My cycle, advice needed

Hi Matt,

Your post struck a chord with me as I come from a similar situation. I used to make my (good) living from %-controlled slots upon which I was disciplined, and played with a professional head on. I also had a tenners worth of football acca's on a Saturday and felt no compulsion to chase my losses or increase my stake. My downfall was with slots on FOBTs where I would end up losing my profit. When I was playing them I lost my sense of reality, the money wasn't real and I just played until I lost.

I am still struggling with my recovery so I won't tell you what is the best option for you, however, I can tell you that everyone's recovery is different and requires a different approach but there are some common factors. I don't know what site(s) you use for poker but I know some allow you to self-exclude from sections of the site (Sky Bet for example, I am excluded from Sky Vegas but not the sports betting) and then exclude from all others (this is assuming you plan to continue with poker, and that has to be your decision).

I know the predicament you're in. Even now (I'm employed and have my own business) I still can make a good amount of money extra each month if I am sensible and disciplined, the problem is that, by our nature, compulsive gamblers are not either.

I appreciate I haven't offered much actual advice here but, if I knew the answer, then I'd be in a better position myself. All I will say is try and do what you think will work for you and, if it doesn't work, accept that you will have to try a different approach. I just wanted to let you know that I'm on your side and that you'll get great support here.

Good Luck

Phil

Hi phil

Thanks for your comments. For me I just don't understand why I have such a good head in regards to poker where it's me v another human. Yet when it comes to me v a computer designed to defeat me over a period of time I go mad for it. I'm happy to sit and grind poker tournaments for hours and try make let's say £1000 for a final table finish. Yet I'll stick £1000 in a online casino and try make 10,000 in 5 mins. I can't bet £5. I can't to be honest do less than £100 spin with £25 on most of my numbers. This is why fobts don't appeal anymore.

I have excluded from casino on my main poker sites but as you know your flicking through Twitter or Facebook and bang. Here have a 100% deposit bonus and off the cycle goes.

Got paid on Friday and 3 final tables over the weekend. EVERYTHING gone already.

That's why I don't know if I should pack it all in till I'm debt free and start up again.

The horrible thing is I actually tried withdrawing my money from poker winnings but due to having a new card I had to contact customer support. This just gave me chance to back some horses which of course ran like a Blackpool donkey.

Pure greed on my behalf. Just wish I could play poker and pay off my debts.

Sounds like you're gambling in many forms. I'd give it all up including the poker.

It's not just the money it's all the wasted time involved in gambling as well. You can spend hours on the gambling rollercoaster.

Yes I understand where your coming from. That's what I want to try and kick. Want to be able to just play poker exclusively. Human v human is a lot different to human v machine designed to win. I'm a +ev (profitable player) which can be backed up from online databases. I really agree with you about gambling on all forms Which I do and want to stop. Want to become debt and gamble free. Just wondering if anyone is in a similar situation to myself.

I'm sorry to say but you don't sound ready to stop yet. You have to accept loses and draw a line before you can move forward. It would be a shame fur you to hit an all new rock bottom before you do that. These sites simply won't allow you to 'win' long term.

I want to stop with the slots. Roulette etc. 100% wish I could. The s**t I go through every month kills me. There's professional poker players for a reason because it's a beatable game as your playing a human. No proffesional roulette players or slot players because it's designed to win over a long term.

I am glad of any comments weather you agree or disagree as it's helping me talk about it and understand more aswel as see other peoples insights. So I really do appreciate people taking the time out to comment.

Hi Matt, problem is as compulsive gamblers, any form of gambling keeps the flames dancing. What you actually want to do is stop losing (didn't we all) as your personal statistics tell you that poker is a winning formula. We can't seem to isolate the poisons, any more than an alcoholic can only drink Peach Shnapps or whatever drink doesn't cause them to lose control. I can see the logic in the lottery as much as it pains me to admit because there's no real 'live' gratification but for me, I wanted to be rich so I could gamble unabated. Now I'm in recovery, money isn't what makes me smile anymore. Have no idea how the tournaments work but is there any way of reducing your access to cash so that you can't play the other stuff? Only way I can see to win @ gambling is not to start - ODAAT

Thanks for your comment ODAAT. Basically I deposit through my card or Paypal, enter a tournament let's say for £40. If I get a nice result so £500+ I would withdraw. But then it's just sat in my account burning a hole. I've excluded from all casinos but always find a new one and even though I'm saying no my fingers are signing me up. Oh I've just won £500 so £100 won't go missing. Lose deposit lose etc etc.

