New here

Welcome. 

Have you heard of the phrase it is never a problem till it´s a problem? The short answer is whenever you think there is a problem with your gambling, you are probably right but if you want to be sure there are good tests/questionnaires online that you can use. I don't think admin will mind this link so I will ad it. http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/20-questions

Best

C

Hey Patrick

I know exactly how you feel. When does it actually stop being fun right.to me slots were always fun. Until you realise that you have lost everything you had that night in 10 mins. To me it was the look on my dad's face every time I came home. You could tell he was worried. That's when I started to try and cut down but I really struggled at doing that. Time and time again I went back to the slots. My mates would slowly stop coming with me and I would be sitting there alone at 3am in the casino just wasting money that I worked hard for. What I'm trying to say is some of us will always find it enjoyable but in the end losing your family over a bet is not worth it mate that's why we are here support is amazing and I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for the support I had. I feel I actually got my life back. I hope you find the support you need Patrick.

Welcome to the Forum Patrick, 

As C43H mentions GA have a great online questionnaire that you can complete and there is also a self assessment tool here on our Website https://www.gamcare.org.uk/self-help/self-assessment-tool/

I'd recommend you do either of those and depending on the results contact one of our Advisers and see what extra support is available for you. 

If that is something you'd find beneficial or you'd like to talk to someone about your gambling and options available to you, you can contact us on 0808 8020 133 or via our NetLine

Wishing you all the best

Kind regards

ChrisK

Forum Admin

@patrick11 I have a saying around this. A hobby becomes a habit becomes a problem. 

My experience of problem gambling is that there is a scale and we don't always look at where we are on the scale until its too late. What started as fun turns into something more like a habit. This the turns into a problem and before you know it an addiction and all the misery that goes with it.

As beeen mentioned above, take a look at the GA 20 questions and if you answer enough, accepting that your gambling is a problem is a big step towards putting it down. I couldn't control my gambling with smaller bets or planned bets, once I started everything went out the window but I hope that doesn't take too long for you to work out.

for me the only way i the GA way which is complete abstainance. No lottery, no raffle tickets, not even flipping a coin. With a lot of work and effort I can now decide to not place that first bet. I cannot say the same of the second.

Good luck.

Chris.