It all started with poker, seeing it all on tv, becoming famous and a lot of potential to win a lot of money in a short amount of time. Winning wasn’t easy but I did pretty well, but wasn’t making enough so I started going to the casino. While waiting to play poker because there was a list of people waiting, started playing roulette. The amount of money I had on me or had access to was not a big fortune so I had nothing to lose. At the time I really believed I can win, despite the odds, I had luck and was winning small amounts which made me thing with more money I will win more. But with more money, your strategy changes and I was losing always. I started getting loans, from 1500-10,000, at the age of 19 I had over 10 loans and credit cards combined, totalling 30k. Guess what ? In a matter of weeks, I lost it all at roulette. I eventually sold my car for 2k which was not much and took the bus to play poker this time and make it all back. Please keep in mind every trip to the casino was 300km there and back. so imagine how many trips, how many hours of dreaming big and driving – a total waste of my life. But to continue with the story, I ended up playing poker, won 1500 within half an hour, took a break… and went to the roulette table, and lost it all. I somehow managed to convince my girlfriend at the time, to sell her car in order to pay bills, I did, and guess what I lost that too! Never repaid her, lost her too, she is well, married and has a kid on the way. So every time for the past 11 years I have gambled away every penny I ever made, not spending money on my eyes (which I use contacts), on my teeth (haven’t been to a dentist in 7 years), gambled away another girlfriends money, and lost her too. Decided not to make another girlfriend for many years not to destroy her life too, so going to P*********s become only available and quick option. Borrowed money from friends, all for my personal needs but I somehow managed it to gamble every time. In the last 6 months, I have worked my a*s off different type of jobs, hard labour, and made over 15k, bought a car, and wanted to move because I am staying with family. ( I am 30 now). Guess what ? I have lost it all again, in a matter of days! combination of roulette and sports betting. My heart goes out to all of you, including myself - and speaking out of experience it is very very hard. What will follow, I don’t know, all I know is that I have a strong heart, and will continue to dedicate my life all the way and will never stop betting on sports and playing occasional poker. Sad but true. Roulette that did all the damage are the worst and I hope I am able to stop. All the best to everyone! Comments, Advice are welcome! Also I am open for friendship.
Hi vs 2015
I agree with free.
In my experience, you can stop your gambling if you WANT to. Even then it is a hard slog.
You wrote..."I have a strong heart, and will continue to dedicate my life all the way and will never stop betting on sports and playing occasional poker. Sad but true."
Therein lies your problem. You have to accept that you can never gamble again, on anything! If you are honest with yourself, do you think that you can control yourself not to do what you have done in the past? The gamblers' first hurdle is to accept that he/she has a problem...you have done that. The next hurdle is to understand, to know within yourself, that you can NOT gamble ever again. On anything.
I would recommend that you look to attend GA meetings or similar. They will be able to help you on your road to recovery. Read some of the stories on this forum. The tales of woe are all true, and if you continue to gamble, you could be writing one of those tales in the future.
Best wishes
Agreed with wal1957, gambling of any kind will will lead you to be on here at a later date, telling the same tale. ALL GAMBLING MUST STOP, if you are to recover. Not even a wager where the winnings are a cup of coffee is acceptable.
All too familiar story especially the roulette which is the main cause of upset , lies and cheating in my house.
I finally hit rock bottom at christmas with the roulette came close to losing the lot my whole life.
79 days into recovery and still a constant daily battle but trying to be strong.
Everyones roulette story follows a similar pattern and is the road to ruin.
Hi vs2015,
People on here have given you very good advice.
Seems to me you have been locked in the vicious cycle of chasing losses. You have found out it is disastrous. Half the battle is accepting that the money lost is dead and gone. Draw a line under the whole episode now.
It seems to me from your post that you are still relatively young and you may well have a long life ahead. If you put strong measures in place you can make that life very happy. Once you have put some daylight between you and your former gambling life the urges will recede. Make no mistake it won't be easy but it can be done.
I would suggest you put your finances in the hands of a trusted relative. Make available to yourself only a small allowance to see you through each day. That way when the gambling pangs arrive you won't be able to take action.
You could start a daily diary on here and or take part in the 2015 Challenge. The Challenge has helped get me to Day 60 free of gambling. It's so encouraging to see the number of participants racking up their days "clean".
I still feel as strong as ever and I am confident I won't lapse. Why ? This is because I know my very future depends on staying "clean". I guess I'm a lot older than you and may not get another chance. I've learned that life too short to spend the majority of it in a self inflicted pit of misery. I feel we only have one life. No-one has ever approached me and said they've had one before this so on that basis the time I may have left is precious to me.
I walked past a betting shop the other day. Looked at the name sign and thought to myself there's a shop that other people go in. It's a shop I used to go in but I don't feel the need to enter any more. It just looked alien to me and I feel it will remain so.
I don't want to sound like I'm "preaching". It's just the way I view things.
One thing I know is I'm a far happier and calmer person than when I was in gambling's evil clutches. The little bit of money I have squirreled away is mine now and will not belong to some gambling company.
Take Care Now.
I am so impressed with all of your responses, and I appreciate and respect every single one of you from the bottom of my heart. You trully are amazing, not for only reading my story, but writing back. Many times, I have read stories and wanted so much to respond, but how can an addicted gambler give advice to someone who is trying to stop, so I haven't.
Today, I have gambled all my money and I have nothing to my name. There is no finances that relatives can take care of. I have also quit working two months ago, the reason being I really want to move ( I am not from England), and try a different place, a differnt country, I might not be happy here, or with my current situation and maybe that is why I gamble it all away. I don't like money much, and when I see so many desperate people in need of jobs, a place to stay, or needing food, it breaks my heart. The world is chaning, and we must take care of every single dollar we make and spend it wisely. I understand, and I will definetely take a break and hopefully forever from these evil activities. Sports betting, casinos, and most friends who talk about betting on sports every single day, I will try and fight hard to stay away. I know there is a long road ahead but I am ready for new adventures and activities that I missed for so long because of gambling. If any of you can point out a good city in England that is pretty safe, has few or no betting shops, fair rent for a place to stay, available jobs it would be so great!
Once again, thank you, for everything.
By the way, I am selling all my things, smartphone (not to access the internet for betting), car (not to have access to casinos and other bad things) and most of my collectibles so I can afford a better change. Hopefully I can have a fresh start, somewhere, somehow.
Hi vs2015
I worry that you are selling everything. What plans do you have for the money you obtain from the sale? Having easy access to money is a sure way to tempt you to gamble, so I would advise you to think about what you are doing. If you have no safeguards in place I can almost guarantee that you will gamble.
Have you someone that can take over your finances for a period of time? Have you attended GA meetings? Have you tried talking to a counsellor?
Personally, if it was me, and I was still gambling, moving elsewhere would not have stopped my motivation to gamble. The only thing that changes in that scenario is that I move to a new place. I know nobody, and therefore will more likely entertain myself by gambling.
I would seriously recommend that you attend GA, they can help you. All you have to do is walk thru the door.
Best wishes
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