Hi

Hi, new member here.

I'm only 25 years old but I have a huge gambling problem. I'm terrible at putting thoughts/words etc that are in my head into actual words but will try my best..

Basically I got into gambling from someone who told me about matched betting. I started with just over £XX to my name and 12 months later I had over £XX just from matched betting alone.

Unfortunately most of my accounts got restricted so I wasn't given any more free bets and promotions so I turned to other ways to make money, mainly using horse racing tipsters and casino games. Managed to build it up to over £XX but had quite a few scares along the way - I really struggle with dealing with losses so always end up chasing them. If I lose £XX my mind goes into overdrive and have to win it back just can't control myself even though I know I shouldn't do it. One night I lost £XX mainly on blackjack after losing only £XX to begin with. (I kept doubling stakes trying to win the £XX back, ended up £XX down)

I managed to win it back the next day though, I just said to myself 'f**k it only got £XX left might as well go out with a bang' but I got lucky and won to get back up to £XX.

I've had a lot of near misses as well, sticking £XX bets on blackjack and getting lucky to stay afloat etc

Well a couple nights ago the inevitable happened. I was down about £XX with the horse racing and tried winning it back on the blackjack tables.. £XX turned into £XX then £XX then £XX then £XX and next thing I know i'm down £XX and i've ran out of money in the bank/bookie sites. I still had money in the exchanges though so I put £XX on the Patriots to win at 1/2 hoping to win the money I lost back. Of course they ended up losing and that was me pretty much skint, luckily I still have £XX aside which I wasn't able to bet as it wasn't available to me at the time, if it was then I would have lost it all unless I got really lucky again.

I'm trying to think positive, I have £XX still which is £XX more than I started with a year ago when I first started all of this. And I can afford to do my dream holiday this year. But still having nagging thoughts in the back of my head like 'I could have £XX..' 'if only the patriots won..' or 'if only the dealer busted..' etc etc
I've given the £XX I have to my mum to put aside with instructions to never give a penny of it to me so I definitely can't lose that but my god it's only been a couple days and I feel lost without gambling, without the adrenaline rush of it all. Having £XX on a single game was an amazing feeling at the time, obviously sickening when it lost but i'm sure you know what I mean.

Not sure what else to put, suppose you can just ask me anything as i've more than likely missed something out, cheers for reading.