Hi. My name is Mitch and I have a problem. (I don't mean to sound clichГ©!)
I'm a 21 year old male and currently a student. I have been gambling online on and off for a few years. I have always enjoyed it, especially when I won (who doesn't eh?). I felt I always had it under control until recently.
I gambled £70 and won £850. I was overwhelmed and happy. As a student and with my girlfriend's birthday coming up I was thrilled to perhaps spend it on her. A day or so later, in an urge to gamble for more - I cancelled the withdrawal and tried for more with stupidity, £10 spins on the reels. As you can imagine I lost it all and was absolutely gutted. Then of course, I tried for more, and more, and more. I was even playing £500 on the roulette betting on red or black, hoping I would have a streak and win some of my money back on a less than 50/50 ratio. Safe to say I have maxed my credit card out to nearly £5500. I have applied for a loan to pay off the credit card and I'm planning on closing it as all the credit card has done is caused me hassle and grief. More so I cannot be trusted with one at this moment in time.
I just feel tired and drained from my emotions going wild. I've installed gambling blockers to my devices and here's hoping to a gamble-free future.
Mitch.
Sounds like you've done the right thing by installing blocking devices/application . I can understand what you're going through right now it's poo isn't it ? Join the 2017 challenge of staying gamble free . I'm currently on day 15 . I wish you good luck and keep us updated with your progress .
Remember to do it One day at a time .
Sara
Hey Mitch,
I joined the forum on Friday, and I was amazed to see how many people are on here, and saddened to see how many people joined since I did. I finally came on board because I was pretending to myself that I could "manage" my gambling, that I could just gamble for the fun of it and that I could accept a loss of a certain value. I was lying to myslef though. I would go to a bookies, get slightly in front, then lose that and lose the money I was "prepared" to lose.
I then thought, I'll get an extra £50 out and win back the £20 I lost". Then obviously I lost that and before i knew it I was throwing more money away.
I asked myself this weekend, "When I have won, what have i spent the money on? What way has the win enhanced my life?" I thought, I'd write down the things i had bought or the holidays I had been on. And then i realised, I had none. All the money I won....and we are in some cases talking thousands of pounds, has all gone back into one casino or FOBT or another.
The longest journey starts with a small step.
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