Need ideas and advice .... slippery slope ahead!!

Welcome to the Forum JJ74,

I can understand your reluctance to self exclude from the bookmakers as it can be difficult when you've built up relationships with staff and other customers.  There is some good news in that there is a way around this through a scheme known as MOSES, you can visit their website here https://self-exclusion.co.uk or if you call them on 0800 294 2060 you will be able to self exclude from all bookmakers in your local area at the same time without having to enter their premises. 

It's great that you have put in place some blocking software too, I'm not sure if your aware but it's also possible to self exclude from gambling websites licensed in the UK through Gamstop.co.uk 0800 138 6518. You can chose to do so for 6 months, 1 year or up to 5 years. 

If you haven't done so already can I recommend you talk to one of friendly advisers either on our NetLine or our HelpLine on 0808 8020 133 they'd be able to go through all the options available to you, including some free 1 to 1 treatment support.

It's great to have you join us and we look forward to reading many more of your posts in the future.

Kind regards

ChrisK

Forum Admin

@jj74

What would be worse, the embarrassment of having to bar yourself in order to help yourself because of some fake relationship with betting shop staff or continuing to feeling terrible after another big loss?

The truth is you don't even need to ask the individual shop now. You can call a number for MOSES(google it or find the details in the self help section above) and they send you a web link where you can upload pictures and nominate an area or betting shops from which you want to be banned. Ideally ban yourself from a huge area to make it more difficult.

If you tried to go in they are legally required to ask you to leave, and if you're easily embarrassed it should stop you from trying.

I knew all the staff in the shops, they let me stay in when closed as they were cashing up just to let me keep playing on the FOBTs, they let me use one of their allocated parking slots if I phoned before hand to tell them I was on my way, I occasionally got my own copy of the racing post from the manager. Really nice bunch of people. But when I had no money for food or got kicked out the house for gambling away the mortgage they were no where to be found. What do you really think someone on minimum wage thinks when you put the equivalent of their weeks wages on some soppy nag at fontwell? 

The real question is do you want to stop and will you do anything to help yourself? If it's no, keep carrying on until you have had enough.

Time to stop playing at giving up and start working at it.

Chris.

I just did another similar post on another thread but here goes: ask your bank to block all gambling transactions for debit card and also  request daily cash withdrawal limit to £100 or £50 or even less if you wish. Have all your money with One bank only. close all your other bank accounts. If your bank cant Block all gambling tranactions for debit card, close it down, simple as that.

What do you really think someone on minimum wage thinks when you put the equivalent of their weeks wages on some soppy nag at fontwell? 

Wow yes that statement hits home. Point very well made.