Hi this is my 1st post,
I have a very long story of gambling since the age of 16, I'm now 39, the annoying thing is i'm a slightly different case from alot of gamblers in the fact that there are areas that I am a winning punter. I'm a winning poker player and have been for years, making consistent profit over the years and this is not something that I am looking to give up. My problems lay in sports betting and again this is going to sound strange, but I have had multiple accounts closed or restricted by bookmakers because they didnt want my business, as they felt that in the long run I would not be profitable. Here is my problem, when I run out of accounts I start placing bets that I would not normally place for example betting on favourites, if they allowed me to place the bets I would normally place I would not do this. I know in the long term because of these restrictions I can't possible win, but this does not take away the urge to bet and also my love of horse racing.
I am not in debt, but I have had so much money slip through my fingers over the years where I have made money through other areas of gambling and blown it through sheer stupidity . I want to give up gambling on horses but I'm finding it difficult to fight the urge. I know it is a slightly different story to a lot of others where people are getting themselves in debt, I just wondered if anyone else had a story similar who could help me?
Hi Gmanrom
Tbh your story isn’t that different from most people on here not everyone has debt through gambling. Chances are if you’re gambling across varied products that you would be winning on one. Some people will say how they play and win bingo and then go stuff the money in a slot machine.
What you’re asking for is a way to stop losing. The bookies restrict everyone these days because they want more money spent on products that can guarantee a constant profit with a token win here and there. They don’t want players who use knowledge anymore it’s all about them widening the edge they already have.
Once you’ve established the compulsion to bet big and take risks unfortunately you’ve crossed the line in the sand.
The old classic can an alcoholic go back to just having the odd pint with his buddies?
I’ve never heard of anyone who’s gone back across the line.
Although I’ve seen thousands ask excactly the same question.
Maybe you’re just not ready to stop yet. Which means you’re not ready to except help.
All the best and I’ll wish well
But I only bet on horses and play poker. As I explained when the horrible c****n bookmakers restrict or bar me I do silly stuff on horses and this is why I want to stop gambling on this. I dont play casino games live or online
As I said it’s common these days as they want players to only gamble on certain products that give them profit ie casino or machine style play. If you join twitter there’s a wide range of people talking about the same restrictions that you are perhaps that will give you a better answer than I can
If you want to stop gambling take a good look round the forum. There's a wealth of advice to help you do just that. If you just want to stop losing (which appears to be the case) you're not asking in the right place.
You're looking for someone to say it's ok. You're denying the fact that you have a compulsion to gamble and when you can't because of whatever restrictions you bet on anything, just to have a bet. You loose, you blame. Oh but you win at poker? Can't count the amount of money that has slipped through your hands! If you've got a complaint about the bookies go to the gambling commission. Everyone goes to GA and comes out saying 'I'm not that bad, I'm not like them'. 23 years gambling and winning?
Hi There,
As someone who came from a similar situation, I can only echo what has been said above.
I believe that you CAN win on a particular form of gambling (I did for years). However, any wins are irrelevant if it is feeding the compulsion to gamble elsewhere. I went for years being profitable but, unbeknownst to me, I was feeding an addiction which would ultimately be my downfall.
If, theoretically (and it is a theory!), I could have only gambled where I knew I held the edge then I wouldn't have ever lost. However, without giving up the 'guaranteed' wins, I was never able to face the compulsion as I was still feeding it. It was this compulsion that led me to gamble elsewhere and ultimately ensured I always lost.
Feel free to take/leave this advice but, in my experience, you can only abstain from gambling once you decide to quit all gambling. It sounds ridiculous to think you are walking away from 'easy money' but ultimately it's the only way, in my experience, to beat the underlying problem.
Good Luck
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