Addicted to Fruit Machines..

Liam, I can't say much at the moment, I am in a similar place to where you are, but coming here is a good start. I hope you can talk to your girlfriend about it too.

Sort it out now though, I was exactly where you are 15 year ago, just graduated uni, doing 30 - 100 a time, and I ended up going bankrupt about 6 years ago.

Good luck, it can be beaten.

(And you have my sympathies for being a Hammer 😉

hey there liam my names julie and i know exactly how you feel as im addicted to the slots and i can gamble upto 300 quid a week on them. They are such sods in drawing us in but since finding this site i feel a hell of alot better i know its not no miracle cure but it des help because it makes me realise im not on my own and that my mind is occupied into talkin to people with same problem. Im on day 5 now i did go 70 days last year then xmas was coming and i ws so depressed so i ended up back on them but like i said i come on here now and ive got a support worker which she helps me alot. You will get thro it believe me just take one day at a time. julie

Thanks for the replies.

I have since gambled again on the slots. I am doing an internship in London and I have to sometimes wait for trains at Liverpool street and inevitably I end up with a pint in the spoons upstairs and waste some money in the machines. I am better than I used to be because I dont try to force them anymore, so I loose less. Still I cant seem to resist a quick go, especially on a Red for that nice red feature and maybe being a few quid up. It is all stupid though as I always end up being down sooner or later. Even on a good day I wont take away much.

I have been clean though for 5 days but I am writing this from the office in London so I have to watch myself this evening.

Hi unluckystar

Glad to c u r back here and on day 5. Well done for making it to day 5!

Have you tried going straight home?

Have a look on the internet and see what time your train will be tonight, then give your self a small window of time to get that exact train and get straight on it. For now avoiding temptation might really help you stop playing the machines.

You can do this if you want to. And if you miss the train and do feel tempted tonight why don't you give the GamCare HelpLine a call on 0845 6000 133 to discuss how your feeling and to keep your mind occupied.

I hope you get thru today,let us know.

Best wishes

Helen

Unlucky... reds are dangerous machines!! Sure the all red is nice and the ВЈ50/ВЈ75 drop once in a while can make it seem worthwhile. But how often have you convinced yourself the machine is buzzing to end up over £100 down?! You got to realise that the only winners are the machines. Hope you are managing to get to grip with things.

B.

hi mate my name is stephen my gambling problems was the same as you fruits machaine everday i was out playing them untill I got so addicted to the them I could not stop I was stealing money to feed my abbit I lost everything my home and my job got in trouble with the police nearly went to prison for six months, but I found GA which help me through my gambling problems NOT GAMBLE now for nearly three years I also found this forum which have help through my gambling problems we are here to help each other mate whatever problems you got about gambling

we are to help you and give you the best advice for you, it is not easy for us but we do live one day at the time. so mate let us help you to recover

from stephen

I have spent quite a bit over the last few days. Maybe a tenner down over the week. Just taking small wins. I also play emulated fruit machines as well.. I am not unhappy about this..

My problems start when I am feeling low or bored/waiting for someone and I find myself alone in an environment with fruit machines.

Thats when I am unhappy.. and I end up loosing alot.

What do other people think about emulated machines (not so much on the legality aspect). Has anyone tried them and do they help? On the one hand they can be enjoyable but on the other you always want the newest ones to play which arent available...

As for 'Reds' I think you are right they are dangerous and I have lost the most ever by trying to force them. The newer AWPs now look really really nasty(30p/50p spin, ВЈ35 tops, new chips) and I can see people loosing a lot of money. I do question whether these have any places in pubs. I mean they may say ВЈ35 but most of us know that they can offer £100 streaks now and will take amounts of money accordingly to get the top prizes. Amusements with prizes for the very rich.

just an update to say that unfortunately I am still playing the machines.. I have had a couple of bad days. one after an evening out in london and I was waiting for the train back from liverpool st.. I was alone, drunk, with time to kill and in a pub full of machines.. the other time was after a long working week I was in the snooker club with a colleague and ended up wasting most of the money I had worked for that day..

I have to recognise the danger signs of being alone around machines, especially if tired/drunk..

I have to recognise the danger signs of being alone around machines, especially if tired/drunk

I find that identifying the circumstances when i am 'at risk' and having a PLAN for the next time that circumstance arises has been a big help in my recovery.

xoxo

Hi Liam.

Welcome to the forum.

I was addicted to those damned things for forty years. Only a proper recovery with full abstinence allows the mind to heal again

Addiction is an illness and gambling addiction is now in the same chapter as substance abuse. Its simply a craving for chemical pleasure which naturally gets out of control

This is because we are being sold a dream.... an illusion if you like. Its not an income scheme as you really know inside...the odds start at about 1 in 10 of getting tiny amounts and go exponentially upwards for the amounts your dopamine will require for its hits.

You need to see the real odds You need to focus that the owners of the machines win everyday as long as they get punters through the doors. They take 25% + of the turnover so it is an income scheme for them based on how easy it is to suck gamblers in. Even the rtp is used against the punters as it a can not be relied on per session. The prize does not move towards you on a conveyor belt the longer you play which is how an addicted gambler starts thinking with a head full of lucky clover. Same odds and all down to a chip algorithm which doesnt care if you starve

You will have to come to terms with why we are drawn to it like animals trapped in a laboratory. The reasons go deep and a neuron path has been formed in your brain that these machines give you a pleasure hit

Only they dont really do they......its a temporary escape... a drug hit. and the money becomes tokens to play. They will take your money from you and we create a comfort zone to lessen the pain until its too late.

If I short changed you at the railway station or you dropped a tenner you would naturally be miffed. However we think nothing sensible and realistic about sinking £100 or more in a fruit machine. Lets be clear though that even gambling a few pounds is deeply irresponsible act and could have bought you something worthwhile.

I never had money to lose which is how I know the addiction is a drug fix and an illness

The addiction gets worse and its linked to stress or depresssion. Alone with time to kill is very dangerous and I fully relate to what you are saying because I lived it.

Im serious here...talk to someone close and prepare to live on an allowance with full blocks. Its about a born again moment finding the serenity to admit it controlled your mind and to seek help.

There is no shame in admitting it. The machines are everywhere and you need to restrict access to cash. You will recover but there is no room for complacency. It is a drug addiction and not really one of stupidity or greed. That may be difficult for you to understand at the moment if you just think its about winning money or getting your money back.

Bottom line is you cant be alone anywhere with more than a sandwich allowance to spend. Are you ready for that because you need to know what you are fighting here?

You will recover and wonder why you ever did it but you can never be complacent again as it lurks deep within us

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Those tens and twenties will soon rise to hundreds, trust me. Nip it in the bud, once you find a job you will no doubt not get a buzz unless you gamble more, tis always the way.

I wouldn't downplay your gambling either, it is a thouroughly hegative habit which serves you no positives at all, it is compulsive that you need to go all the time.