Hello, i'm a 19 year old student who has spent the past two years losing everything on online gambling websites and on FOBTs. Since I began gambling my losses have totalled over £7,000. I have lived every month surviving on cheap food and having to borrow money from friends, many of whom no longer trust me. As my addiction to gambling grew, the amounts that I have lost have also grown, my second last loss was £1,800 on roulette and yesterday I lost £600 playing poker. I have had very dark times on this dangerous game and I thought that when I lost the £1,800 that would certainly be the last, but this addiction plays tricks on your brain and I find myself pushing more money in often subconciously in an attempt to chase my losses.
This is not the person that I am nor the person I want to be. I consider myself to be a generallly happy person and a hardworking person - the reason I have lost so much is because I was often working 6/7 days a week just to try and build up my savings and have money to live off. But now I no longer have a job as I have moved to the Netherlands as part of my degree, and have no viable source of income now that I have spent my last penny on gambling. My parents are not in a position to help as they are also in debt from money that my father has lost on gambling, and I do not know how I am going to get out of this mess.
Hi Mclark.
Sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time at the moment but you are most definitely not alone. I used to play roulette and black jack on the FOBT and online so I know where you are coming from. I used to gamble thousands of pounds chasing my losses always justifying it by saying I would win it back but you never do.
11 days ago I took the decision to quit and have not looked back. Already I feel mentally better and my finances have started to recover. The first thing I did (and I strongly recommend you do the same if you haven't already) is close and block all the websites that you gambled on. At some point you are going to have a "wobble" and want to gamble again, if you have these blocks in place it will make it easier to resist.
Lastly I would recommend speaking to someone about your gambling. Is there a friend or partner you could confide in? Speaking to someone about this can really help you work through it.
I really hope things get better for you and that you can overcome this terrible addiction.
All the best
Silver
Hello Mclark35
Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you are in a very difficult place at the moment Im sorry to hear this. Please see the link for support in the Netherlands for problem gambling
http://AGOG: National information number: 0900-2177721 www.agog.nl
There is also free emotional and practicle support for people who live outside the uk at Gambling Therapy an online support you can use https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/ .They will be able to support and help you Mclark35
Take care of yourself
Kind Regards
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