Do I have a problem?

I realised I had some sort of issue when I totalled up around £600-£700 month spend in 3 months on betting websites. It may not seem a lot when you look at stories on here but you start questioning your sanity as to how you could actually waste that amount of money. After all we're all first to moan that our job doesn't pay enough. If you don't think the issues are that bad then looking at this site really wakes you up and shocks you into making changes.

I'm pretty sure its the b*****r site as well it tells you how much you've bet and your overall profit/loss...mine was a loss...it's scary and makes you realise that you'll never win.

My new logic is all that money spent could go into a savings account and I could actually buy something nice for myself at the end of the year.

I think you have an issue if you lose control of how much your spending. For me I was controlled in the sense that I wouldn't dip into savings but if it was spare cash I would keep depositing if I had a few bad results. If you have a spare amount of money and restrict yourself to say £50 a month and you don't overspend - for me your in control. If you have a situation where your taking money out of savings for online casino's then I would be concerned and put a stop to it.

The fact you've found your way here suggests you think you have a problem. You've spent over £2K in less than three weeks from funds earmarked for a house deposit. CG's can't maintain control for long if at all. If self discipline was all that was required there wouldn't be a need for this site.

You've recognised you have a problem. Take proactive steps to address it now while the losses are still at a manageable level

Hi Shimla, it certainly sounds like you are a complusive gambler. I was similar to you when I was single, would never get into debt but would spend a large chunk of my monthly income on gambling, though I was in control until I had a child and more responsability. I noticed I would gamble more and more and started chasing losses which is a real tell tale sign for compulsive gamblers. I could stop for weeks even months at a time but never really wanted to stop for good as I enjoyed it.

It was not until hitting rock bottom financially that I went to GA where I discovered all about being a compulsive gambler. I also learned that we need more than will power alone to overcome our addiction. We need support, GA is a great place to start.

Thanks guys - I think I was really looking for people to confirm I did have a problem, so that does help.

I've deleted the one online account I do have, and right now I have absolutely no cravings to hit a table of wheel. I am just worried that after a couple of paydays I start to go back in black and then think, oh a cheeky fiver on blackjack will stimulate the adrenal gland!

Hi

I feel one of the most dangerous things about the addiction is how it controls our minds into wondering if we do have a problem I never thought I could get addicted to anything. I thought I would recognise the danger signs and stop long before it was classed as any problem.

No so with gambling. I have been addicted for forty years and I have been delusional about that addiction... perhaps caused by the addiction. I used to ride certain losses as if they arent the end of the world but I have never had £100 that I can afford to chuck away. I have simply never earnt enough to consider losses like that acceptable.

Then again its an addiction so complex that it makes addicts of footballers lawyers and people from all walks of life. I ended up chucking away thousands per year.

At an early stage of thinking I was in recovery I was relapsing every six days and actually congratulating myself that I had managed 6 days so I could have a gamble again. Its a crazy mixed up addiction. Ive eaten cold beans with no electricity for a week but I still returned to gamble. You may think losses can be ridden but the addiction gets worse

Ive had breaks away from gambling in the past but it was not a sign that I was in control. In the blink of an eye I could end up in an arcade then in a cold sweat having blown £1000 in a few hours. Was it even entertainment?.....No!...its actually a shot in the vein of escape which left me feeling even worse when I was skint and came back down to reality. Sure there were feelings I craved but it was destroying me

I have learnt that it works in the same way as the addiction for a dangerous drug.

Anyone that has money worries through gambling has a serious problem. Part of the defence mechanism is riding the losses and thinking thats life but it is the illness talking. If I had a penny for everyone that said I have a good job.... then I could retire 🙂

Gamblers dont see things clearly. If I stopped you in the street and said right 1.5k for the ball under one of these ten cups you would probably laugh at me and walk on.........yet we plough money into these gambling dens as if there is no tomorrow.

Being gamble free is a wonderful feeling and I hope you will join us

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Wow, the cold beans bit hit me. I am sorry you went through that. It is easy for the non-gambler to say "stupid decision" but I feel it really is out of our control. I am inclined the believe the industry needs reforming. I walk past at least two betting shops from the same established betting company in the UK to and from work. I have never been in a betting shop except to ask to use their loos. I usually see men in their 50s and 60 looking lost and weathered. I do not want to ever end up like that. Thanks for the encouragement, I hope not to post a relapse message in a few weeks or months time saying I blew my deposit.

Joydivider wrote:

Hi

I feel one of the most dangerous things about the addiction is how it controls our minds into wondering if we do have a problem I never thought I could get addicted to anything. I thought I would recognise the danger signs and stop long before it was classed as any problem.

No so with gambling. I have been addicted for forty years and I have been delusional about that addiction... perhaps caused by the addiction. I used to ride certain losses as if they arent the end of the world but I have never had £100 that I can afford to chuck away. I have simply never earnt enough to consider losses like that acceptable.

Then again its an addiction so complex that it makes addicts of footballers lawyers and people from all walks of life. I ended up chucking away thousands per year.

At an early stage of thinking I was in recovery I was relapsing every six days and actually congratulating myself that I had managed 6 days so I could have a gamble again. Its a crazy mixed up addiction. Ive eaten cold beans with no electricity for a week but I still returned to gamble. You may think losses can be ridden but the addiction gets worse

Ive had breaks away from gambling in the past but it was not a sign that I was in control. In the blink of an eye I could end up in an arcade then in a cold sweat having blown £1000 in a few hours. Was it even entertainment?.....No!...its actually a shot in the vein of escape which left me feeling even worse when I was skint and came back down to reality. Sure there were feelings I craved but it was destroying me

I have learnt that it works in the same way as the addiction for a dangerous drug.

Anyone that has money worries through gambling has a serious problem. Part of the defence mechanism is riding the losses and thinking thats life but it is the illness talking. If I had a penny for everyone that said I have a good job.... then I could retire 🙂

Gamblers dont see things clearly. If I stopped you in the street and said right 1.5k for the ball under one of these ten cups you would probably laugh at me and walk on.........yet we plough money into these gambling dens as if there is no tomorrow.

Being gamble free is a wonderful feeling and I hope you will join us

Best wishes from everyone on the forum