Makes no sense

Hi Francis. Plenty wise folk will be along to help, I'm still trying to figure things out. This lockdown has seen many of us get into situations we wouldn't normally have or seen existing problems become much worse. Online is all too easy unfortunately isn't it but don't go around thinking you are dumb, far from it. All the best.

Gambling addiction something I had for years I relapsed at the weekend. Since lock down I have gone from bookies to online site's I blocked my self from all sites also give my wife my bank cards I had to get a loan out to pay off my losses it going to take me two years to get right. If you can be open with your family don't carry this alone

Its good that you have realised where this will inevitably lead mate. First thing to need to do is to self-exclude and block your email and credit cards - that's easy to do. But your problem is you use your sons account so that probably needs to be blocked too unless he changes his passwords and refuses you access. It only takes 10 minutes to do it but get it done immediately and it will hopefully resolve your on-line gambling.  I self-excluded and blocked on-line at the same time and it has saved me thousands as well as hours and hours wasted. 

Every time you feel the urge to gamble, log in to this site and scroll through some of the despair that makes your understandable misery seem nothing in comparison. Of course it isnt nothing but it will take your mind off the scourge of our lives.

Good luck mate and one last thing, this isn't your sons fault so be careful about how you manage things to ensure you don't damage your relationship with him. Tell him exactly what the problem is and trust him to do whatever he has to to stop you using his account as you will want to......its a terrible addiction and you will feel tempted to blame him - dont!

Hi Francis75 and Welcome.

You are right it makes absolutely no sense until you stop and learn about it as a drug addiction and split mind illness.

Its not for you..leave it alone and let it go. To do that you will have to start a cold turkey process known as a recovery journey.

Tell people close to you and find the strength to self exclude. Its a surge of pride for they have taken your self respect, your dignity and your money away from you.

Talk it through and keep talking about it. Openness and honesty are your saviours. Tell people about a gambling session and it will make no sense just as it makes no sense when you come down from a binge session.

Nobody has ever offered you easy money for a no brainer decision and the cruelest thing is that its not even a fair challenge. All the risk is with you because they are not risking their super yacht or even their housekeeping money.

Its not a dumbness issue. Its highly addictive in all the wrong ways. You are not alone with the problem. Its a legalised pushed drug and we are very vulnerable to craving it. It rapidly becomes more about the money the brain is addicted to the drugs created by the thrill of the chase

You can stop when you do it right. The advice we give is agreed upon and works. You have to be ready to stop though. You cant tell yourself its a money making scheme any longer.. Its not a get it back later scheme either.

Its a mugs game and mainly a tax on the poor. We never knew how it would affect us but its every bit as dangerous as a class A addiction and far worse in many ways

Best wishes from everyone on the forum