Hi, didn't think I had such a problem until last week... I've been online slots gambling for a few years. In the early years of gambling I earned good money and my losses were easily swallowed but health matters led to a lesser paid job but the urge to gamble was still the same. I've always made sure I can pay my bills but have never worried if I had no money left to actually enjoy the nice things in life because gambling was and has been my "nice thing in life" a few good wins here an there have been enough to convince me that gambling actually paid off because I'd convinced myself that I didn't NEED to enjoy a nice weekend away with my partner and to be honest I think I now have the habit of being "skint" all the time and actually don't know how to deal with having enough money to not worry about paying for dinner etc. We have had a shared dream to open our own catering business and have spent hours talking about it and how to raise the money for it... Well... Last week I won enough money for us to do that.. I gambled the lot away to seek an even bigger win... I feel so sad and sick that I did that and wrecked a possibility of a better future. My partner doesn't know I gamble, we have separate finances but am sure there are unasked questions as to why I bow out of doing stuff that I should easily be able to do simply because I can't say I don't have the money to do it. I think I'm droning along a bit so I guess my point is. . Do some people gamble because they are scared of success? I have had the opportunity to start something brilliant but I blew it. I'm so sorry if I sound like an idiot but am not sure how to work out why I do what I do
Hi call gamcare and get some counselling, then you will learn about why. If there is a why. It's free. Another immediate support is GA. Sign up to gamstop which restricts your online gambling. If you really want to stop, you have to go and get that help.
So I have registered with gamstop and even though I had a moment of panic I excluded myself for 5 years, figured my if I'm going to be serious about stopping gambling then a 6 month exclusion isn't going to help much. Payday is on Friday and I hope I don't be tempted to try to find ways around it. I know if I have my usual Friday night drink then temptation will be through the roof so am planning to keep myself occupied to minimise the risk. Wish me luck
Hi Meecha, just wanted to say good luck this weekend as you said it was pay day time. Try and keep as occupied as you can, maybe cook your partner a meal to keep yourself occupied (i'm not much of a cook but have found this works for me). If alcohol motivates you to gamble for the first few weeks try and take it easy with the beer, good luck!
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