Hi

Hi mate and welcome to the forums

First of all I just wanted to say you should never feel like an idiot!

We have mostly all been in your shoes before and I can tell you it is a horrible place to be when you're caught in the grip of a gambling addiction. Ill admit I felt very much the same as you when I was going through my 3 year stint with gambling. Alone,unworthy, and ashamed are to name a few of the emotions I felt living with CG.

Your true change has to come from within yourself, it has to come from deep down inside you. You have to want it, we are all going to be hear to support you every step of the way. Start off small, get some blocking sites on your phones, laptop etc and self exclude from any stores if you go into the bookies. Diaries are always a good way to start recording how you feel, it can help you notice when your gambling addiction is triggered and later on you will be able to see the signs on what makes you want to gamble.

I lost so much time and money during my gambling period but I am happy to say it is well behind me now. Dont feel any shame, we have all been where you are before, today you take the first step in your recovery.

Proud of you! - Lets kick this addictions a**e!!

Well done, on getting this out in the open. The more people you have onboard the more help/support you'll receive.

You've now got the opportunity to turn your life around, it can be done, but with hard work, determination, willpower and support/help from friends/family and even strangers on the internet.

Get a diary going, in the diaries section and benefit from all the great advice people who are in your situation and some who were.

Good luck.

Hi newby,

Well done for sharing your story here, and thanks too for your post. I’m glad to see that forum members are already offering their support and good advice to you, which I think is great.

I suggest that you contact our Helpline on: 0808 8020 133, and speak to one of our Advisers for more help and support.

Gamcare can refer you to 12 sessions of free counselling, and nearest to where you live, if you think that would help you to stop gambling.

Our lines are open everyday from 8.00am to midnight, so don’t hesitate to contact us in case you need someone to talk to or, you want to ask some questions or, just to chat about your gambling problem. We are ready to listen, advice, provide emotional support, and also put you in the right direction with other charitable organisations, if we think you’d benefit from their services.

Thanks once again for your post, and please keep posting.

Best wishes,

Beatrice

Felt exactly the same pal. The shame I felt I'd thought I'd brought to my family was horrendous and almost unbearable. Sharing my experiences is helping a lot. One day at a time.

Hi iv come to a point now we're I can't stop putting not pound coins anymore 20 after 20 on pub fruit machines not in bookies or casinos or horse racing or online gambling just fruit machines , even I know the cash I have is to live on I just can't stop HELP .

I feel so stupid at 47 I can't stop playing fruit machines my wife keeps asking me were the money has gone and I have to keep lying to her , her life is being affected am borrowing of everyone I need to stop before its to late x

Hi mate. We've all been there, many times. There are a lot more experienced persons on here to comment. But the consensus is if you're betting online get internet software blocker k9 or similar. I've also self excluded for five years on the sites I used. There's a brighter future. One day at a time.

Silly thing is I don't bet on anything other than pub fruit machines

Not bookies or online just in pubs and it's not because of drink because I can have one pint and lose a 100 in 1 hour or less I know I shouldnt be doing it I just can't stop till every penny gas gone

Only offline fruity machines in pubs. Town/seaside arcades as well?

I too was addicted to these machines, from the mid 80's right until the early 2000's. I'd travel miles to play them in arcades at one time.Then I discovered online and my addiction changed to 90% online and 10% offline.

So anyway, you need to look at why you play them, is it boredom, as part of a group with mates. How often do you go to the pub and can you look at asking the staff to bar you from playing the machines.

You can put some simple measures in place, such as not taking out more money than you need and definitely no cards.

I would suggest, you think long and hard about opening up to your wife and give her control of the finances. Or to another member of the family or even to a close/trusted friend.

I went to Blackpool for a 3 day break, when I was in my early 30's, blew all my money for the month £1000 on fruit machines in 3 days (crazy fruits arghhhhh) and came back, with not enough money to cover my bills for the month. I told my mum everything and begged her to help me out of the mess, by lending me some money and taking my bank cards away.

You can break away from these machines, but you need to put all the blocks in place you can.

Fruit machines, even the modern ones are highly addictive. However I used to play them to win the jackpot. Thought I'd achieved something winning the jackpot. If I'd put ВЈ2 in and it offered me ВЈ49 on a ВЈ50 jackpot machine I'd refuse it!!!!!!! Ridiculous. I'd get my wages around ВЈ350 a week at the time and put ВЈ200 in trying to win a £50 jackpot. Sometimes my entire wages in one night.

If you love a pint pal. There are loads of pubs without fruit machines in them. However if you're visiting specific pubs to play the machines then I think you need to change your local.

One day at a time you can change and the future is brilliant

The worst thing about it is I last gambled on Thursday its now Monday I havnt thought about it but it's my day off tomorrow and when am on my own that's when I think in the afternoon have a pint and go on the machines