Advice

I had the exact same scenario about the office WC sweep this week. As you say, they are used to us being vocal about betting and discussing it. I said my I promised my other half I wouldn’t bet till the start of the new season, little white lie they will soon forget. A work colleague also changed the subject for me and I just went to make a cuppa.

Good luck!

Hi, the feeling awkward is probably just in your head it’s easy to say no, you don’t really need to make excuses just say no thanks. Just for instance if a friend you hadn’t seen in a while offered you some heroine would you feel awkward saying no? You’d probably just shake your head and think nothing more of it. The thing with us gamblers is we read to much into a situation we find ourselves in. The real winner will be you when you say no

I’m not trying to defend the lottery but there’s a huge difference between spending all your wages on another form of gambling to putting £2 a week on the lottery, your not going to go chasing the £2 you lost. I know many would disagree on here. I’m still playing the lottery (in a 2 line syndicate with my mate, for god knows how long!). Never going to win! But I can take that hit each week and brush it off. Don’t beat yourself up about spending a couple of quid at Least your not blowing thousands!!

Wonderful responses and all right in their own way.I agree that we overthink it and saying no should just be no and to be fair saying no to a 'harmless' flutter in your colleagues eyes is slightly different to saying no to heroine! In my opinion just! The postponing it for a few months too won't work as I will worry about being asked down the line and that may trigger a bet in me.Lastly,I don't and won't criticise anyone who can do the lotto but not capitulate into hardcore bettimg but I suspect if I did that I would find justification in going back to it hard.I will just say ' I don't gamble ATALL on anything anymore,I used to gamble but just gave it up' and leave it at that and if bantered just stand my ground as no-one can force or coerce too much for me to do it,especially colleagues in work.In time,they will hopefully give up.I advised a friend in work to drop into chat that I don't gamble and gave it up years ago so as it would be common knowledge and not a constant issue all being well.Thanks all for your thoughts!

Hi Micky,

I too had the same situation this week with the world cup sweep stakes. Unfortunately there was an odd number so I was put in the mix to draw without really giving consent.

It was £5 per person and I’ve never been a ‘betting’ gambler, my troubles are with online casinos, so I wasn’t too upset. I’ve had my first GF week so I don’t know if I can technically count this in? 🙁 hope it doesn’t ruin my track record. Anyway, safe to say I won’t be holding my breath on my teams winning!

My thoughts are - I’m never going to feel like chasing this £5 loss and what is a fiver compared to the £*** I would have lost in the past week had I still been gambling.

I think I should have been more firm to say no, as no one knows of my situation at work and it did feel awkward but only for me. I guess I just felt peer pressured as I avoided it right up to the last point but then it came dependant on me for everyone to have equal draws!

Well done on standing strong and saying no. Sweep stakes and office bets are harmless to the average person but it just goes to show how gambling is so socially accepted, kinda scary!

Easy answer . If you feel pressured to do it or if in an office environment then do it . If you win anything give it to charity . That way you are doing nothing wrong . People set their own counsel on things like this but for me that would be my answer

This is a difficult one because I know offices and I know work "colleagues" can be very funny about this sort of thing in the name of faux cameraderie.

Office politics are going on and eveyone is dealing with their own anxieties about not being the odd one out. Anything can and will be used against you in that situation and its why people follow like sheep.

Also I wouldnt particularly want to admit a previous gambling problem in a general working environment

What should be a moment of pride gets twisted up because to some of them it will be like saying Im a bit above you and in control of my life thanks.

Its your decision therefore mp. If the lottery has never been a trigger then....but a syndicate is every week and reinforces that its every week without fail

Best wishes

Intriguing answers!!! I have set out my stall now and will stand by it.I will aim to just tell them I don't bet atall and at a push,I will just say that I used to gamble but decided to give it up fully.There is no doubt it has already been discussed behind my back why I don't do it so it is too late and no good to me to agree to it now.If anything,that would appear as though I was giving in to a temptation now.If really really persuaded I may do the World Cup if it appears as though I am proper anti-social and a) I will almost certainly not win and b) if I did I would give it to charity.But,I know the regularity of the lottery may send me back betting and I just don't want my future to involve gambling.I could be worrying about nothing,they may have got the message already and also by worrying a lot about stuff that may never happen can be a trigger for escaping the stress so I need to keep it calm and simple and deal with things as they arise.Thanks all for your help!

Hi I think that it's important if you've managed to become gamble-free - congrats - to stay gamble-free. The clean days grow in number which gives a lot of satisfaction. Two possible solutions without having to reveal a past gambling addiction.

1) A religious angle. You could say you're a Christian & as such gambling is against your religious beliefs. The roman soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garments after His Crucifixion, and as such you consider gambling to be sacrilegious / immoral.

2) You mention you work in finance - you could say that from a financial point of view gambling on the lottery is foolhardy, the odds / value are extremely poor, especially since Camelot increased the numbers by 10 & increased the price. So rationally, it simply isn't worth doing. A sweepstake on the World Cup doesn't make sense as you are equally likely to be drawn a no hoper team such as Iran, South Korea, Panama etc as you are a hot team. If you work in finance this rational, careful, considered approach could reflect well on you.

Or - both !

Thanks Davey but it is safe to say that the religious would be seen as far fetched and a fudge and also a lie so I will give that a miss but the other one is an idea but nobody who bets once in a while does it for the likelihood of winning but more for the sense of camaraderie.I can't lie - it is stressing me quite a bit but 4 weeks ago I was betting and I didn't care too much which shows how much I change when I have to face up to things.I am addicted to escapism rather than gambling and that is not denial,that is a fact.I would unquestionably stop gambling with little effort if I didn't have my demons and desires to escape and I probably could handle a pound or 2'on the lotto and also a sweepstake and then give any winnings to charity but I have kinda made my bed now in work and need to stand by it.I have never done the lotto as even when I was betting I didn't want the long term aspects of being locked into it.I will go into work tomorrow and all being well the sweepstake fever will not gather momentum and if it does and I am absolutely made to feel like the worst in the world for not partaking,I will partake and then give my teams to the girls who work with me removing any gain and by doing so they will realise that I am serious and don't gamble.A long standing abstainer from gambling advised me earlier to just say 'I used to gamble but gave it up and don't touch it now' as a line which I will say if prompted and if elaboration is required (people are nosey in the office) I will just say that I spent too much time and money on it and the fun stopped so I stopped and leave it at that! At the end of the day,what is the worst that can happen? It is a fraction of what I could do if I went online now and started betting which I won't do! No matter what happens,I am not returning to my,old ways - I mean it!!!! Thanks for your thoughts!!!