Don't know what to do

Hi Shaun your dad needs to realise you can't handle money. You need to get some help with that. Call gamcare and maybe find a GA meeting. Is there a counsellor onsite? You definitely need support. If you tell your dad again maybe he'll realise it's out of control. Get online software blocks, use a random number off a barcode for passwords, so you can't reactivate the access. Cancel credit cards, order new ones and scratch 3 digits off. You have to actively fight this as it just gets worse. Good luck!

Hi Shaun

You are going to have to speak to your Dad again and, yes, it is probably going to be a pretty unpleasant experience. However I am sure your Dad loves you and will just want to help. Unfortunately sending you £3k at the moment means he might as well have flushed it down the toilet, there was only place it was going to go and that was into the bookies profits, and to be honest I wish he had rather than give it to them but that is just my hatred towards the gambling industry coming out.

Ok, practical measures - need to speak your Dad and hopefully between you you can sort the rent/fees out but you must never have that money within your control. Going forward, you need blocks in place to ward off any urges to gamble so effectively that means you cannot have any access to money other than your immediate needs such as food and travel - this is going to mean someone, maybe your Dad, is going to have to control your finances tightly and drip feed you money. No credit cards or overdrafts. He really does need to understand you have a real problem and this is not just some daft phase or mistake. Maybe try and get him to read someof the advice/stories on here. Third, you need help to stop this - I have found one to one counselling very helpful and many others on here find GA meetings useful. Find out what works for you.

Finally, do you really want to stop? All the blocks and controls are great but if you really want to gamble, you'll find a way.

You are young and have not screwed your life up with this but you do need to take positive actions and not dig your head in the sand. Be 100% determined you are not ever going to gamble again.

Don't forget you are not on your own and many, many of us on here have and are going through exactly the same emotions.

Good luck and keep posting

Hi shaun

Nothing much more to say than muststop123 and merry go round but I suppose another compulsive gambler telling you that you need to listen to the above advice can't be a bad thing.

I suppose gambling your own money like it's monopoly money is serious enough, but he's when you start to gambke serious money that is for important things like bills, rent, food and uni bills etc is the next level of serious and a sure sign that not taking control now will mean it only gets worse im afraid.

You are young and have time on your side like me but only if like mustatop123 said, if you really want to stop.

As you mentioned mate you are struggling to concentrate on uni work...This addiction can eat away at people's money and careers and futures but it sounds like you are just starting out and are already trying to stop so well done on that and I hope it goes well for you

Take care and keep posting! Set a goal 1 week, then 2 then a month etc it really does fly by!

Hi shaun,

I've been in your position. Graduated University this year with a huge gambling problem being £13,000 in debt. You have to fight hard to overcome this before it takes hold of you more than it already has done.

I'm happy to report though, that I am now 39 days gamble free and things DO eventually look up. You just have to really think about HOW you're gonna get there. Get some blocks in place, change your attitude to money, take up new hobbies?

Keep us updated.

Hello Shaunmac,

You're welcome to call us on our freephone 0808 8020 133 if you want to talk, you're also welcome to give our number to your dad. There are some webpages about self-exclusion and blocking software you might be interested to look at: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do

Take care,

Forum admin.