Hello

I understand that's exactly how I feel

Even if I win I just keep playing till its gone, then top more money up, lose that then start to regret it and fret till I get my next wage .

worse thing about it all is i dont smoke, take drugs etc, i cant belive that throughout the last 6 -7 years i have resorted to gambling on the fotb machines, lost quite a big chunk of money when i think about it, worse thing is currently im unemployed (looking for work) when i been working i have never stepped foot in to the bookies or even been on the online to play the roulette,i got a total of £800 to owe the bank but there in no big hurry,

......

Hi, Ash,

You absolutely can go into recovery and stay there.

It takes your commitment to stopping, plus help, plus barriers. The commitment has to come first, so that you are prepared to do what it takes. There's a lot of advice out there but it's your call as to whether to follow it.

Get help and support from GA, from counselling (GamCare or you GP) and from the people close to you. Tell your girlfriend or friends or parents. Hard to do but worth it, blowing open the secrecy makes it harder to gamble and easier to stop.

The other aspect is barriers, the best possible help is getting someone else to look after your money. I manage our finances and my husband has minimal pocket money. This - as far as I know - prevents him from depositing nightmare amounts of money on line. No access to cash or credit means no betting.

If your cash goes in the FOBT, then pay for what you can by card or contactless, avoid cash where you can. If visa means on line deposits, then ask for a basic cash card or open an instant saver account, move money into it from your current account by direct debit that comes out on pay day. To avoid embarrassment, all banks have Customer Service Centres, you can write to them instead of going in branch.

If you gamble on the mobile, downgrade to a non Internet version and install blocking software on laptops and desktops.

Finally, self exclude permanently. We did this by post, the websites do have postal addresses, they now have all of my husband's identifying details and it wouldn't be easy for him to open duplicate accounts. If self excluding from the bookies is embarrassing, then send the form in by post.

Wish you well,

CW

thanks guys, the money i had on me gave to my wife asap, she didnt question me i told her look after it, im not in any major debt. got £800 TO owe lloyds bank in £1000 overdraft limit, ill pay them regulary from my benefits i get, gambling made it go back to square 1 now im way behind to clear it, i have got large ammount of money saved in my savings account in another account which i havent touched and pretend i dont have it and not even used that money for last minute gambling chases to get it back, recently put that money on my father name, he said why did u put it on my name, i said i just feel your better handing money than i would when i need it ill get it off him(future house plans) i got a counselling session first ever booked on friday, i self excluded from many online sites that i was with, self excluded from my 4 local bookies, the money i have lost is cant even explain when i think about it, right now i have to restort to keep myself busy, always been in touch with the national careers advice, im trying to stay away from the darkworld of gambling, those machines have really made me feel weak and ill, and depressed and just seem like very off, have to put on a brave face in front of my whole family like everything is okay, i cant tell my family due my religious background and my family for these matters wont understand, its quite to hard explain, so this is my secret to myself and the community of gamcare, the urges i have got everyday it takes so much energy for me to control it, finding it quite difficult