Hooked on playing slots online

Hey Kezwil,

Well done for admitting that you have a problem. I totally understand what you mean about the sites, I think there are a lot of things wrong with the way gambling operates in the UK.

However, one of the first things I think you have to do is forget about that and take responsibility for your own actions. Gambling can indeed be very addictive, but trying to direct your frustration and anger at the casinos is a waste of time and won't be very productive in helping you try to stop the gambling.

Hi Kezwil

Welcome to the site. I'm glad that it feels like a weight has been lifted. Since I stopped gambling, I've felt so much better not having to deal with the heavy regret of a daily loss and all the baggage it brings.

It's so easy to get sucked into - slots were never my addiction - but I'm still struggling to accept I've been a compulsive gambler. But you're dead right - admitting it feels like there's a sudden release from the misery gambling brings.

You've lost a lot in such a short time - don't let the addiction grab any more. I found that starting a diary has really helped to remind me of the misery gambling brings and helps to keep in check the urges when they pay their visits. The fact is that gambling is really is a sucker's game - but I found that I'd constantly try to convince myself otherwise - but reading recovery diaries and writing my own has provided me with a rock solid foundation to break the habit and see it for what it is. Which is misery misery misery and more misery.

If you haven't already, I'd start putting up some blocks on your debit card and self-exclude from the sites. Using a debit card online is like playing with toy money - and it's too easy for the cash to lose its real world value because it camouflages itself in the form of tiny little digits on a bright and glitzy gambling webpage.

Take care

Equinox

Hi Kezwil

From what I have read on here online gambling does seem to have created a whole new breed of problem gamblers who like you and I suddenly start gambling and lose £1000s in very short amounts of time. It just seems like monopoly money until you start losing. I only gambled online for a total of four months losing around £6000 before I thankfully found this site and decided that was enough. From what I have learnt since about complusive gambling behaviour I should probably consider myself lucky it was "only" £6000.

You have realised you have a problem really early which is a great step to have achieved. This will give you the opportunity to try and catch this before it impacts you too badly. I would read as much as you can on here, ask questions and consider getting some professional help via the helpline on here, 1 to 1 counselling (available free through this website) or GA meetings - need to work out what best works for you.

Good luck and keep posting.

Muststop123

Thanks for the replies, I have self exculded from every site I was on I use my debit card online a lot (not gambling) so cannot put restrictions on online spending..

I have been reading a lot over the weekend and I am going to continue doing so, I have a lot of uni work to do so hopefully that will keep me occupied

Hey!

The advice and general convo above is really good and really the great support that you get from the gamcare community.

I suppose the bit I can add to the "taking responsibility for our own actions" is no-one puts a gun to our head and says "gamble gamble gamble until you cannot afford things!" We are in the minority......the people who cannot gamble until every last penny spent. We can't walk away, even after a big win. So for every one of us, there are fifty others who can have a flutter but walk away after losing thirty quid or so. In the gambling operator side of things, they feel they are providing a legitimate entertainment avenue. £30 on a night out, the cinema, a meal with a loved one isn't much. £30 in an evening gambling session is pretty good value for money for a night's worth of entertainment. Beyond that a gambling operator would argue we are the ones taking it too far. It's a sad story, one that should be regulated and be more pro active rather than reactive, but hey ho......it's a fine line. I'd hope the CEO would get back to you but they are just enjoying sitting back, taking our money, blocking out the guilt and thinking we should know better. I think I lost £3k in one night, £1.8k in the other night but forgot about the £3k and a bit I won in the first night. It all swings in roundabouts but the true people they target are the ones who cannot stop until EVERYTHING, including relationships, property, belongings, cars etc are gone! Don't be one of those people, stop at where you are now! I probs lost £5k over the odds, it stopped two years back nearly........made peace with that. Took a long time but totally worth it. I will never give them a penny, but ultimately I'm the one responsible as I joined the sites, kept depositing, kept chasing when all along I knew the odds were stacked in their favour.

For this reason I hate them, hate myself, forgave myself......still hate them. Ergo, would never gamble again.

Keep studying......now THAT opens doors.

Take care,

Abet