Hi
First time I’ve joined a forum to talk about my gambling. Similar to lots of stories - have racked up a fair bit of debt - 5k on credit cards, a loan as well (which includes other bits not just gambling debt) , got into a zone last month where I used what little savings I have, I desperately need to stop. Have an amazing wife and young daughter who don’t deserve this s**t. I did tell my wife when I had a big loss about 18 months ago but she thinks I don’t gamble much now, and has no idea how much it affects me and creates anxiety.
Cant remember exactly where it got out of control - £1 bets turning to £10 turning to £100’s - I joined Gamstop last summer which has meant my losses have cut short - but like an idiot I started visiting bookies, in hindsight it started after my daughter was born . I always bet on football, don’t think I even like doing it anymore, it’s just a f*****g habit I can’t get out of.
Manage to stop for a week then will just blow a few hundred quid. I need to stop this year, need to get rid of my credit card debt and build up our savings.
anyway - I know it’s selfish but it’s a relief to just write it all down. Not sure how to keep off the gambling wagon but I need to find a way.
thanks for listening.
Hey Welshboy
Welcome to the forum. I notice that you have switched from online to bookies. I guess you will already know the blocks that you can put in place. The biggest difference form me was swapping to a MONZO bank account where I could block gambling transactions and also limit how much cash I can get out. The urges don’t disappear overnight for some of us so it is about putting the barriers in place to give us time to re engage the logical part of our brains
Best of luck mate
stay strong buddy! We are all here to help. ??
How did you get monzo to stop them transactions
There’s an option on the app in the account section to turn on a block for gambling transactions. It’s as easy as that
The best way to start is writing it down here so well done on that?
my partner didn’t know what I had done and I was constantly anxious, on edge and looking back now I nearly ruined our relationship. I was addicted to roulette and would waste away £1200 a night sometimes. One night I won £2000 and thought yes this is it all sorted then I spun it away in about 7 minutes and lost it all...as they say the house ALWAYS wins. after that night I blocked everything online and joined GameStop but I was involved in these illegal Facebook raffles and could spend £100 a day or more easily and get nothing back so I had to delete my PayPal and Block all the pages on Facebook then I had to empty my bank account every pay day after I paid my bills so that I only had cash and the ways that I gambled it wasn’t possible to use cash. Honestly I started a wee bit here and there and then I was in £6000 of debt so I had to take on a second job and I ruined 2 years of my life with that. I didn’t even have anything on finance before I started gambling and ended up with over 10 loans, a credit card and legit had nothing left on pay day. Had to work my a**e off for the last 2 years to pay it off and sort everything out. If you can stop now and pay off the debts you have before it gets worse itll be the biggest gift you’ll give yourself. It breaks my heart seeing people be in the place I’ve been.
I’ve been a year stopped and have managed to buy myself a Mini Cooper sport convertible with the money I used to spend on gambling and still have money left every month which is actually ridiculous when you think about it! I was 24-25 when I started and I ruined what should have been some of the best years of my life for sure.
good luck on your journey!
Cheers all. It’s been interesting reading other people’s stories. It’s such a dangerous spiral. I know I want to stop - but the urge just to ‘pop in’ to the bookies is madness.
trying to take it a day at a time. And hopefully I can string some days/weeks together and will feel a bit more positive.
I have a perfectly manageable plan to slowly pay things back. It’s just a case of stopping before it becomes unmanageable.
Monzo account is great - they will block gambling sites for you - i have closedmy other bank now
Thanks. I’ll look at Monzo.
currently 17 days gamble free which is probably the longest I haven’t gambled for a few years I imagine. Small steps but I feel positive. I’ve been keeping a brief daily online diary for myself , counting up the days which has been helpful.
went to town today to grab some bits and the urge to go in and lay a quick football bet was very big - but I managed to fight it and felt great afterward.
God it’s a struggle isn’t it!?!?
Hi,
it can be a struggle at times, but it is worth it, well done on what you’ve achieved so far, I hope you are enjoying being part of the gamcare community.
Kram
101 days gamble free!
Feels like a huge step - been paying my debt back slowly over the last few months but it’s great to see it slowly come down / without any of the mad anxiety pains from gambling losses.
been regularly popping on to the forum when I feel low
good luck everyone and keep at it, 1 day at a time!
460 odd days gamble free now.
I still get a slight urge every now and again / but a stronger urge always to keep going and not gamble. It’s tough but possible! Joining gamstop was huge and a massive help!
keep at it everyone. One step at a time
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