Hey everyone, im new to this site and would like to ask some advise on how others have managed to do it, bit of info about the problem ive started to have, since i was 18 i would pop to the bookies and put on a few quid each week on the football, all seemed like harmless fun back then but now at 22 i have noticed several things have changed, the stakes being one of them. Feburary last year i faced a serioused issue where i spent £400 on horses and football accumilators within a few days after only just being paid, it was a long struggling month, from this i was hoping that i learnt my lesson but as the year gone by i carried on with the betting and over december period i got myself into another situation spending another £500 within the month, i work full time and it does bring my mood down seeing after only a few days nothing in my account.
It was only a few days ago i opened up to my girlfriend and told her the truth on how much i had spent, as you can imagine it didnt go down well, but now i have joined back at the gym and self exluded myself from betting sites and poker sites to try prevent myself from getting into this situation ever again, knowing that my own father had gone bankrupt over gambling i should have known better and i kick myself everyday for being so silly.. Its time to get back to loving the sports for what they are not because im trying to make money from them!
If anyone have any advise or any comments i would really appriciate them!
Peace Out
Gethin x
Hi Gethin,
Your story sounds so similar to mine. It's all around us these days with betting adverts, odds being discussed on the radio, promotions in the newspaper, you can't hide from it.
I am new to this so giving advice is probably not the stage I am at but for what it's worth I am going to try and not hide from watching sports. I love a variety of sports and trying to avoid the inevitable betting advert is unrealistic. If you love sport too, watch it, sure your mind will race and you will think about what you would have done, could have done etc but enjoy the game. When it's finished and you didnt have a bet, you won.
Wishing you all the best with everything. You're certainly not alone!
Hello Gethin
Welcome to the forum.
Well done for self-excluding.
Blocking software and handing over finances are good barriers to put in place to stop you gambling.
From there different things work for different people. GA, CBT, religion, self-help books, counselling or phoning the GamCare helpline are all options.
Keeping busy is crucial. You seem to be doing that already. This forum is a great place to read how different people approach dealing with gambling addiction.
At 22 you have identified the problem early.
That's a good start.
Best wishes
Glint
My darling Gethin you are being so proactive recognising your problems before it gets out of hand. You are doing so many fantastic things already to keep yourself motivated and distracted and I am going to be here every difficult step of the way. You are so amazing and you will always have my unconditional support and love. Now just keep at it and things will get easier, and don't forget to keep talking about it on here and also to me, I'm so proud that you've turned to this fantastic site and I hope you keep using it because it's great! I love you X
i agree its everywhere, just watching any sort of sport and when it gets to adverts its about different price boots etc.. i also love my sports and will carry on with that but for the correct reasons. i agree i feel a lot better knowing im not alone and i there are people who have been or currently in the same postition as myself! we will get through this!
sweeper wrote:
Hi Gethin,
Your story sounds so similar to mine. It's all around us these days with betting adverts, odds being discussed on the radio, promotions in the newspaper, you can't hide from it.
I am new to this so giving advice is probably not the stage I am at but for what it's worth I am going to try and not hide from watching sports. I love a variety of sports and trying to avoid the inevitable betting advert is unrealistic. If you love sport too, watch it, sure your mind will race and you will think about what you would have done, could have done etc but enjoy the game. When it's finished and you didnt have a bet, you won.
Wishing you all the best with everything. You're certainly not alone!
thanks glint! means a lot! im very fortunate to have been able to stop before it gets to far!
Very new to this site Gethin but it does seem like exactly the right people we need to be around. Everyone seems to be extremely supportive. In regards to the sports, it's completely my weakness and it shouldn't be because I loved them before betting and I can love them after betting too. You are clearly in the same boat. Happy to keep in touch with you mate on eachothers progress if you think it would help. My next big target is Thursday because I love watching the premier league darts with a few beers and a few bets. This week I am going to watch, have a beer but NOT a bet. That will be the first sport I watch with my new mentality. Keep up the amazing work, I'm only 28 but if I could have realised at 22 what this can turn into, I would have tried to stop. Take care mate.
