Serious gambling problem

Hi,

Welcome to the forum. Firstly well done on posting and take a deep breath.

It sounds (just like me) that you may have hit rock bottom and so the only way is up.

As hard as it may be now is time to "involve" the family as you can't run or hide from this without support. Some or most of us on this site have had too do this and believe me it does help.

It may also be time to hand over ALL the finances to someone else. Again it does help.

If you are gambling online there is blocking software or in a worst case scenario ditch the laptop and/or the mobile. No access then.

I have a DMP with Stepchange and did not go down the IVA route. I was 40k plus.

There is a lot of light at the end of the tunnel but you need to find it by taking positive steps to stop.

Read through people's posts and diaries and learn from others experiences and thoughts. All is NOT lost. Chin up, dust yourself down, get cleaned up and lets beat this.

One day at a time. Tomorrow you will not gamble. Tomorrow I will not gamble.

Best wishes

Hi. Sorry to read your situation but glad you have found your way here. There is a load of help and support available here both from the posts on here and through Gamcare itself.

Unfortunately there is no way to self-exclude from all sites in one go but they should exclude you without question if you ask. I hope that the "IVA company" you have contacted is not one that will charge you more than necessary - Step Change or Payplan are your best options for advice.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Of course there is even if it feels otherwise at the moment. I will not say its going to be easy, there are lots of emotional and practical challenges ahead. However you want to change your life you if want to.

Please consider contacting the Gamcare helpline, you need all the support you can get right now.

Thank you for the replies , the Iva company is McCambridge Duffy ( hope that's ok to post ) I know I have a long road ahead before things maybe start to look brighter but I am so determined to know the person I once was , hopefully I have the courage to fulfill this. As per the helpline I will be giving them a ring when I get some of the courage I need , it's so difficult even trying to contemplate taking to some one about my problem as I currently have no self esteem. Just looked into the DMP with step change and it might be worth speaking to them also , thanks for the help.

No worries. Keep posting and keep learning. It is a long road but not an impossible one

Dealing with your problem will improve your self-esteem, take action while you can.

and of course the situation will improve if you don't gamble

not easy of course especially if your an addict

accept all the help you can and try and support others 🙂

tri

Hi to all ! First time here and am amazed at all the goodwill that flows through our elite club. I'm 54 been gambling for the last 30 years or so . always liked a bet on the dogs or horses and never felt I had a problem with that . Until the dreded Fobt's turned up that is . Had quite a big win at the Casino in the early part of this year around 9k, that was with only £150 or so when I went in , I felt on cloud nine but on reflection it was proberbly the worst thing that could of happened, Because I had the money, I was spending more and more time in the bookies , particularly on the roulette machines , The bets were getting bigger and so were the losses and it's the first time in my life that i felt no longer in control. The moneys long gone , plus about another 6k as well. Ive felt sick to the stomach for the last month or so, trying to stop playing them but that didnt work .Told my partner and my kids what I had done as I felt I couldnt keep it to myself anymore, what a day that was ! They were shocked but very supportive , I didnt really have a plan , just said that I would stop but of course , like an idiot I didnt . Until yesterday that is !! , I'd been looking at this site for a few days and finally plucked up the courage to have a chat with a Gamcare advisor on netline . it felt really strange but I also felt relief that someone was listening and really understood what I was feeling . So yesterday 9~9- 15 was the day I started to get my life back, the day I went to all the bookies in my area and self excluded . Going in I felt ashamed and embarresd but coming out it was like a great weight lifted from me , I really don't want that life anymore. it drains you , it leaves you with no self esteem and no life, only misery and debt . If I could turn back the clock I would , the biggest thing for me is realising that I cannot beat a machine thats programed to win and that the moneys gone , Stop chasing it , let it go and get on with my life . Sorry for gabbling on a bit , just need to say thing sometimes !!! I will chip in from time to time but until I do , thank you all for your stories of your lives and all the inspirational comments on the forum , good luck and keep positve, I WILL NOT GAMBLE TODAY

odysea wrote:

Good evening all ,

Not really sure where to start so will just type ,

I have a gambling problem which has now come to a head and i dont really no which way to turn , my current gambling debts on credit cards is some where in the region of 30k , today i self excluded myself from the online bookmakers that i was curently using ( is there some way to self exclude from them all ) think i am from most but there might be some that i am not , i have also been in contact with a IVA compnay and i am awaiting there call to discuss the matter.

Just really in need of some form of support as the tears are rolling down my eys as i type this ( cant really see what i am typing , tissue on route ) i am 49 year old male and married with 2 children , currently have a mortgage all the normal family household bills and such , but my family is unaware of my ( our situation ) now i know some people might think its your situation not theres and some are thinking its our situation as you are a family, i know i would lose my wife thru my own fault as no one else is to blame apart from me.

Is there light at the end of tunnel or am i just resigned to my fate , i feel so deceitful , i cant sleep , dont wont to go to work , just a complete and utter mess at this present time.

will just leave this as it stands and say thanks for reading .

The first step you need to make is to tell your family, you will never get over this keeping it a secret. Good luck