Hi everyone
New to this, guess I need to branch out for help. I've been gambling since a kid started on the fruit machines with friends, developed later into the bookies and loosing thousands on the FOB machines.
I began to see those FOB machines for what they were as I could literally spend £500 in 20 minutes and not even win a spin on roulette.. So I stepped away, was doing good nearly paid off my debt, decided I would place a few sports bets on online then yes.. Ended up on the online casino and 20k down within a couple of weeks!!
So frustrated right now as I know its a total con, was down a hole and was trying to fight to get back out of it creating bigger losses. I guess my problem is I hate losing and I'm so competitive and stubborn.
I'm 37 and can honestly say I've spend way over 200k since a kid and the best of it is I haven't even had a big win.. I must be the unluckiest most gullible person on this planet.
Anyway I am totally driven at this moment to defeat this, pay off my debts and live a worry free life, any help/advice would be appreciated. Cheers
Block yourself from as many forms of gambling as you can. Online ismy downfall- i installed blocks on my computer (gamban) and i put betfilter on my iphone (my friend has put a passcode so i have deleted safari and any apps because i was to open accounts via facebook!) also register with Gamstop. I block my bank card via online banking as well. Can you speak to someone? It is hard but you can do it think day by day of what you can do to block yourself. It has taken me a lot of time but i am getting there and the feelings i get every morning when I haven’t gambled the day before are fantastic. Keep posting here as well and read people’s stories- i do this on a daily basis - you are not alone
Sports betting is another shop window for the slots which are deliberately programmed to keep the player playing (ie losing) for as long as possible. You're not going to win your money back gambling. Even a big win will be nothing but a short term loan from the bookies for a CG. You're not unique in being competitive and stubborn but those are factors taken into account and exploited when the games are designed.
Take the advice on offer here, take up the counselling offered by Gamcare and go to GA before you end up here in another five, ten, whatever years wishing you were where you are now.
Thanks for the comments, I have just registered with Gamstop and self excluded for 5 years. Feel better knowing I've took that step. Also looking at the add blocking for social media etc. I work away most of the time (out of UK) so not gambling online for me is key. One silly idea to put a sports bet on can lead to a disaster, I will not go through this again that's for sure, total mug! Hopefully more bans come in towards advertisement and those deadly FOB Machines in the bookies. Hopefully with any luck the bookies will fold like a pack of cards when betting restrictions come in to place on those Fobs. Good luck everyone.
We must know how to fail before we succeed!!
I've tried to self manage for years, went long and short periods without gambling. First time I have put blocks in place as I was so annoyed with my last loss. When I'm in I'm locked in, nothing matters and that's when I loss big! The blocks will hopefully stop that madness, I can see you are similar in your ways I hope you have made similar moves to stop it for good!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
