Hello everyone i had a bad gambling problem and lost thousands on roulette and typical horse/sports bets and got into the dreaded pay day loan cycle. Now this was over 2 years ago after gradually getting worse over a number of years. I broke down to family I was very fortunate that they could help me out and pay off all my pay day loans etc. I found it relatively easy to just completely stop any form of gambling last bet was 15th March 2013 now I met my fiancГ© to be in July 2013 I was open honest about my past problem things got serious fast after saving up we got as small house together recently got engaged and are now buying a 3 bedroom house which we get the keys for in the next 2 weeks. 2 months back I started selling some stuff on eBay to help push to save a little bit more to get to the 20% deposit we have saved over the 2 years we've been together. That's where the problem started I had money in my PayPal account and some how heard or read that you could put money into online betting sites. I'd not bet for 2 years what harm would putting £14 in do. ( I tell my fiance everything yet I'd already kept that from her) I soon lost that then a week later payed money from my bank account to PayPal then from there to the site so that it wouldn't show on my bank statement. Being sneaky already after being so open and honest in my relationship up till this point. Gradually my deposits went up till I was depositing £200 at a time. Now 2 months down the line (yesterday ) deposited £400 but withdrew it as almost lost it and was relieved to get it back. I get an email through and my fiancГ© questions who it's from and I eventually break down and tell her! I showed her all my bet history and obviously she's mad looking at times I've bet on phone while she's been in the house and even next to her at times. 60 bets on one day at worse! Worked out although deposit £2000 odd I was actually only £300 down. I honestly thought that I could gamble like a normal person but I can't and finally realised this. Luckily the wedding is still on but seriously have to regain the trust. I find it easy to not bet full stop but just can't bet in little amounts as just shows how quick it can escalate. Sorry for going on just wanted to put it down in to words
A good post to highlight how dangerous it is to become too complacent, even a few years down the line.
I consider myself no longer a gambling addict, but I am still a gambler.
I started 6 years + ago to kick the habit.
I found myself last year, gradually gambling more than the odd £10 again. It wasn't life affecting amounts, but I felt it was going towards that, if I didn't nip it in the bud there and then.
Why was I going to ruin 5 years hard work and my chance to retire when I get into my mid 50's.
Hi,
Sorry to hear of your relapse but please don't let it stop your recovery. Do what it takes, put the financial barriers up, go back to GA, whatever, but surely it's easier to act now before it gets worse.
Good luck,
CW
Thanks for the replies. I feel like my relapse is the best thing that has happened because I think I still held onto belief that I could 1 day bet like a normal person but this has just proved that will never happen. I find it so easy not to bet at all but now realise I'll always be addicted so just can't bet full stop. My girlfriend and other loved ones that also know about my relapse are asking what triggered it was i stressed etc etc but got no real explanation other than I convinced myself that I could gambler again like a normal person like I was cured because I had money saved up and hadn't thought about putting a bet on for 2 years. I think personally its harder not to bet as time goes by like in years to come when the horrible feelings that it causes to you and loved ones becomes a distant memory but I'm confident that I won't let that happen this time.
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