin

Hi Yvonne, well done for reaching out. Tell us more about your problems if you can. We all know how you feel guilt is a crippling feeling , post again and let us help

Thank you x 

I live in Scotland and my husband is amazing but it kills me to know that I have all this debt that he doesn't know about. 

Yvonne, could you tell him ask him for his help and support to get out of the cycle that you are in ? 240 days ago today my husband found out that not only had I run up £15 k on a credit card but I had taken £5k of our savings at that point I still believed I could gamble my way out of trouble and he wouldn't know . Seriously ?? Now nearly 8 months later with a clear head I realise how misguided I was and how bad my mental state was . We are working things through. Have you blocked your access to websites ? I use Gamstop and I've self excluded for 5years that's the max but I will renew it as I don't ever want to risk gambling again. Contact the helpline talk things through they give non judgemental advice and can give you the number of a charity that gives debt advice and help. I hope you find a way forward as I know it's awful living as you are right now, Gamcare also can arrange counselling I had 8weeks and it was really helpful now I attend GA meetings. You can get help and support with this.

I am 53 and I started of by getting hooked on Bingo. 

It filled all those empty spots I was feeling were there. And besides playing the link and some slots it does not feel like it would be doing anyone any harm but like every game you get into it grows with time and addiction and so does the money spent on it. 

Leaving a bubble of comfort can be quite a task but with every new end comes a new beginning. So stand tall. Keep calm and carry on. You will have great support from this site with both counselors working the phones here and x addicts who will be pleased to help you. Welcome to the first day of your gambling-free life.

Best

C

Hi Yvonne 

I'm over 50 and started playing online bingo out of curiosity having received a coupon in a supremarket magazine. unfortunately I won, and I was drawn in. It was not meant as a means to block out painful emotions as a result of bereavement but that's what happened. I spent a lot but always managed to balance things out so my loss was minimal in financial terms.  However other losses were significant and I can truly identify with guilt. I'd tell you not to feel guilty if I could but sadly feelings take on a life of their own don't they. You've made a good start on reclaiming your peace of mind though by reading and talking on here. I used to feel uncomfortable as I thought I'd be the only female of a cetrain age to get in a state with a gambling situation but it wasn't so. The monster that is gambling addiction  isn't bothered about your age, gender or culture. Take care and kindest wishes.

Hi Yvonne, Bingo definitely has a very different aura about it and seems almost harmless. I started my disastrous gambling 'adventure' with Bingo as a 25 year old guy.

The guilt and black cloud from gambling losses and debt are incredibly painful and it can be tough to just function. I think the very first step is just stopping the damage. So don't add to the losses. That's a victory in itself and if you do end up discussing it with your husband he gets a bit of relief that it won't be going on still. You get the release of the stress of trying to win. I just signed up to Gamstop myself today, definitely do that as it feels rewarding in itself.

Hi Yvonne,

You're not alone. You'll get support and advice from people on the forum who are or have been in a similar position. 

If you can bring yourself to tell your husband you might feel relieved that the secrecy and lies are over and you can start to move forward. 

I found out recently that my husband had been gambling for years, losing a huge amount of money. I was devastated and angry at first but found out more about the addiction through reading posts on here and I am coming to terms with things now and support him in his recovery as best I can. My husband said it was a huge relief once the secret was out.  It will be hard at first when he finds out but hopefully he will come to terms with things and support you. I found out by looking through bank statements and it was a horrible way to discover the truth. I think I would have reacted better if my husband had told me the truth instead. 

I really hope you find a way through all this. Keep using the forum. It can be a great source of help and support. 

J x