I just dread Saturdays

Hello Seanj777.  Thank you for sharing your story. We're sure other forum members will be along to welcome you. We just wanted to add a quick hello from forum admin because you said you find Saturdays particularly hard. Congratulations on making the decision to stop. I'm not sure which kind of gambling gives you the most problems, but did you know that you can ban yourself from all UK gambling sites, and you can install free software to block yourself being able to open gambling sites at all? That might help you relax and enjoy the weekend without the fear that you'll give in and gamble.

You can find out more about ways to block yourself from different types of gambling in the self-help section of our website. And if you'd like to talk it over we're available 24/7 on 0808 8020 133 or Livechat.

Keep posting,

Deirdre
Forum Admin 

Hi. Thankyou for your reply means a lot 

@seanj777 Have you had enough of gambling or is it just gambler's remorse after losing money recently?

Chris.

I think its a case of yes I’ve just ad enough of gambling. I turn 40 in April. The past 20 years I’ve just thrown money at horses and machines. The feeling you get when you look at your card transactions and balance is just horrendous. I want to be one of them who gets to a month or a year and say I can do it. Hi by way 

Great going Chris by the way just reading your profile well done ?? 

Hi Sean. Okay, glad to hear it. Wanting to stop is the first step. I noticed on another thread that you had already signed up to gamstop, so that's another good start.

You can't gamble on credit cards any more but you can still use debit cards. A lot of banks now have aa feature to allow you to ban gambling transactions, so that might be of help to you too.

Other than blocks like these, the other thing that helps is talking to others with a similar problem, so if you could find a local GA group that would help you, or give the Gamcare advisers a call, sometimes just talking helps take away the power of the addiction.

Any advice please just ask and I'll talk through what I did.

Chris.

Thanks Chris appreciate the advice and chat. I used credit cards to which I think was non uk casinos. XXXX it was called. XXXX was on the transactions statement which they took after 7 days. Feel so ashamed about it all but I’ve been here before. Time is a healer I think and hoping I can just get there eventually ??

Hi Sean, 

Great news you've taken the first step and welcome! I agree with Chris regarding signing up to gamstop to exclude from all UK gambling sites its really useful and easy to do! Also gamban or other gambling blocking software is really worthwhile as you may not know but most websites are categorised ie gambling , adult sites, shopping, news ect and regardless of where the domain is hosted mostly always blocks it based on categorisation (just with you mentioning the  site was in azerbaijon ) 

I also find that you tend to punish yourself as a gambler so each time I hit a milestone whether that is a week, a month or even a year I try to reward myself as a reminder of how far I've come! This forum is really useful too and finding hobbies or things you enjoyed before gambling to take your mind off it, alot of the time I make myself that busy so I have no time to gamble!

I hope today's been a gamble free day for you! All the best 

Laura x

Hi Laura.

Thankyou for such a lovely reply. 
Yesterday was a very hard day as I love horse racing and sport. But in a way it was nice to wake up this morning and know I haven’t gambled yesterday on them. Also keeping off online gambling.

So determined to do this and the lovely comments inspire me. Also when I look at the days people achieve I think yes I can get there. Your also doing great too.

shaun x

Welcome to the diaries Sean.

It is plain to see that the last twenty years of compulsive gambling has brought you nothing but upset so I sincerely hope you can put a stop to it.

A gamble free life might not always be a bundle of laughs but it can be meaningful and by scouting around, you might find other things to enjoy. The world is full of opportunities and adventures are waiting round every corner for the brave-hearted.

Wishing you every success in reclaiming your life.

Aum.