Morning all. Not sure if I’ve posted this right! I’ve finally admitted defeat after visiting this site from the background, admiring everyone’s bravery for reaching out, wishing it was me. I’ll try and keep it short and sweet. About 16 years ago, all was amazing financially. Zero debt, mortgage, disposable income etc. fast forward to today-I’ve had a very very bumpy road. I have an addictive personality which I’ve managed to nip in the bud, from scratch cards, roulette, slots, smoking,  drugs-I’ve managed to stop without help, when I knew enough was enough. This on the other hand, feels so different and it’s proving really difficult to get control of. What I’m talking about it instant win competition sites. Wow, it’s more addictive than any slot machine. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of winnings but like anything else, you end up using it all to win more. I won quite a bit a couple of weeks ago and thankfully paid off a very high interest payday loan. I still have 2 payday loans and 2 credit cards to tackle all because of my stupidity, equally around £5k. The worst thing about this addiction to these competition sites is that they aren’t seen in the gambling world like they should be and there’s absolutely no blockers you can put in place to stop them, other then locking/closing down the account yourself. I even have gambling restrictions on my bank, again, it by passes it because it’s not seen as gambling.Â
Any advice, support, words of wisdom would be massively appreciated.
Thank you all
Welcome to the forum, it's great that you've made the step to reach out. It looks like you've coped with so much by yourself, and congratulations on being able to quit some of the other things that have caused you problems.
You've described how you're struggling with the instant win competitions. I wonder if you feel like reaching out to our helpline? It can help to problem solve together and to talk about what other support is available to you. You can contact us here: Chat to us now - GamCare or by phone 0808 8020 133
Good luck and all the best
Jane
Forum Admin
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Hi @Helpless2192,
Well done for reaching out — that’s a big first step. These sites are gambling, and the pull you feel is real. You’ve already beaten other addictions, so you have the strength to tackle this too.
Consider calling a gambling-support helpline (e.g. GamCare 0808 8020 133), talking to a debt-advice charity (like StepChange) about repayment plans, and using blocking tools such as Gamban or device-level filters. Sharing with a trusted friend or family member can also help keep you accountable. You’re not alone, and support is out there.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
