New here

Hi Benjid , 

Thanks for posting . For debt and money advice we can recommended speaking with Stepchange or the National debt helpline . 

StepChange – 0800 138 1111, www.stepchange.org   

National Debtline – 0808 808 4000, www.nationaldebtline.org

Please feel free to contact the GamCare Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or Netline to explore the additional support available to you. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you would like to talk to one of the GamCare HelpLine advisers.

Hopefully other members of the Forum can recommend some Iphone games for you. 

Kirk 

Forum Admin

Hey Benjid!

Well done for taking the first step. I've just started my journey to be GF too.

Today is my day 1 and I'm so determined this time to beat this!

I've spent most of my time this morning on the forum, looking at other people's stories and experiences and I would recommend you to try it, it's really opened my eyes to the extent of my problem and made me more determined to get through it.

How did you usually gamble? I was hooked on online slots too and thought about trying to replace it with a game or an app, but I think its better to start something completely new. Getting hooked on an app is not going to give you the same satisfaction as gambling would and I know personally, it would cause me to slowly work my way back there as online slots are basically games to me.

I think I am going to try something completely different to try and pass the time, either start going to the gym or learn a new language to completely change the dynamic of my day.

Stay in touch and let me know how you're getting on! 

Best of luck!

Matt

Hi Matt, thanks for your helpful message.

My issue has been online slots, just find them so addictive even found myself punching the air when I got a big win haha. Funnily enough I could always control betting on football matches etc but online slots have been a weakness for me as you don’t have to wait to get a big win.

I would recommend the gym for sure and agree spending too much time on my phone can only be a bad thing and it’s more likely I’ll gamble again by doing this. Having a workout does replace the buzz from gambling.

Nearly 3 days without gambling for me and this forum really helps, hope it’s going well for you too buddy.

Hi I have been gambling most of my life day 1 for me but at the beginning of lockdown when bookies were closed and I didn’t then bet online I bought a treadmill and did an hour every day as well as cut back my eating the feeling I got was better than any gamble it did help that I lost 2 stone and felt fitter and younger for it sadly I went back to my old ways and started betting online I want that feeling back and the peace of mind re not worrying about monies and making good choices every day I wish you all the support we can do this x

Hi there, I agree with you that feeling fit and healthy is better than any buzz from gambling, the hardest part is keeping it going. Before lockdown I did a few exercises classes and have now started going to the gym again, good thing is that I have to book ahead and will be fined if I don’t turn up and don’t cancel within 1-2 hours, this gives me a push to always go when I’ve booked. 

I’ve also thrown myself into my work and think this helps with not getting the urge to gamble.

Hope it’s all going well for you, good luck x

Totally with you both. Slots got me as well, converted me from a sensible sports bettor to something worse. Pretty amazing how they get you under their thumb and tough to escape then. 

It's definitely good to reflect on how cynical slots and their makers really are. They exist with the sole intention to extract money from the gambler. The 'fun' is just an illusion really, a distraction, to keep you spinning. 

I was always reluctant to ban myself from sports betting but have self-excluded from the casino parts of sites where that option is available, whilst self-excluding from all casinos totally. Self-exclusion has definitely helped with the frequency at which I play, but have still managed to find a way to play slots, albet less frequently. Will be taking tougher action if this continues now.