Hi,
Ive just started looking into getting help/advice for my problem, I know it's bad and I know it's wrong but I still carry on doing it.
My problem is I lose a lot more than I can afford and even up until yesterday, I gamble money that is set aside for bills/rent.
Everytime I deposit funds online, I know exactly what's going to happen and I'm already thinking about putting some more money into it while I'm losing this money.
I've always liked a gamble and maybe more so than other people, but up until recently I have been in denial, where do I draw the line with 'a little gamble' to having 'a problem', well after gambling away my rent money of 800 days before it is due to come out, I feel like I've slightly lost control.
I will gladly waste all of my money whilst knowing that every pound I gamble is getting me in a bigger hole.
I am an on average wage every month and after a few days of being paid I usually end up with nothing, only this month have bills and rent started to not be paid..
I foolishly play online roulette and slots.. Always going for that elusive 'big win' I think my addiction to these started about 6 years ago when I had a nice sized win and enjoyed the winnings without spending a lot initially to win this amount. Ever since that day I probably believed I would have another good win! As is the reason a lot of people get hooked, after that initial biggish win.
I'm am so sick of wasting money, not really losing it because I know what's in store when I get it into my head that I will play these games, but wasting it without any worry at the time.
I'm so sick of lying to my family, my girlfriend and my friends, I try to cover everything up and usually I'm ok because I pay the bills and we have a roof over our heads, also if I get a win I will tell my partner that I had a 'lucky' win on the football off of a fiver or something stupid like that. Live like a king for a week off of that and then look for where the next 50 quid is coming from to buy food and travel to work the next.. That is if i actually don't just re deposit my winnings back and gamble it all away like it's play money.
I'm 28 and feel like I should be saving for a deposit on a house like my partner is always saying. I have always got by, by scraping money together from somewhere but recently the losses have been with money that I just can't afford to lose, I haven't got access to bank loans/payday loans or friends and family to help me out, so now I've wasted everything I have, I need to stop this and take some responsibility for my little family and home.
Sorry for the long rabble but i needed to get it out because I haven't told a single soul about any of this! Nobody knows except me, myself and I..
Thanks for listening!
Hi,
First of all its a good step to start talking about this, even if this is only on the internet. I told only my best friend/roommate after a long time, it helped me so much. When he past away last year I relapsed but I decided to stop it, so I started counselling and I told my girlfriend. She was really understanding and shes so great. You might consider sharing this with a loved one eventhough your so embarrased by it, it could happen to anyone.
Gambling does not solve your money issues, believe me. Even when I won, i would just gamble it up again.
You could join us on the "2014 challenge" thread, I only started for three days, but just knowing you're in this together is so much support. It might just be that one bit that keeps you from gambling again.
What actually helps I think is finding something you're good at, a hobby or work or something and commit to that. Next to of course trying to talk about this issue.
The fact that you're already here means you're a strong person that steps up for his responsibility eventhough you might think you should've stopped this earlier. This is the moment, the moment you can change, your moment. I hope my blattering helps you a little, hang on bro, life's only so short!
Jelle
HI im new to this forum today and reading that is exactly how i feel/am. Im so so mad at myself for letting it get out of hand. I know whats happening when i deposit too ( play online slots) and even when i win i keep going and going hoping to win more and end up losing everything its a vicious cycle. I ask myself "what on earth is up with me" -i know the problem so why on earth cant i just stop but sadly thats just the problem,i cant. Its affecting my mood as i feel so bad about it i dont understand myself
Thank you for the replies guys, it really means a lot! Sorry to hear about your roommate Jelle, I'm so happy for you that you managed to stop, even if it was for a little while! At least you've proved to yourself that it is possible and you have the strength to stop it.
Gambling for me is purely losing money constantly, like you say even when you win you gamble it.. I don't really know what I want to achieve from it, even when I get a figure in my head that if I win I will withdraw (we all know that's virtually impossible), I never do!
I hope this is my moment that I can stop, I've so far not touched any gambling for a few days, which for me is a step in the right direction! I don't feel like I have any will power whatsoever but we will see in the coming weeks..
Crickets, it's not just you, there are thousands upon thousands of people who have this in their lives unfortunately.. I'll admit I like to play these slots for the features and these possible 'big wins' that never come, the worst ones are the near wins, where it gives you a very good looking spin but just one line or symbol away from a fortune, I know for a fact that machines and online games are programmed to give you these to keep you going and dangling that carrot in front of you. We will stop this sometime soon I hope and get rid of the need to lose our money willingly, I'm going to try and set a goal of saving up an amount, say 10k in 12 months without gambling one bit, imagine how much satisfaction you would get!! Although I'd hope by that time if I was to manage that then I wouldn't be near that slippery slope ever again!!
I'm trying to get in the mindset that I work to bloody hard to chuck away every penny to these mercenaries of company's, no wonder they have shops and casinos popping up everywhere, we fund them!
Sorry to go on again lol but once I get going it all comes out, hopefully we can relate to each other and help each other escape this hold that gambling has over us
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