I've been a gambler for 10 years or so now but really heavy this past year,I won 7000 last year which was the worst thing that could have happened,after booking a great holiday for me and my family I had the whole lot gambled and had taken out a loan before we even got on our holiday. My problem is sports betting mainly football,I've now had to top up my loan twice and owe the bank 6 grand because of chasing my losses for a year..I hate the grip that it has on me and I know I've hurt my loved ones through it all but now with my girlfriends help I'm ready to cut my losses and concentrate more on her and my family.ive finally realised that money isn't everything and family really is.We have started to save for a mortgage for a house now and I've got 1500 saved over the last 15 weeks and my aim now is to get my current account back in order so I can pay off my loans regularly and enjoy my life gamble free,as I write this I am 2 days in but feel good about myself for the first time in a long time,with the help of this website and everyone on it aswell I know il get through this and save for our house and live life happy free from the gambling world.
Hi Sel
I've just joined myself too, I'm 29 and live and work in london. I come from a good family with lots of morals and general life manners. I find myself now getting into the trap of gambling mainly horses, I don't think i'm that far gone yet but i can certainly feel im heading that way, every month i spend £300/400 on gambling, when i loose it i sit there and think is this what i work for. It makes me sad that in my spare time i would rather sit on my phone on w**********l placing horse bets and watch horse racing when i should be out, doing stuff, meeting people as i want to settle down also. i think a big part of this is becuase i am single and crying out to be with someone, when your lonley and dont have anyone gambling fills that void for me, but what do i do with the winnings? go out, get durnk take drugs and the next day im rock bottom
i hope it all works out for you and your family, i am soley thinking about my mum she doesnt know i gamble but it would break her because shes against it big time and our family morals
I'm also 29 mate I've been with my girlfriend 2 and a half years and she's probably the only reason why I've come to the point where I have to stop thankfully for my own mindset as horrible thoughts creep into your mind when you lose a lot of money i.e. Suicide or doing something stupid and bad like holding a shop up even though I'd never do anything like that but they creep in when I'm in that bad mindset of chasing losses,it's good that you've realised you have a problem now before you've lost thousands,for me I've probably gambled 30000 to 40000 in 10 years,madness!!i think you should talk to your mum if she's the only person you have that's close to you and tell her everything,I was afraid to tell my girlfriend what I did again as I thought she would leave me but she understands and is going to help me stop,I've given her my bank card and she's gone keep it and take out money for me for whatever I need,I don't gamble online anymore as I've self excluded from all websites which is probably what you need to do aswell mate if you really want to stop gambling.
Hi Sel87
Thank you for you helpful contributions to the forum.
I noticed you mentioned how you use to feel whenever you gambled and lost. You described experiencing mixed feelings of suicide and committing robbery.
If your ever find that you have relapsed or you are in a similar position again please call our freephone National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 and speak to an adviser or you can contact the Samaritans.
The Samaritans freephone helpline 116 123 is available 24 hours a day, if you'd like someone to listen to you talk about how you're feeling. I have added a link about the Samaritans here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us
Advisers can also give you details about our free counselling service, to support your recovery from your gambling problem. We can also look to see what other types of support might be useful for you.
All the best
Cade
Forum admin.
Hi everyone!
Im starting my gamble free life today! There is no worse feeling than letting down someone who loves you. Ive gambled about 2000£ Borrowed 300£ from my bf to win back the money.it all started when i won 500£ from 50£ and now i wish i never did. Then i won 1000£ and lost it all and told my bf because i borrowed 100£ from him and he was so supportive. Then after 2 weeks i gambled again. I feel so guilty.this is the worst feeling ever!
Hi Santababy 25 welcome and good luck with your recovery,I've only joined this site last week but found it very helpful so far just by browsing through people's stories and talking to others on here.ive never gambled anyone else's money except my own but I know it's not about the money really when we hurt our partners my girlfriend is gona help me kick this habit I hope your partner helps you aswell.all the best.
Hi SEL87! Thanks, ive been reading all the stories aswell and mine compared with some of them is nothing. My bf is not happy about this but hopefully he will support me.
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.
