Hi everyone.
I have decided enough is enough with the chaos, anxiety and feeling ashamed my online gambling is causing. This week has been a wake up call apart from my wages, I had a few thousand inheritance come through, from which I have now blown a good lot online. I feel so ashamed and think what I could have done with the money.Â
My issue started with bingo halls. Sounds crazy being addicted to bingo, but I go and buy the top deal books that literally are £400 plus in some bingo halls.
But i enjoy it. It’s thrilling - waiting for the number to come in and when it does it’s exhilarating.
However, in reality it is not!! Usually I would have borrowed to buy the books, lying to my family what the money is for, Skipping bills, Blowing my hard earned wages all for a ‘kick’.
Then what happened was the fruit machines in the bingo halls. So even if I won in bingo I’d lose most or all of it. Then I would come out feeling awful inside and worrying about the money i have lost. But then back I go when i get paid or I can borrow again. It’s awful so mentally exhausting.Â
So from the In house machines I decided to go online and this is where it’s seriously out of control! I think i’m lucky when those three gold pots came up or got the scatters in. So exciting and a relief when they do. But again the money to put on far, far outweighs the win. Yes I’d win here and there, but long term no way! When i look at my bank account with lines of gambling company withdrawals it looks horrific. Such a waste.Â
So that’s where I am. I’ve took myself off them online, avoiding in house fruit machines by going out in the breaks, and limited my bingo to two nights a week. My partner does the horses but in little and controlled amounts and is supportive. Â
One thing I do feel strongly about is the advertising on the tele. All it is, is bingo, bingo, bingo - as well as other gambling sites. I do feel it should be stopped. As soon as I saw an advert I’d think about gambling again.Â
I thought i’d say hello and already I have enjoyed reading people’s stories, it’s lovely to know I’m not alone in this mess! Thank you so much for sharing.  I shall try my very best to get through this.
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Hi NAT
You have made a huge move admitting the problem to yourself and then coming on here. I'm early stages of recovery on day 96. I can plaster this thread with ideas for you of what's worked for me. If you are free there are chatrooms today at 6pm, 7 and 8. I will be in all of them if you want to talk. They are just text so no cameras and no judgement. I wasn't bingo but I can resonate with all you are saying and the wording is saying to me you recognise a lot of what's been going on which is amazing self awareness. First and foremost, if you haven't already is get the blocks in place. For me I put all of them in as a safety net whether I did them or not
Gamstop will exclude you online for up to 5 years
Gamban on your devices will block all websites
MOSES blocks bookmaker shops
SENSE is casinos
On Gamstop you can find links to bingo halls, arcades, motorway services and holiday parks
You can block your bank cards for gambling transactions either on the banking app or by ringing them
These give you peace of mind for you and your partner
In my first two weeks I spoke to the advisors on here on text chat but you can ring them as well by clicking the speak to someone button. I spoke to them about 50 times and they are incredible. They referred me for counselling which has been a life saver
I also am so thankful I found a GA meeting with my people. They are now friends and it's the best part of my week going to the rooms. Yes it's male dominated and I presume you are female but we have two women at our group.
Hopefully we can chat more on the chatrooms
If you want to ask anything at all, I can only answer from my experience but I will where I can so just shout out. This site is full of people who can help and support, you are in the right place if you want to tap into that resourceÂ
Hi NatÂ
I can so resonate with you on the bingo and fruit machines I used to spend sooo much on fruit machines in bingo Halls, High Street arcades etc and would play the high stakes to try n get the maximum features amd then before I decided enough was enough, I played these max stakes for hours n hours but every feature was absolutely disappointing I lost hundreds of pounds, I never felt so destroyed so I said to myself I seriously gotta stop this, this isn't entertainment amymore, it's torture. I cried after looking at years of bank accounts of gambling. Like Stuart says get your blocks in place first then access the amazing help in here, join us on chatroom at 8 pm. I've done 30 years of gambling n have lost thousands but 16 days ago been on gamcare chatrooms, got a Reframe coaching therapy and talking about is priceless. I've had so many day 1s but since I've reached out to gamcare it's really helping me and will help you too. You can do this. Hope to chat soon
JennyjÂ
@lp5vut869c Hi Stuart and Jenny,
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate you replying. I actually feel bit better just knowing people like yourselves understand and are out there.
I didn’t realise that you could take yourself off so may different gambling sites and places.
I will certainly be joining the chat room. Lovely to meet you both! thank you
Hi NAT
As mentioned if you come to the chat and ask questions there are loads of suggestions for what has worked for people. It's your journey but the sooner you can build connection - build that support network the easier, not easy, it will be. Your brain will rewire and you will learn to simplify and have a better life ask anyone on here. There is hope and a much better version of Nat awaits youÂ
Just joined today I have a really bad problem with online gambling and fruit machines 😔 I’ve lost so much money and I owe out so much as well, I need to make a change and ask for some help 😕 hard to admit it but I know I need too to control my life and get back on trackÂ
Hi Nat
Have you spoken to the advisors on here yet by clicking the talk to someone button ? Also have you tried the chatrooms. They are amazing
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
