In the thick of it

Hi Jay. Similar story here with the spiralling stakes, it's amazing how my 50p bets turned into four figure bets in under two years. Once I started seriously considering a five figure bet I knew that was it. Even if I did win it still wouldn't have been enough. I did similar, Gamstop and multiple layers of blockers on devices, and currently around 4 months bet free.

Well done for putting in the online blockers, they are incredibly helpful. Although if you also gamble offline, I'd recommend telling your partner, as handing over finances (or at least having someone keeping a very close eye on it) is the most effective strategy for stopping offline gambling. Might be hard but it will be such a relief. Gambling thrives on secrecy.

Hi Brucey. Thanks for your response. It is incredible how the stakes increase so dramatically as we try to match/excel our last big win. I am indeed off online gambling but at the moment I am still a regular in the bookies.

I will tell my partner soon as I want the dust to settle before Christmas.

Congrats on four months mate. Brilliant stuff.

Hi JLH.

Im back on to try and help. You do need to stop now and its a journey or learning process about this addiction. An addiction every bit as dangerous as class A substances...if not more so in many ways.

Sit down...what were they offering you?..You will almost certainly be addicted to the chemical feelings of playing...A reliable income scheme.?..you know that its far from that. when you learn why you are addicted it goes to the root of your soul so be ready to explore that

We recommend no secrets as you must face this and your family can be a great help. That time is up to you

Well done for blocking online as credit where its due. However there is no room for complacency as you have simply switched to a local form which can be just as dangerous.

Please do all the exercises..what have you lost...dare you write that figure down as I was always delusional?....just enough to cope with actually turned out to be thousands a year I could not afford to lose. I kept telling myself it was say up to a thousand but the real figure was many times more than that and some more.

You will recover when you fully know what you are facing.

It can take some time to fully realise what you face so use that time wisely and understand there is some cold turkey and embarrassment of telling people.

I wish you all the very best and there is plenty of support on here

Hi JLH your storey reminded me of my behaviour some 50 odd days ago, I went to work (a blurr) in between I would take my stash / cr cards / phone to the bookies for a challenge - this was what I did and needed - I won and lost and gambled vast amounts for me and ups and more downs, it didn’t matter win or lose I couldn’t stop or enjoyed wins or hate losses. Fortunately I lost double bubble on day and had no more ammunition- I came here and started to read Allen Carr book, and I now see it for what it is! A fix a con we can’t win! Which I am glad this is what it is! Stopping is in the mind and the mind needs training! Good luck

Hi JLH,

Well done for being here. We can all relate and so many stories on here are so similar. Just over two years ago after gambling for ten years my gambling took a turn for the worst and ended up in debt. Not a huge amount but a couple of thousand. We was set to get married two months later in the December and thought after working so hard and paying for our wedding with our own cash, that I couldn’t tell my wife to be that I have some how ended up in debt. I thought I will tell her in the new year post wedding, Christmas etc.... what happened then I ended up continuing to gamble and then with a trip over to Vegas in the May for my best friends wedding I then thought I would tell her after that. What happened I ended up gambling post wedding through Vegas (secretly) lost more there and then my wife became pregnant in the august. I then thought I can’t tell her now and will wait until after the baby is born, baby came this year and then thought I don’t want to ruin the newborn period or her mat leave. Whilst all this was happening I continued to gamble mostly in the bookies on the fobts. I earn a good wage and am very lucky but continued to P**s money down the drain. Fast forward to now I’m 15k in debt and this all progressed since when I said. I understood I had an addiction but underestimated what addiction is. I thought it’s somethint that comes and goes or that you can stop with willpower. How wrong was I. I did stop during those two years for 6 months and tried many other times. But the addiction just pulled me back in time and time again. What I am trying to say that there is never a good time whatever is happening. 3 weeks I decided the only way I can stop gambling is to be honest and told her everything. I never ever thought she would stand by me after all the lies, deceit, money wasted and she has been affected by addiction in the past with her mum and drink. But how wrong was I. I have broken trust and that will take time but am now seeking the help and support needed (therapy, ga, Gamcare, being honest, trying to change, putting life in to perspective). I’m just saying that this will spiral out of control I know from experience and from this site. Read my posts from two years ago. Reading them for the first time a month ago since then I was shocked. Because I had totally forgotten all that as the mind blocks these things out. That’s what the addiction wants. I wish you the best in the futire but don’t underestimate your partner. It will only get worse over time otherwise like mine did and will power cannot do it alone. Gambling not only took my money, it changed me as a person.

Hi JLH,

Well done for being here. We can all relate and so many stories on here are so similar. Just over two years ago after gambling for ten years my gambling took a turn for the worst and ended up in debt. Not a huge amount but a couple of thousand. We was set to get married two months later in the December and thought after working so hard and paying for our wedding with our own cash, that I couldn’t tell my wife to be that I have some how ended up in debt. I thought I will tell her in the new year post wedding, Christmas etc.... what happened then I ended up continuing to gamble and then with a trip over to Vegas in the May for my best friends wedding I then thought I would tell her after that. What happened I ended up gambling post wedding through Vegas (secretly) lost more there and then my wife became pregnant in the august. I then thought I can’t tell her now and will wait until after the baby is born, baby came this year and then thought I don’t want to ruin the newborn period or her mat leave. Whilst all this was happening I continued to gamble mostly in the bookies on the fobts. I earn a good wage and am very lucky but continued to P**s money down the drain. Fast forward to now I’m 15k in debt and this all progressed since when I said. I understood I had an addiction but underestimated what addiction is. I thought it’s somethint that comes and goes or that you can stop with willpower. How wrong was I. I did stop during those two years for 6 months and tried many other times. But the addiction just pulled me back in time and time again. What I am trying to say that there is never a good time whatever is happening. 3 weeks I decided the only way I can stop gambling is to be honest and told her everything. I never ever thought she would stand by me after all the lies, deceit, money wasted and she has been affected by addiction in the past with her mum and drink. But how wrong was I. I have broken trust and that will take time but am now seeking the help and support needed (therapy, ga, Gamcare, being honest, trying to change, putting life in to perspective). I’m just saying that this will spiral out of control I know from experience and from this site. Read my posts from two years ago. Reading them for the first time a month ago since then I was shocked. Because I had totally forgotten all that as the mind blocks these things out. That’s what the addiction wants. I wish you the best in the futire but don’t underestimate your partner. It will only get worse over time otherwise like mine did and will power cannot do it alone. Gambling not only took my money, it changed me as a person.

Hi all. Thanks for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it. As expected I experienced a major loss for the first time. It scared the hell out of me. I have now passed control of my finances to my partner after coming clean to her and my family. They refused to bail me out financially as they’re aware this may only give me reason to continue. Anyway, I have counselling in an hour and GA on Wednesday. Two full days without local or online (I found a website not registered with Gamstop :(). Thanks again and I will be sure to post regular updates. Stay safe everybody. 🙂

Hi all. Now 11 days without a bet. Completely ignored Cheltenham! Had a few urges but nothing too bad. Counselling and GA going well. Thanks again for the support.

30 day milestone is here! Absolutely thrilled. Still going to counselling and being treated for depression/anxiety/OCD. Feel like a new person. Thanks to everyone for being here and encouraging to speak out. J.