I have been gambling for about 3 years now. It just started off as playing online bingo sites and betting £10 here and there, then I won a few hundred pounds on one of the slot games and was hooked! I ended up in quite a large amount of debt very quickly and then just ended up paying my wages into gambling sites each month. I ended up chasing the big win but by doing that I was sinking £1000's into these websites. I would exclude myself from a site but then open a new one when I got paid. Then last month I finally I got my big payout and managed to pay off a large amount of my debt. I told myself that was it, but now I'm back to gambling and I'm worried that now I'm chasing an even bigger win, and to do that I'll bet bigger than before.
I feel like I'm living a double life because only one person knows about this and he has put up with an amazing amount. I have to lie to people as to why I'm so poor all the time when really I have a good job and not many outgoings, I should be saving a lot of money. I then drag my partner into keeping up the lies for me aswell which is unfair.
I don't gamble everyday, and I certainly don't think about it all the time, but when I do gamble I go mad and spend a ridiculous amount of money at a time, then I panic and spend more to try and win back that money.
I say every time that this is the last time, and I know that for gamblers that are on the road to recovery there will be relapses, but I really hope I learn to control this soon, I have a future to plan and have everything going for me but it can very quickly be ruined by gambling. I hope everyone out there finds a way to overcome this terrible addiction.
Hello LastDay 0702 and welcome to our Forum,
It sounds like you have been trying hard to control your urges to gamble on your own for a while now, so well done for taking this positive step forward to share your problem with others. Chasing losses is a trap that many people fall into and end up losing more and more money. Since you gamble online, I would recommend that you download a blocking software on your device(s) to prevent you from accessing betting sites. There are two that GamCare have tested and found to be effective., Please, visit the links and choose one that matches your needs best. http://www.betfilter.com /
http://www.gamblock.com Also, there is http://www.netnanny.com which has not be tested but can be helpful. It might also be a good idea to talk to the person who knows about your gambling problem and ask them to help you by safeguarding your password so you are not able to uninstall the program. Asking your bank to restrict you from using your card online can also help.
I would like to encourage you to read through other posts in the Forum for tips and new ideas and you are always welcome to contact the GamCare advisers on our freephone 0808 8020 133. We're open from 8am until midnight, 7 days a week. Alternatively, you may use the live chat by visiting this page http://secure.gamcare.org.uk/netline.
Best wishes,
Ana
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