Online sports gambling

Hi Lee,

I'm Gabe, I have the same problem since over 10 years ago. In the last 3-4 years I started fighting this by going to GA meetings, seeing a counselor, psychologist, psychosis, books. Unfortunately, none of them worked longer than few months. It is said you have to have the will to give up on gambling. Sometimes I really wanted, sometimes I didn't, I was still thinking about the money lost which I always worked very very hard as I come from a non wealthy family, without high qualifications so always I've been doing low hard physical jobs with long shifts, overtime, non sociable etc. All the money I earned went to gambling, there were many days spending everthing I had in few hours or minutes, going from having my wages in my hands and having plans to spend them well... to lose all and borrow double or treble than that, still losing, going to my bed with big headaches, cramps on my stomach, questioning life, God, family. Completely devastated. Doubting my life. No confidence at all.

Fortunate for me, my partner is still by my side and she's helping me to go through all of it. We can all go over it and change our lifes. At the moment I'm in debt of around £7000 which it will be cleared in 1 year and a half if I keep myself strong and going straight.

As I said... I've tried almost everything. For me some things didn't work, for some people do. I never liked the GA meetings. I went few times to some local ones and every time I was hearing the stories from the guys being there for many years, I was feeling even more anxious and in pain. For some people does work as there were people going to the meetings for over 5,10 or 15 years and they never had a bet since they start going. Also, they were saying if they will stop that they will be starting gambling again, probably. Very very sad.

I've always been a quite sportly active person. Very ambitious and motivated, but strangely... so so weak when comes to gambling.

Looking back , I think this is the best solution which works. Firstly, find someone you trust and honest which you don't mind sharing the problems you had, give him/her all the money you have, all the access to it, keeping you out of it telling him/her only to give you money only when you have to pay something necessary with proof, like rent, bills, personal items etc. Start going to the gym and work yourself out till you become exhausted every day wanting just to go to your bed. Read as much as possible as you can. Keep yourself doing this and don't give up. Don't let the illusions of the winnings from gambling taken over your mind. They are just illusions, never real. Money doesn't come that way and never will. In few months you will look back and you'll be amased by yourself and the difference. You will laugh doing it. It is no easy but you can do it, everybody can do it. The life will taste different.

I hope we chat more on here and I wish you good luck Lee!

...

Hi Lee,

I’m maybe not the best to take advice from as I’ve had 40 years of it. Stopped many times but the most I’ve gone is 67 days without a bet.

You just have to do whatever works for you but you recognise your addiction, you just have do do it day by day.

Strategies that do help everyone include self exclusion. I’ve had literally hundreds of online accounts, and plenty of multiple accounts with the same bookmaker. I’ve finally used Gamstop to self exclude from all uk online bookmakers. It’s not a total solution, only I’m responsible for that, but at least it cuts off temptation when you let your guard down.