My story starts two years ago when I won £2000 at a casino near me, I was hooked so I went the following week and won again 1000 pound I could do no wrong every number coming in to my work mates surprise ment, golden boy was my nickname for then on.
So the spread betting started along with casino and sports betting, never telling people I was losing only winning trying to keep up with been a lucky guy image, little did they know I was racking up thousands of pounds worth of debt still doing it today lost 300 pound today and the day before my girlfriend is going spare and I in the mind set that one big win will cure all my finaial problems!
That isn't happing and I need help to put things right, to my family members I'm doing fine have told them about it and there controlling my finances and have been for 7 months but little do they know I'm getting credit card after credit card, and it's all get too much because I can't deal with the thought of working for the next 18 month on a budget the thought is making me crumble because my life is already bland even with gambling.
Just want to take control back and not have this black cloud follow me around!!!!
You've taken a big step by coming on here and sharing your story mate. Your not alone and there is great help through this site. My suggestion would be to use it. Stay strong, you have to understand that the big win your chasing will not happen and even if it does you'll go back again & again until it's all gone again. I've been there, thinking you can win it all back and move on.... It always pulls you back in.... Use this as a new start, draw a line in the sand and never ever go back. It will be hard but remember there are many of us on this path with you. Listen to people, read the stories, take note of the pit falls and help. You can do this.... Stay strong !
Thanks, it's nice to know people are out there with the same problem, wish there wasn't but Ive felt as if I was the only one as silly as that sounds, thought about taking away all the items I gamble on but is that really the solution I'm not sure
different people use different things to stop and believe me there are lots of us out there. You are not alone. We all get that sick to the pit of your stomach feeling after a bad visit and think that we can win it all back. There is only one winner in this and it ain't us my friend. As hard as it may be you need to stop NOW. Understand that the money has gone and start rebuilding your life for yourself and your nearest & dearest. I truly believe you can do this, you have to want it and it will happen. It's a long road with many temptations but if you stay focused, believe in yourself and remember how d**n cr@P it felt when you lost money you will succeed. There is a diary section on here, use it to motivate yourself. Read the others posts and always remember you are not alone. Stay strong !
What struck me about that comment is the money has gone I still sort of thing I'll get it back but I'm going to keep my head down and work hard to put right what I've messed up not just money but my family and friends, how are you doing with your demons?
You may get it back if you're lucky but i guarantee you'll lose it all again and more ! The cycle has to stop. I lost thousands (10s of) about 8 years ago. Got 'clean' and didn't touch Will Hill roulette for years until last year when a few family issues (big C got some family members) and I think that triggered me into trying to escape reality back to the table. Lost £7.5k last year out of my savings but stopped before I lost it all. Thankfully no debt and I'm determined to work hard, get the money back through work only and leave the demons behind once and for all. We all have a story to tell and a journey to take. Some days hard and some easy. But one thing is for sure... We all have to start somewhere. Mine starts in 2015. Good luck to you my friend. Stay strong
Marsden85, the money has gone I'm afraid! The sooner you accept this, the sooner you can start getting on with your life! So many of us on here wish we'd realised that before we spent so much more chasing it to get to this point. You have seen yourself what just 7 months of chasing can do! You have to get a grip of this now otherwise you will lose everything! You will not be able to keep this a secret for ever & your family may not be quite so understanding next time given that they believe they have honesty from you now! Youur life is bland because of the gambling not as you say, with it & I'm afraid you have no choice but to live the next 18 months on a budget! You will see this is actually a very short time compared to some.
The black cloud will go once you get into recovery & if I were you I would get to work self excluding right away! You have to do this for everyone that cares about as well as you - ODAAT
Thanks guys, you've Given me a lot to think about
Hi Marsden,
Welcome to the forums. I wish you the best of luck. I have done the credit card thing, 3 maxed out and no longer able to pay the minimum payments. 2 loans (defaulted) before finally progressing on to payday loans as they were the only line of credit left open to me. So, last month unable to pay my bills and debts I tried for the big win to sort out my problems. Result? I gambled away my entire wage including rent money. That was my rock bottom. I made the decision that night that enough is enough and have now been in recovery for 8 days. Please stop now and don't go as low as me. Make this your rock bottom. Wishing you the very best on the start of your journey 🙂
Well it's was all to late to admit I have a problem the family has now fallen apart, everybody gunning for me which is right I deserve it!
Hey Marsden, it sounds like you are getting enough of a kicking from others without doing it to yourself so stop that. The money that you have lost has gone, so no point in worrying about getting it back or chasing it. Your family are probably hurt right now, but they still love you I'm sure. Now that you have made the decision to stop, you can start the journey of gaining back their respect and your own self respect. Don't let this setback be a trigger to go down the wrong track again Marsden. I'm behind you every step of the way and I know that lots of others on here will be reading your posts and rooting for you too. Keep strong my friend. x
Marsden85, how about offering them something you didn't do before because you wanted to keep the door open 'to win back what you were chasing'? Let them have access to your crefit report! They clearly cared enough to support you 7 months ago so maybe a bit of begging & pleading wouldn't go amiss. Show them how determined you are this time but be honest & admit you need a bit more support than them just holding your cards! I gave OH, all my banks cards (a lot) & access to all my online accounts & even though he hated it almost as much as I did, he did random spot checks, getting me to account for every penny he couldn't work out! You can't get further into debt without it appearing on a crefit report!
You have nothing to lose by trying & everything to lose by going back to gambling! Please stay strong & I really hope once this shock wears off, they will find the strength they will need to support you on this difficult path - ODAAT
Couldnt agree more ODAAT. Time to accept your way of tackling this disease does not work bro. Maybe its time to try a new way!
Unfortunately when we confess it is likely some people won't understand and are going to be very upset with you over money and trust issues - probably quite rightly too. Life feels "bland" because gambling dulls your senses, the normal things that should please you feel boring in comparison but gambling won't ever feel fulfilling because it is an artifical high, like a drug.
You just need to get through the first phase of stopping, do whatever it takes to avoid gambling and then the fog starts to clear.
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