Hello to everyone
I have come back to site as my gambling has started to get progressively worse over the last 4-5 months. My problem is horse racing. I enjoy reading the form, jockeys, ground, trainers and thought I knew enough to profit. I basically lost the £1000 I was up on Saturday and started chasing to the sum of £800 (on 2 races). It seemed when I bet small they won and the moment I increased my bet they lose. Needed to get that high of winning and then a few beers to celebrate. That loss made me feel as sick as I felt a couple of years ago and don't want it to happen again. If I had won I would have gone to the pub, told myself to bet low and would have been sensible for a while, maybe for 2 or 3 weeks. In the end they would have got all the money back.
Around 2 years ago I had a counselling assesment followed by 1 on 1 counselling once a week for about 4 months. I had an awful day of losing on the horses around £3500. A real shock that woke me up to where I was heading.
With the help of the counselling and reading the posts here I was able to reprogram my brain into spending normally again. Slowly the need to gamble lessened and everything was ok.
I know what I need to do before it escalates. I live near the town centre with bookies everywhere so can only take a small amount of cash and no debit card when I go out. Going to give the cards to my wife. I'm happier without the stress of available gambling money.
It seems this country has gone gambling mad. Bookies everywhere, online sites and TV advertising. Needs to be seriously regulated.
All the best to everyone having a terrible time trying to stop.
It is really desperate right now as the high streets and money pouring into gambling is ridiculous. Every single footy team in the prem league will have a betting sponsor on the front of the shirt. Still it's not their fault... it's all my fault for trying to make some easy cash. But I can change that from now on... good luck with your journey!
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.
