Doing it aline

Hello

Thank you for reaching out to us this evening. 

I'm sorry to hear that you require support for your gambling. I would always recommend contacting our helpline and get support for your gambling, all of our advisors are fully trained to operate our helpline. 

There are ways you can stop gambling and develop your social circle. Gambler's Anonymous (GA) is a support group for people who are trying to stop gambling. There you will be able to speak to people outside of your workplace who have been through similar experiences to yourself. I would also encourage you to continue to use our forum and chatroom. 

There is a self-exclusion service for Bingo. You can use it to stop going to bingo halls in the future. www.bingo-association.co.uk/self-exclusion  01582 860921 

I would like to commend you on taking a significant step towards remaining gambling free. It is possible to love on without gambling and to make new friends as well

Thank you for using our forum and please don't hesitate to contact out helpline if you need further support 

Thank you

Forum Admin

You're definitely not alone! Have you trued taking up other hobbies in the evening? Something that stops you feeling lonely or bored which will then stop you going to Bingo? Do you use card or cash in the Slots? 

I am almost a Year Free from Gambling,  but mine was online sports, so totally different to slots. 

If you really want to stop there arw many ways and many people that will help. The first step is admitting it to yourself, which you have done. Next step is including other people around you as they'll help aswell. As bad as it may seem maybe speak to the Bingo Hall and Tell them, I'm sure they'll stop you coming in? Thay could help 

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this situation through gambling. But be assured we are all on the same boat here so you are not alone.

What I would like to say is that and this is from a personal experience, do not be afraid of the debt collectors, they can't do anything physically to you even if you come face to face with them. Tell them to go away and you are dealing with the debt. However, the sooner you deal with the debt the better for your mental health and also it will keep the wolves at bay. You can do that either by calling a debt charity called Stepchange of which everyone holds in great regard here or you can give the helpline a call and they will kindly direct you to right resources. I think, with Stepchange, you make one affordable payment a month and it gets distributed amongst the creditors, so then you get a bit of a clarity and a breathing space.

Clearly, gambling is taking you down a destructive path and it's not worth it. You definitely deserve better. Maybe it's time to rekindle or discover a constructive hobby you had once enjoyed or will enjoy. I for one have rediscovered my love for reading and working on a career change at 50. It's not smooth by any means but then what is in this life. 

Please stick around, this is a good place with some good people.

All the best.

Ergos 

Completely agree with the above. Please speak to stepchange. They will work a budget out with you so you can live a comfortable life. They will contact your loan companies, you don’t have to do anything. I was super nervous contacting them but now I pay a monthly payment the day my wages go in. This leaves me a budget for the rest of the month. Yes it’s tight, but the end is in sight (a distant sight!) but the letters and calls have stopped now. They will stop interest and charges too. The fear of debt will be lifted and you will feel so much better. 

You’ve taken the first step in beating this by coming here. Take all the advice you get here and follow it to the letter. It’s working for me and I’m doing this alone so you can too. Good luck, and keep us updated.

Stay strong 💪