Hi I'm new to all this kind of thing and feel embarrassed with every word i type. But when you're this deep inside an abyss of debt and stress i'm starting to realise what next I'm 29 and I've got 2 little kids who I love very much, I only ever gamble on Horses and Football, So ill get started on my story, I started gambling a long time ago in my teenage year's always loved to do a football bet only on a Saturday, Usually it would be just 5 or 10 pound, My gambling started to get slightly worse when I started working in a local bar just because the horse racing was on everyday in work, So when my kids where born I started to cut down on gambling all together as I needed the money for them, Would still do the odd bet but not as much as I do now, So I split up with a woman i was going with for 10 years and my 2 kids mummy when I was with her I always knew when to stop and enough was enough, So this where my gambling problem/addiction has got worse, February of this year I blew my wages on gambling horses and football, So from there I've been going down hill gradually So been lending money to get me through the months my debts have been getting worse, I owe out about 2grand now and that's not including family members because I've had to borrow to live on and to gamble to try and win the money back I've lost, Now we are 1 month away from Xmas and when I get my wages I owe it all out again, I turn to gambling more now to keep my mind occupied and gives me something to do and take my mind of things
Hello Tommy and welcome to the forum. Thank you for joining and making your first post here. It must have taken a lot of courage. I've copied your post so that it appears in 'New Member Intros' as well as 'Overcoming Problem Gambling' - hopefully more forum users will see it then, and will soon be welcoming you and making suggestions.
Sounds like your gambling is out of control and you need help to get both the gambling and the debt under control. You don't say whether you gamble in the bookies or online, but either way there are things you can do to help reduce temptation - such as self exclusion, or blocking software if you gamble online.
You say you gamble as a way of taking your mind off things. It's going to be vital for you to find other ways of spending your time - if you don't have the time to gamble, can't get to a location where you can gamble (online or a bookies), or you don't have the money to gamble, then you can't gamble.
Find out more about the practical steps you can take here: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do#.VlsclnbhC5s
You can get free counselling from GamCare - find out more here: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/face-face-counselling
You can also get support from other recovering gamblers at Gamblers Anonymous groups. You can find your nearest group here: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/index.php/ga-meetings/find-a-meeting
or in Scotland you can check the GA Scotland website here: http://gascotland.org/ga_meetings/.
If all your wages are going on paying your debts your need to get advice, because that isn't sustainable. We have advice on debt management at our website, where you'll also find suggestions for organisations who can help you plan a budget and if necessary negotiate with your creditors. http://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-advice/what-can-you-do/finance-and-debt-management
We hope you've found this information useful. Please do keep posting and let us know how you are getting on.
Take care,
Forum Admin
Hi Tommy
I have recentley signed up to Gamcar, it's been tough and last week I couldnt have a 'day 1' at all - A key triangle that a lot of the team on here have helped me with is - Time, Money and Location - If you haven't got one of them, you cant gamble. I hit a low on Thursday, a quick spin online and bosh, lost enough lets say and thought thats it - I cant keep doing it. Boredom has always been my weak link, as I love my sports, social life and work but boredom, I just keep myself company. As stated, Roulette is my killer. Horses is my niche punting, where I have some knowledge for a 23 year old, not me saying it 'others in the racing world' have said that which is nice, I do write-ups and also go the races and used to work in the industry. I know that gamcare is to cut all betting out, but my horses are where I dont go silly, I am sensible and love it with a passion. Roulette has been the killer for me, I'm 23, and have large commitments coming up over the next few years. This weekend I've took that forward step and realised, be happy, and have those limits. Recentley spoke to family member:
Ordered new bank card and Pin
Also got a little cash point card for my weekly commitments
and deleted my cards off websites as online roulette,.....yeah lets not go there
Make those changes, for yourself, for all of us to hear the good news and your children. I come on here now and again to support others as I have certain goals in life and changing my life is something I feel so determined to do! Remember Time, Money and Location, it will work
Good luck mate keep us updated 🙂
Happy10
Thank you for that post, you have really made me feel like I'm not alone and I can do something to change this.
Molly
you are cetainly not alone hun-we have all hit rock bottom- stay with us and we will do it together xxx
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