I'm done with them machines

Hi,

As a former FOBT gambler i found the best way to stop was to carry no cash or cards. No money = no FOBT. i appreciate your circumstances may not allow this but other options are available.

Posting here and popping into chat can help

Contact gamcare for the possibility of counselling sessions.

Seek out your local GA meeting and go. You are an addict.

If debt is becoming unmanageable consider contacting one of the many debt charities. Stepchange are good.

Best wishes

Great call from the above regarding carrying cash or cards, you can still pay for most things in shops nowadays using your phone, dont think you can use it in the bookies though so that would work.

Hi Icanttakethisanymore,

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for sharing your story with us.

It seems like you’ve been struggling with your gambling for a while, and now feels ready to do what it takes to overcome your gambling problem. Gamcare is ready to help you every step of the way to overcome your problematic gambling. We can advise you on strategies to put in place to enable you to stop.

There are a lot of help options available to you if you’d contact us, and that includes 12 sessions of free counselling if that would help you to stop gambling.

I realised also that some forum members have suggested some actions that you to take to help you overcome your gambling issue.

I think it would be beneficial for you to contact our free phone Helpline on: 0808 8020 133, and speak to one of our advisers for further help and support.

I wish you the best in your journey to recovery, and please try and post as often as you can.

Kind regards,

Beatrice

You are like me, it spirals, I don't doubt that you've had wins and the feeling of addiction was disguising itself as control.

Heard it a million times, the dealer never loses.

Good luck on the future

iHi Everyone,

Thanks for your supportive messages. Really helps as I can turn to anyone out of shame.

So 28 days today which I’m pleased with. I feel much better in myself as a person and have managed to control my urges. I do have curbs in place in my home town and have put some in other places which I occasionally visit, but still so many that I do have access to whilst out of town which I’m just walking past reminding myself what happens every single time. It’s not easy I have built up a stupid amount of debt but I’ve started picking away at and have a goal of where I want that to be by the end of the year.

I will keep you up to date with my self. Thank you

Why shouldn't you play FOBT's? well firstly you can't afford to lose the money, then your making rich people richer sending their kids to private school why yours go to public school, then you walk in the bookies and the workers go 'want a cup of tea love', knowing full well your there until your bank says no because your always there playing until you run out of cash, then the machine is rigged to take eveything you have, yes you might get one of them lucky runs where it gives you hundreds but you never walk away, then you feel like punching the mahine and punching the staff because they patronised you by offering you tea knowing full well you always lose and look like a big loser and they're laughing at you behind your back, then they talk about you to other staff when your not there and laugh and it's not just you, it's lots of people doing the same thing time and again, then you go home and think about if only you'd walked away when you were up, then you think about what you could have done with the money you lost, then you think 'oh, i just want my money back', then you lie to try and cover the big hole in your bank balance, then you say 'i'll never do it again', then......wait for it.......YOU GO BACK AND DO IT ALL AGAIN THE NEXT DAY!!!! MADNESS. I've been there many times and i'm never doing it again. If i can do it, you can do it and it feels good not doing it.

Hi 'I Can't'

Massive well done on your 28 days, that's a brilliant start, you're already feeling better and starting to make a dent in the debt so VERY well done and keep it up.

Don't get too bogged down with the debt, concentrate on your recovery and, trust me, the money will take care of itself (in time).

Whilst I agree with FOBTs being a dangerous game, I can't 100% agree with orbits. I think it's important to focus entirely on yourself during recovery. Blaming the machines for being 'rigged', the bookies staff or any other factor is merely stopping us from focussing on the REAL cause of the problem. I have seen many people blame their losses on 'rigged' machines and they often relapse because they are ignoring the real problem. The machines aren't rigged and the staff aren't conspiring against you, these are facts but it's irrelevant. If you keep gambling you will always lose in the long run as there will always be a house edge so the key is NOT to stop losing but to stop gambling.

Anyway, I digress. Brilliant work on the 28 days and here's to the next 28...and the next 28...etc etc

Phil

The machines are rigged. They are designed to create a zone where people lose their common sense. Addiction by design. And yes, unless we hold ourselves responsible...ie. responsible for not seeking out help enough, or being serious enough, or putting all the barriors up or what ever it takes... ultimately we have to free ourselves and be responsible. But yes, the machines are designed this way and it is well documented . MOre an more exposure is happening on the topic so that people will know about the intentional design of the machines before they even choose to enter into the realm of gambling. And you bet ya, casino employees are watching everyone. Some are compassionate and some will find it humorous to see how compulsive gamblers behave. One employee outright told me... I'll cash out your ticket while you sit here ,sure, WE want you all to stay at the machines and be playing. They don't want you to walk away or to stop. Their term is 'gambling to extinction!!" They want as large of percentage of people as possible engaged and gambling until their last cent available has been inserted into the slot. So yes indeed, we can be angry. But what does that do. Can't just blame. Have to ultimately face the truth and now be responsible for our recovery. Some countries have now taken on some responsibility by offering free rehabilitation and counseling for compulsive gamblers. tara2

well done i have finally signed up and hope i can comment the same in a months time 🙂 im scared but need to do this i always used fruit machines up until 2 weeks ago when a i got a free welcome ВЈ5 on a online casino so thought i would try it out i won 35 that i could of withdrew for free but then played on n lost that night i stayed up til 530am n the next thing i no im 500 down !!!! i started to chase my money n by yesterday was £3000 down (i had a stroke of luck n managed to win back half and have withdrew this but also have already done this twice in last two weeks and camcelled tge withdrawels so hoping i dont again as i would b a fool to lose it again ) it seems harder on line to lose track cos the money isnt exchanging hands dont feel as real until u stop and check bank.
im ashamed and nobody knows as i would hate the dissappointment my mams a gambler and i have been for as long as i remember never as bad as lately tho!
i hadnt really for ages but then go daft with it
ive spent the last two weeks committing every second i was not at work to online casino this has been easier to access as in a fruit machine place i am always aaked by my husband were i am or what i am doing and find my self continually lying
sorry for the long comment