Unfortunately the same can happen in a casino. I can walk In with £400 to play cash poker. Play for 7-12 hours and let's say be up £650. Now as you know, what's £50 roulette it and walk. Wins,now 730 up. Bet the 30. Lose. Well let's bet the 100. And you know the score. Admittedly I'm getting better at cashing in the casino and walking right out. (Have to walk past roulette blackjack slots) but it kills me knowing I have a skill in poker, an edge if you wish but I chose to waste it on absolute rubbish. If I could go back 7 years to the first day I put £2.60 into a fobt I would do it in an instant and stop myself. Even if it meant never being introduced to poker.

Thanks for listening and replying. I really appreciate it.

Hi Matt123456.

Its essential for recovery that your gadgets are properly blocked or taken off you.

I have to tell you that you are at the stage where you think you can pick and choose how you think you are going to win but its leaving tempation wide open for compulsive gambling.

I will go further and this is something you will have to discuss. You are at a known phase where really you just want to stop losing. As you are on the gamcare site you must be well out of a delusional comfort zone. You can discuss different triggers later but for now you need to be offline as far as gambling is concerned.

If you had blocked the gadgets you would have had none of those losses so you really need to focus on the real picture here. If online is a problem you need to be offline as far as gambling is concerned.

Its like a lightbulb going on or a born again moment. I win everyday...every minute....every second.... because I dont gamble.

The stuff I can now afford is giving me a real pleasure that gambling never did.

So yes you need to and must quit it all. Anybody that tells you differently doesnt understand the recovery process. You have allowed them into your home and it must stop.

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Thanks for your input joydivider. I am in a lot of debt from online roulette and slots. 3x maxed out. Credit cards aswel as a mortgage extension on my house which was intended for paying of those cards. Quitting roulette etc would be the best thing in my life. Like now, I won't play again for atleast a month as I have exhausted my money for this month. And I got paid 3 days ago. Unbelievable.

I'm going to self exclude from the poker sites for a few month and get straight, (slightly more than I am now even though it will take a couple years) but I will exclude and take it seriously. Honestly roulette has ruined my life. Time to kick it into touch and if that means putting poker on hold then so be it.

Hopefully one day I am able to play poker freely without thinking about tier section coming in ha!

Again thankyou all for your comments and I will reply to anyone that does comment

Matt.

Hi Matt.

I to was once a student of poker. I played at decent level online level and live weather it be MTT or cash. I played all aspects of poker games weather it be NLH PLO Stud Razz etc and was successful BUT.....

Its the roulette and slots what are killing you (sports betting with me) I was in the same shoes as you, good live scores in poker and online was controlable but my illness took over and thats the issue with the boat we are in. I got to a stage where I stopped playing poker because I wanted the money the gamble on sports and it killed my real love.

I came to realsation I was never going to make a living playing poker with the illness I have and you must think the same mate its going to be near on impossible to succeed at poker when you have suffered with the illness.

There was nothing more I wanted to do than become a pro poker player but its just not going to happen.

I hope you the best in your road to recovery moving forward.

Thankyou mikey. I'm glad I'm not the only one (in a bad way) as I wish we both could have followed our dreams of grinding the tables be it cash or tournament.

some of the wins playing poker are what lead me to wanting to carry on. Some of my wins and a withdrawal would get me debt free so quick. I know I have what it takes but as you point out its the other aspects.

Thankyou for commenting and just nailing it home for me. I think I'll take a break and re a***s in a few months down the line. Weather I want to play and if I do the moment I hit the tables I'll be off for good. I really appreciate you all taking time out of your days to reply to me.

Matt

Hi Matt.

I was in your shoes around 2 years ago ( was playing poker for around 5-6 years) and it dosent get better mate. It gets worse you have to be willing to give up the lot. I would say its near on impossible to be a succesful poker player and be gamble free at the same time if you suffer with this illness.

I agree with the rest even tho its kills me myself as I was once you. You have to kick all habbits of gambling and poker is gambling. whose to say in 2 years time you are slot free for them two years then your on the final table of a decent size tourney and your AA gets cracked by 7,8 off. whose to say the illness what you would still have wouldnt kick in and you drop pony and pony on the roulette.

My advice is mate if you really want to kick the habbit and have a better life kick all aspects of it weather in be roulette slots sports betting and poker.

You have more to live for. I hope you listen to my advice and take it forward but its down to you. like I said I was in your shoes now I am 26 with around 6k in debt living at home borrowing money so I can buy a sandwhich at work for £1.50 give it up mate.

Thanks mikey I appreciate it. I'm a year younger with around 15k on cards. Unbelievable when I've won tournaments such as the big 55 and 109 final tabled 162 82 tournies. Won 15k on two tourneys in around October. Basically paid a card off to re deposit with it. Unbelievable. Like you say I think it's time for a break for a long time then re a***s. See if it still appeals. I don't want to fall out of love with it but if I have to then so be it. I can't live like this anymore. Paid 3 days ago and already trying to find money for bills. Something seriously wrong here.

Thankyou again mate. Nice to have someone who's been in the same situation as myself around. Thanks.