Hi, just wanted to introduce my story.
My gambling addiction started with online bingo. I was fine with the bingo, it was the slots I started playing inbetween waiting for each game. I remember staking 20p on a very popular game thats always advertised over and over, chanced staking £1 and won £200. I was elated. I was sat next to my boyfriend and he was also elated because we split all our money. He began playing but wasn’t winning so called it quits. Unfortunately I did not. I was playing and losing so much money, anything I won I had lost double. My boyfriend knew I was getting addicted and I promised I would stop. I ran out of money and next thing I knew I was getting payday loans to chase my losses. I had a huge breakdown and spoke to my friend who agreed to borrow me £9,000 to clear my debts and get back on track. At the time I was earning 1200 a month so I was giving her £375 back a month. So in just two years I would be completely debt free. Who gets a chance like that? I had a get-out-of-jail free card here, I was so grateful. So I was paying her back and I got to paying off around £2000. I hadn’t gambled in months, it was great. Then one day I’m sat in my living room, and I joined another slot site. Started off winning quite a bit. Then the stakes got higher. The smaller £1 bets were not giving me the same buzz anymore. It had reached £10 spins, sometimes even £20 a go. Before i knew it I had taken a loan out for £5000. Spent it. Asked my boyfriend to take me a 10,000 loan out (he thought he was helping me financially) 4 credit cards later and 3 payday loans and in total I am in over £25000 in debt. This literally happened in days/hours. I got to breaking point where I felt suicidal. The only thing stopping me was paying the debt back I got my loved ones into. I an determined to pay this all back because, why should they? I have installed gamblock, and currently waiting for a doctors appointment to discuss counselling. Because I don’t trust myself. My friend is amazing and we are spending the day tomorrow calling every credit card company, bank, and putting a stop on me receiving any credit from anyone. I am giving my bank card to my boyfriend who will take over my finances. I want a future. And I want a bright one where gambling no longer controls me, and I am debt free. I am sick of the stress and unhappiness. I will keep posting my journey. I just wanted to ask...is I call and block myself from banks/payday loans etc (it will take time) will this affect my overall credit score? Thanks for reading
Hi, I think when you get payday loans it flags up and your rating will be effected...your story is among many similar so you are amongst friends.We are all here to help but only you have it in you to change, it’s very hard but we’ll done for starting.Like me I’m on the road now to stopping.hope this works.dont despair
Hi my advice to you is to speak to stepchange charity as you have debt which is not serviceable and you need help they can get interest stopped / some debt even written off! The will agree an affordable value which is important if you are to stick to the not gambling and repay - hope that works out Jappy
Hi Kelly and welcome, I agree with Jappy to contact stepchange, that’s who I’m with and it takes a huge weight off. Read my story if you get a chance, similar in how I started off too. You have taken the right steps this time by installing Gamblock, it’s been a godsend for me! Also sharing through this site and reading others stories, it helps lighten the load and know you’re not alone.
Always be on your guard with this awful addiction and never complacent, that devil on your shoulder can creep up on you when least expected.
Good luck .... Kaz xx
Thank you all for your replies it means alot. I have never felt so lonely until I came onto this site and realised I’m really not alone.
Kellyharrison wrote:
Thank you all for your replies it means alot. I have never felt so lonely until I came onto this site and realised I’m really not alone.
We really will help where we can with support but then it’s up to you to make sure you put the appropriate blocks in place, and get the best support for your situation. Stepchange is a good start for debt as I mentioned. Good luck! Kaz xx
Hi Kelly
I just wanted to say good luck on your journey. My story is very similar to yours, started with the bingo, played side games and then putting my whole months pay packet into a machine in less then a day or two after payday. Coming here is one of the best things you can do! Use your diary to empty out the feelings you can't share with your close ones, use it to record small achievements, kill time when your lonely and bored and most of all make the most of all the fantastic advice to help you overcome this awful illness.
Take one day at a time and don't be too hard on yourself. Good luck on your journey.
Bex
Thanks again. I am 8 days free of gambling! Let me know how you are all doing. I feel so much better since I took this journey.
Well done Kelly, stay focused. Have you installed GamStop on your computer? It's a good move. Good luck
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