So yesterday with a balance of £700 in ****, having started with £250 I started placing £25 bets on any and every horse race. Lost the first few and started chasing. Before you know it £700 is gone and I'm pretty angry.
i go on **** looking to pass the blame. I ask the advisor how they have the audacity to promote responsible gambling, when I had lost bet after bet amounting to £700 without so much as a "are you sure you want to do that?"
Next came the pre formatted responses from the advisor ie we can do self exclusion, deposit limits and such.
I pointed out that these are all reactive measures and not a single one is proactive in stopping the problem before it becomes a problem.
She said I would have to speak to her manager on the phone to continue the chat because she couldn't answer my question about what proactive measures they take. Which means they have none.
I'm not passing the blame, I know it was me who placed bet after bet, but the fact that betting companies are happy to promote that they encourage responsible gambling, when really they are vultures looking to pick every last pound from your pocket is unbelievable.
Perhaps read your other thread in it's entirety and then think what you are going to do differently this time. If you actually do it, things will change. But nothing changes if nothing changes.
Over to you, wish you well.
CW
Hi, I've lost a lot of money over the last 15 years to the roulette machines. However, to be honest I don't blame the bookies, they are there to make money. It's like saying why did tesco let me buy a one litre bottle of vodka....I drank it all because of them! Every business is the same, they want to make as much money out of you as possible can. Everyone on here (like myself) is here because we have a problem. My opinion is that if you blame the gambling industry then your not ready to stop.
It quite common for people to blame companies and the manufacturers of machines, I know I did for a long time.
Ultimately it's up to the individual to take responsibility by putting into place measures to stop themselves from gambling. A compulsive gambler needs to realise they need help, before the process of stopping can begin.
At that point you are making a reactive decision, which will become a proactive decision, as soon as the gambling stops.
Nowadays there is a lot more promotion of responsible gambling than years ago, but as benji18 says, they are reactive, rather than proactive. Once again though, take the reactive option, such as self exclusion after you've done your money and again that immediately becomes a proactive measure.
Is there much more that can be done proactively from the companies. At the moment, most offer players, limits on amounts gambled in a day/week/month etc, self exclusion options. Perhaps it would be nice if when setting up account, options are needed to be made such as deposit limits. Also at certain times, a pop up asking if a player is sure they wish to make a bet, as they have made a certain amount money or bet wise, in the past hour or so.
I'm guessing that most would still mearly click those messages away, or switch them off rather than actually stop and think.
I lost 5k in 1 afternoon 8 days ago. Your next step is to accept that the money is gone, doing this will help you move on. I was like you. I used to bet small amounts at first, but the high just wasn't enough as time went on. I ended up with every bet being £1000 at least. I've lost a lot of money. But.... The feeling of losing £50 and £1000 is exactly the same, the same feeling of worthlessness and guilt. That would pass and I would bet again lose and the cycle was there. You need to focus on stopping right now. You can do it, you just have to really really want to and stay focused.
Hi benji18
Yes this was me in January 2015 and my first post was a £700 over a couple of weeks on machines. 2015 was the worst year of my life!
Im here to say that you will sort it out when you are ready .It took me 10 months to do something proper about it so please dont wait that long. I did have breaks but kept relapsing because I had done nothing to block it properly
You will pass through the shame and the anger. Its a natural reaction but the betting industry isnt going to close tomorrrow so you have to get yourself out of it. I do blame the bookies and arcades but they have government backing. I dont feel that most of the responsiblity lies with us but thats a discussion for another day. Get yourself away and its the best feeling you could have.
Walk in with pride and put the exclusion order on. Exclude from online sites, use a computer blocker and you may even have to tell the bank/ card company/ payment site not to allow any gambling site transactions....basically every block you can think of.
Tell the people close to you and discuss how gambling makes fools of intelligent people.
I am now blocked and I havent gambled on two months. Ive breezed two months in a way I never did before. I havent even thought about gambling in any serious way. Any mild twinges are immediately countered with an overwhelming sinking feeling that I would just lose lose lose.
I wish you all the best. keep reading the forum and posting your thoughts
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
