Hi everyone!
I didn't think I would ever be talking about a gambling addiction but here I am! I started with matched betting a couple of years ago and pretty much ignored the slots/casino bonuses at first. Then one of the exchanges offered some free spins in December 2020 and I won £45 in a few minutes.
I gambled lots over Christmas. There were a few nights I didn't even go to bed. I actually blew over £1500 in one night. I had won it the previous night and it would have put me into the black but I spent about 8 hours the next day losing it while I pretty much ignored the other responsibilities in my life.
I started telling myself that I'll just stick to matched betting and do the free spins but it never happened. Something would come over me and before I knew it, I would have nothing left in my bank account. I have no overdraft as it was just a basic account I used for MB, Amazon and my own personal spends. My husband and I have a joint account for our salaries. There were a few times I withdrew 'extra' to my account - probably about £200 extra in total.
I count myself lucky in that I have not gone into debt and even though I had access to a credit card in only my name, it's from a bank I worked for up until last year and I would hate for some of my former colleagues/friends to see that I am gambling.
I have closed a lot of my gambling accounts and taken a break from others. I spent time yesterday reading about some of your experiences and realise that the only way for me to be free and happy is to cut all ties with these sites. MB is NEVER going to work for me with this addiction. Today I am going to put blocks in place. I have also opened an account with the bank I used to work for so that will help keep me straight. I'm going to close my 'gambling' account and also the e-mail account I used for gambling.
Anyone out there who is doing MB and finds themselves spending their profits in the casino or on slots, STOP. People like us cannot have it both ways. There is too much temptation. Put the blocks in place. I finally admitted this to myself yesterday and I feel such relief that I can let the MB go.
There are so many better things to do. I don't want to wake up another morning exhausted and feeling sick over how much I lost the night before. We deserve better. Our families deserve better.
Thanks for reading xx
Hiya... gambling doesn't work fullstop, for a compulsive gambler, not just match betting.
By the way, you haven't got into debt "Yet", but trust me you will in due course if you carry on down the path you have been following.
As a compulsive gambler myself I would suggest taking more practical steps to stop yourself gambling. Closed gambling accounts can be re-opened. Self-excluding from some gambling accounts would not stop you opening up new gambling accounts with new gambling sites... when the urge next strikes. Ya gotta be tough with yourself, your gambling head will find loopholes in your efforts to stop yourself.
Register with gamstop for 5 years. Gamban on all devices that you gamble from. Block gambling transcations with your bank.
Like you say... ya don't want anymore gambling hangovers.
All the best
Thank you for your reply S.A! I registered with Gamstop, downloaded Gamban and cancelled gambling transactions on my card yesterday. My post is referring to the fact that some matched bettors (like myself) fool ourselves that we can continue with that and not succumb to our addiction. I never bet extra on horses or football matches. I found MB quite boring actually - it was the slots that got me. But as a CG who knows what could have happened further down the line. I got paid today but with all the blocks in place the urge I had quickly went away when I realised I couldn't do anything about it. Thank God! I hope all is good with you x
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