I also love the darts, once played super league and nearly at county level. and i understand perfectly how it feels watching but not betting, sunday was a big challenge for me watching wales vs ireland then manchester united vs chelsea and then the superbowl without placing a bet, frustration got the best of me a couple times when wales and man united both drew but didnt effect me as much in the superbowl, yes i would like to stay in touch and help eachother through this tough time! if i can do it you can do it!
Fair play, you play to a good standard! Are you not playing anymore then?
Sunday was my last and worst day for betting. I bet Wales and then backed Man Utd, I would have probably bet in the Super Bowl at that point as I drank too much alcohol and still through the haze would have justified a way to get my money back but the account was empty.
The thing is as we both know, anything can happen in sport, nothing is garanteed and that is the best thing about it. Still I always found a way to gamble on it.
Are you doing a progress diary or have you done one? I'm thinking it may be a good idea and keep me motivated!
Good luck mate, nice to meet you - keep up the good work.
i use to play at bdo standard, averaging around 20-24 per game but had to give it up due to work and other commitments, thats one thing i love about sports its so unpredictable, and i love the fact that the foxes are top of the league even if i am a united fan. i dont drink much at home which is good im guessing!
i havent thought really about a diary now im 9 days without a bet its starting to rub off slowly, like now ive just seen someone put £5 free bet on payet and coutinho to hit the woodword at 100/1 and it being won before half time, do you keep a diary? what keeps you motivated from betting and keeps you focused?
Nice to meet you too!
That's a really good standard of darts, fair play! Slightly better than the Monday night league I will play in!!!!
It is definitely a good thing not drinking so much at home. My defences towards betting really come down when I've had a drink and I have to try so much harder. It's strange!
I don't have a diary but I think I will probably start today, I'm a bit behind you, only my 3rd day sober. It's awesome to hear that after 9 days it's slowly starting to not become the norm for you mate.
In terms of focus I have used here loads over this week. I've talked to my girlfriend a lot, she works in the betting industry which doesn't make it easy to stop betting but as a girlfriend she has been so supportive. She sees what I have been like when I'm watching a game and I've had a bet and she doesn't like it. It's not that I get mad, I just don't concentrate on what is going on around me and kind of zone in to that and that only. Talking to her helps. Weirdly (and I'm not even 30 so I don't think I'm going mad!) but I talk to myself quite a lot too... I try and remain positive and talk out strategies of making sure I don't slip back into the routine... Do you have people you can talk to? I hope so, it really helps me. If not, here seems to be spot on for support and even better, no judging!
Have a good day and speak soon.
haha yeah, i miss it quite a lot!
ive also spoken a lot to my girlfriend about it and without her i dont think i would be able to realise there is still a life without trying to double my money or even put a bet on. it does frustrate me a little when i call what will happen and it does, last night i said west ham will score just before they took the last free kick and tonight i called it that peterborough to score first and a draw, but not put any money on any of them. i have a few i can speak openly to like my mum, my girlfriend, my boss and another work friend who has been in this situation and its good to see people are out there to support and help you no matter how low you are.
how was day 4 for you? im hoping on not putting a bet on until the grand national, itll be harder the weekend after i get paid, but keeping myself busy by going to the gym and at work.
Hi mate,
Last night was the first big challenge and pleased to say I didn't have a bet! I wanted to because as we've said, I love the darts but I actually enjoyed watching it.
This is the start of day 5 for me and tbh I am undecided of my long term goals, you won't believe this but I am actually going to Las Vegas this year on a family holiday. Need a good plan for then!!!!
How are you doing bud? Do you think if you have a bet on the national you will be able to leave it there?
Speak soon!
ahh well done pal! proud of you! when you going there, i really want to go there might go in a couple years we shall see,
yeah im good, yeah i think its wearing off very well and today hasnt bothered me at all about putting a bet on, no real urge or anything to be honest, how you keeping?
Hello All; first time on here & finally acceptrd I do actually have a problem. I go 3M maybe more before having a mad night playing online poker. I make the mistake f being 'good at it' & winning only to ramp it up & then lose twice as much. It's almost I need to lose ? weird. Any thoughts would be appreciated
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.
