Hello....

Hi Alan, thanks for clearing that up for me. I have rarely been into a bookies so maybe thats why I dont know! Today has been a good day for me. I went in the chatroom for the last hour. Was good to chat to some peeps. All the best my friend xx

Hi Teresa! Just realised it was u in the chatroom. Welcome! I too am a slot machine addict. I don't play to win, I play to get a feature. When I do get one I don't expect the jackpot, just a retrigger! For me it's the enjoyment of pushing a d**n button. ... Until I've lost my first £200, then panic sets in and tears begin to flow and all I want is my money back☹ I hate how it makes me feel, the lying I do to cover up the fact that I gamble. I want to stop, it would b great to c my bank balance increase but I'm not ready to let go of it all completely just yet. Maybe I think I can control this.. But clearly I can't. Please b careful Hun bat the moment you aren't in debt but if u carry on eventually u will be. I'm in debt upto my eye balls. The tunnel is very very dark!!! Keep in touch. Star X

Hello Star, Sorry to her you're a slots gambler like myself. Don' t you find it unbelivable how you get roped in? It's the highs of the situation for us all I guess. I obviously knew before I joined this site there were lots of gamblers around, but this site has really opened my eyes. I really enjoyed the chatroom last night, I found comfort in talking to people who thought like I did. I'm out later, but really hoping to be back in time for 8 tonight. All the best, Teresa xx

It wouldn't let me reply to this last night!! I didn't make the chatroom either. It's crazy how it gets us sucked in..... And now I'm on my way too..... Grrrrrrr!! Pls b careful Teresa, xx

Hi Hun x

Hello Star, how are you? xx The chat time goes too quick in the room 🙁

Yes it sure does. Hard to keep up with the convo too!! How are u doing? Have u gambled? I've had a pretty S***e day today and could easily have but did not. Go me! Lol x

Well I have not deposited, but when you've spent lots of money on the online sites, they give you bits and pieces to lure you back. There is a "free game" I play daily, as a VIP (laughable isn't it, they TRY and make you feel important for giving them all your hard earned money) and you win odd £5 and £10 on it. They also lure you back with promos of "deposit and wager £100 and we will drop £400 into your account". I did this just before joining this site, I was determind to withdraw it bnut instead, I just clicked that "spin" button until it was all gone. Obviously if I don't deposit, I won't continue to hold that good old "VIP status", but (rightly or wrongly) I want something back, and knowing they will try and entice me again, I want to show myself I have the strength to withdraw it when they do!

Hi tizzy, just reading your last post . Are you not playing a dangerous game even being on the sites?

There's a saying on here that " If you hang around a barber's long enough , your gonna get a haircut ".

Youv'e gone 9 day's without gambling and congratulations on that but I really would have thought you would have blocked all these sites by now ?.

You say " I want to show myself I have the strength to withdraw " , Its been 9 days , do you think you should be testing yourself just yet ?.

As you say these sites make you feel special , calling you a VIP , I think that could stand for " Very idiotic person " ?.

Sorry to sound harsh but these guy's are very good at looking at the way you bet and enticing you back with offers they know you will fall for , its what they do best !.

I know its your choice the way you handle your recovery but I would hate to see you relapse because of thes people , block these sites now and find something better to do , you need to break the association , the cycle !!.

Take care tizzy and best wishes Alan

Hi Alan, thanks for your comments. You're not harsh, I know you are totally right. I like the saying about the barbersshop btw! I will keep you posted. - All the very best Teresa.

Hi tizzy , I think the phrase comes from " GA " .

I'm glad you took the the way they were intended , [Sigh of relief !].

Take care Alan

Hi Tizzy

This is one of the reasons I don't play online. My willpower sucks and I would be living on the streets in no time lol. Laying here thinking that I've had such a ***** week at work that tomorrow afternoon I deserve a little ' me ' time... £50 won't hurt, will it? But £50 could go in 3 minutes and it doesn't stop there, il try another £50 then another and then all of a sudden I've hit the £150-£200 mark and I start chasing my money. Already in my head I see myself doing the walk of shame out of that d**n place.

As you say, they are very VERY clever in making you believe you are a valued customer! All they want is your money. Just like casinos. Did you know every time u push that button you (we) are paying 3% of their wages? Makes me sick-but still we carry on! Xx

Hi Star, I used to be very close to a girl and we used to play in the bingo halls. I really enjoyed a play back then and did sometimes lose a few hundred but did not see it as "a real problem". When I left the bingo, I didn't come home and keep thinking about the machines or wishing i was back there. I just went about my normal life. But anyway, getting to the point - she used to always call it the walk of shame when we used to lose. :0( Keep in touch Star xx

Hi Tizzy. The walk of shame and I met eachother again today...... How are you doing? Do you want to stop? Are you afraid of how far this might go? A few years ago I would never have dreamt of being in this position I am now!! Seriously, every. Spare. Penny. Goes on slot machines!! We will never beat them, I guess we need to seriously stop trying xx

Hi everyone that I've not spoken to before, welcome to the site 🙂

I would usually say welcome to recovery but until we accept that we cannot control our gambling, we can never live in harmony with our addiction! I came here looking for help to control my problem (I loved gambling, I hated losing) after nearly 3 decades of destruction but after reading & reading, it was clear, the only people that weren't relapsing over & over were the ones who realised that to win is to quit! I was terrified to start with, 'How could I live without my partner in crime, Mr Gamble?' The question I ask myself now is 'Why would I ever go back?' Since finding recovery I have had plenty of rubbish days but I can put my hand on my heart & say, I have never once since done the walk of shame & apart from the odd dream where I wake up sweating, I have not had one gambling hangover!

It's scary but this is a progressive disease, most of us started on the penny arcades & bingo halls (those of us of a certain age anyway) & have gotten in deeper & deeper as time has gone on!

Don't let this destroy you, get your gambling triangles broken & start really living again - ODAAT