HiÂ
I have been here before but obviously did not succeed. I am now 2 days gf and this is something that I want to continue with. Previously, I did 5 years on Gamban and also excluded myself from Casinos but this did not help as I just used another site with my husbands account. I now know that I need to address the issue not only with exclusion but with sheer determination, self help, support from Gamcare and willpower. I have read a few posts in the last couple of days and went on Youtube and watched some hypnotherapy to address gambling. I have to say that I was slightly sceptical but thought that I would give it a try. Well, I feel that it has been really helpful.
My problem is slot machines and it has gotten worse over the years. I used to be able to resist slots as I had to go to a bingo hall or casino to play so even if I did gamble it was restricted but being available online just made it so easy to gamble. I'm not stupid and had a professional job until I retired a year ago but the slots are something that sends all my reasonable thinking out of the window. I now have less money than I used to have due to being retired but also more free time on my hands which is a blessing and a curse.
My problem is that I like to play poker, not cash poker but tournament poker and will satellite into competitions online so do not want to go on Gamban. If I only played poker I would be in the black. I just want to stop the slots. I have managed to get 2 sites that I play poker on, to ban me indefinitely from the casino which is really helpful but it is the other casinos that you can just register with and play. I probably have about 6/7 sites that I am signed up to that I used to only play slots on.Â
Well, I decided enough was enough on 27 removed link I thought I would come back here on Gamban and try to address my addiction. Previously, on here I have had people say you need to go on Gamban and not play poker as well but for me this is a social activity that I enjoy, it's about strategy and an affordable pastime even if I don't win that particular night. So you can see my predicament.Â
For the last 2 days I have not played online poker or gone on any site to play the slots and I am feeling pretty positive and motivated to start this journey again. I know it can be difficult as the casino I go to gives me a £45 match play for slots. But I am determined to not take up this offer and just to play poker the next time I go. I haven't been for 3 weeks and won't be going again for at least 3 weeks as I am going on a cruise on Monday.
I have exactly the same issue, I like poker but casinos etc lead me to table games and then I lose heavy on roulette and blackjack. Never had the slots issue thankfully. I found there’s a lot of pub leagues which you can play for a bit of cash and prizes that will take you to international trips etc. some of these are supplemented with online games but you don’t necessarily need to play them. For me that’s given me the social aspect and play which I like (I only play tournament not cash) but without the avenues to lose heavily or let the negative behaviours get the better of me. You still need to have will power when these games go near a casino etc but the less you expose yourself to sites or physical casinos the easier it gets when you end up in or near one.
good luckÂ
Thank you dc.
I previously gambanned myself or 5 years and self excluded from Casinos but I found it so difficult to get back in as every casino I went to I had to have a conversation with a manager to discuss my gambling and once I travelled over 50 miles with a friend and then nearly couldn't play.Â
There is no local pub poker in my town or nearby town and I don't want to start one myself as I would have to go every week and also it would just result in me drinking more alcohol which I don't want to do. I never drink when I play poker except on rare occasions like when I am staying away from home to play poker and socialising with friends. In winter I play less poker at the casino as well.
I haven't been on an online casino site now for almost 4 days now and that is a rare occurrence for me. I am remaining positive and hope to continue to feel this way. I am going to take it one day at a time and hope that I can continue this way. I will leave my bank cards at home when I do eventually go to the casino and just take my 2 buy ins with me. I am happy to play very low buy in poker games online to ladder up to bigger tournaments so I don't really find that an issue. I am also going to start writing down exactly how much I'm spending online and live and this will hopefully keep me in check.
Thanks again and well done to you for managing your own gambling problem.
I also struggled to stay away from slots and roulette while playing poker. I could never find a way to deal with losing when I felt I "should have" or "deserved" to win in poker and I would get frustrated and blow my bankroll on the casino.
After several unsuccessful attempts to stop where I would stop for a maximum of 2 weeks during nearly 20 years of poker I decided to get help. I got counselling and saw that it was a big trap. Like gateway drugs. Freerolls to keep you playing on the site so you never stop before payday. Casinos at the touch of a button when you have had a bad day playing poker. Endless tournaments of all different types all round the clock to keep you playing when you should be sleeping and you lose some self control.
I quit it all 484 days ago with help from counselling and it was easily the best thing I have achieved as an adult. I haven't had to borrow money since I quit except when I lost my wallet and not because I had run out of money. I'm even trying to get back into work because it was impossible before to keep work going, when I was staying up all night on my computer, to hold down a job. It's quite rare to stay up past 1am now. I sleep better. I feel I make better decisions.
I tried many times to "just" play poker. But the betting companies don't want you to do that. Much easier to quit the casino with none of it.
I'm struggling with the same issue—staying away from slots both online and in casinos. It's been a couple of days, and I'm wondering if anyone has found a way to keep playing poker socially while still managing gambling habits safely
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