Hi
My addictions started many years ago with slot machines. I would have plenty of good days but then also quite a few bad days. Many a time I have walked away £500 to £1000 up and thought i was untouchable, but then the inevitable would happen and I would end up back on the slots a day or 2 later and blowing the lot plus extra. Luckily rent was direct debit on the same day i got paid, I always bought gas and electric but quite a lot of the time I would leave myself without food for days due to my stupidity. Eventually enough was enough and one day I asked the owners of the amusement arcades to ban me for life. I moved away from where I lived for a few months, got my head straight and came back refreshed. I went about 10 years without touching a slot machine.
Then came the joys of online gambling. Everything you want at the touch of a button. The ability to play slots anywhere and everywhere. The chance to bet on everything from horses, football, basketball to e-sports. The past 4 years have ground me down to a shell of the person I once was. I hide my finances from loved ones, I never talk to anyone about the way im feeling.
But today something has finally snapped in me, I compulsively blew money that I really couldn't afford to spend, it's going to leave me struggling the next 4 weeks. I have enough in bank to keep me ticking over, so i'm not totally broke. But that money could have been spent elsewhere like my lads birthday.
I am fed up of doing silly stuff like this, fed up of constantly checking my finances to see if I can afford to do something or buy something. Fed up of feeling so low, so withdrawn and miserable. Enough is enough! I cannot go on like this no more.
Hi wysiwyg,
Sorry to hear that you are having a difficult time. Please call the helpline on 0808 8020 133 which is open 24/7 if you would like to talk about your situation and get some information or support.
Best Wishes
Clare
Forum Admin
Hi mate
Know exactly how you feel. You are not alone. We're all in the same boat. I get a lot from this site, some of the stories are really inspirational and a reminder of how bad it can feel in the midst of a gambling spiral down. Register with GamStop asap mate. It's helped me massively. Get someone you trust to look after your money. My dad looks after mine. You can do it. You'll have slip ups but that's part of it. Try and learn and put things into place to reduce risk of relapse after every slip. Best of luck mate
Hi mate
We’re all in it together, been there.....
Get the barriers in place - I didn’t and you can guess how many time “never again”. Online blocks are vital for me, I still on lonely times pick up and go on a site! Thankfully the block works and I can’t bet!! This barrier allows you protection at times of weakness (and there will be them). Keep posting and at a point when your head has cleared Allan Carr book I find great to understand the addiction.
matt692
Hi guys,
im new to this I do live in uk for last 15 years and my last 10 years I gambled. Started at few coins at coral few good wins and I not even notice how I was pulled to this now I can’t take any money with me even if I go to shop to buy some food if i walk past bookies shop someone inside me says no do go there but just i can’t control this anymore ... I keep losing and wining but more losing obviously I came to point that I don’t know how to stop that. I can’t do this on my own I need help advice . I keep loosing each month over 1000 pounds on slot machines and football betting .
I guess I’m not alone here with stories like this just hope by talking to someone who does been there and understand that will help me.
thank you
Hi Vitali,
Welcome to the Forum, you may get more personal support if you start a new thread. But I thought I’d respond here after reading your post as we don't want you to feel alone in this. (Apologies Wysiwyg, don’t mean to derail your thread)
We understand where you are coming from Vitali, many of our forum users have reported being drawn in after a good win, this is why we are really pleased you have come here today as there is a lot of support and advice that can help you break this cycle.
I am concerned that you are struggling not to enter a betting shop when you walk past. I would recommend self-excluding to remove this temptation. You can exclude from all betting shops in a local area at the same time through MOSES, 0800 294 2060
However, there is a lot more support on offer and we would like to tailor this support to your needs, to enable us to do so I would recommend that you call one of our Advisers on our HelpLine 0808 8020 133 or our NetLine.
Please don’t feel alone in this, we are here to support you and look forward to your call
Kind regards
ChrisK
Forum Admin
Hi I am 106 days gamble free, don’t dwell on what you have lost, it’s gone that’s it.. look forward to your next pay plan what your gonna do now u don’t have the expense of gambling, it’s great and a tip download solitaire or other apps to fill the gaps even buy a colouring book and when u feel like u want a flutter just say to yourself just for today I won’t gamble .. goodluck u can do do this x
Hi guys.
Being able to talk to someone about my problems is always something I have had trouble doing. Even with my partner. But this is a step in the right direction for me. I have partially explained my situation to her and we will sit and have a full discussion when we both have the time to.
I have already taken the time to install the gamban software on my pc. I also took the time to go through the gamstop website and self exclude for 5 years.
Saturday was a new beginning. Temptation will always be there, but with the support of those around me and the help and support of you peeps on here I am sure that I will be able to get through this and come out a better person for it all.
Hi
Thats sounds like you have made some positive steps in the past few days and admitting to yourself and others that you have a problem is the hardest step do well done for doing this. Hopefully this will allow you to draw a line in the sand and start moving forward, for a more positive and rewarding future.
Keep coming back here to get as much support as you can. In the early days, getting lots of support is really important and it’s much easier to be open and honest on here then to people in our lives as we have all been there and no one is judging. All you will get is support and encouragement to help you along your journey.
Lonely
Revisiting this again..
Back at square one.
Despite having banned myself from all sites I have access through accounts that my partner has.
I don't play all day like I have done in the past. But I still find myself spending money that could easily be spent elsewhere. It's not the hundreds I have blown in the past, £20-40 here and there, and I feel like c**P after doing so. But that soon all adds up.
I've tried cold turkey. I've tried talking to people. But can't seem to get over that urge to want to play. I've tried playing the slots on just demo mode but all that does is fuel the excitement and the urges. I've tried finding hobbies to keep me occupied.
I just have no clue how to get away from the urges to want to gamble, to get away from the feeling of a winning bet landing (Which have been few and far between, same with the slot wins)
Back again, feeling empty..
I need to get away from gambling, but everywhere you look there are adverts for bookies, slots, bingo..
Bad choices made when I was younger have brought me here to this moment and I hate myself for it.
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