Slot machine addict *please help me*

Hi Star. Welcome, please share your story. We are here to support you. I too have a slot addiction. I am 3 weeks gamble free.

Hi. Thank you for your reply. I only visited casinos on a night out id a friends birthday etc probably around 3-4 times a year . It was only ever roulette for a laugh and my maximum spend would be £20 £30 max!!! Anyway after a couple of years of visiting the casino we went there again for another friends birthday. When all of our friends had left we stayed on to finish our drink... Had a little walk around the place to where the slots were. I said wow! How sad are all these people just sitting there pushing a button!! They must be mad I thought... At that time 2 machines side by side became vacant and my partner said shall we do a tenner each just for a laugh? BIGGEST MISTAKE EVER!!! We both won £500 each with out £10 on a game called Egyptian experience. Of course I thought wow that was easy money and the story begins from there............................ I am so ashamed of what I am doing. Currently I'm laying in bed after a heated row with my partner who just blurted out Infront of my children that I'm a gambler and am P****d off because I've blown my whole salary. I just want to crawl under a rock.. With my machine!!! Star

Hi Star,

Welcome to the Forum! You have made a big step by starting to post here, it's not an easy thing to do. especially when you feel ashamed of what you do.

There is a lot of help and support for you and you can make changes to the way this is going. You can look into asking someone else to look after your money for a while, so you won't have money available to gamble with when you next get paid. You can also think about excluding yourself from the shops/sites you use.

Maybe you would like to give us a call directly on the HelpLine 0808 8020133 or on the NetLine, which is our internet based service. http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/netline#.Vjc-ny1FBIU

An advisor can talk to you about other support, like face to face counselling, which may be available in your area.

Take courage, star, there is help, things don't have to remain the way they are now.

Kind wishes

Gabriele

Thank you x

Hi star. That first big win is the worst thing that can happen. It traps you into thinking it happens easily and frequently. Of course, it doesn't, but the hold has already taken place. I have experienced that, as has many on here. I have had a huge problem with slot machines in arcades but my problem is now online slots. I am 23 days gamble free. I have self excluded from the arcades and online. I still have urges but try and keep myself busy, which helps. Your partner is understandably angry. It is hard for others to understand this addiction. Maybe he would benefit from the partners section on here.I am 23 days gamble free. I have my first counselling session on Thursday, which I arranged through gamcare. I had rang the helpine desperate and in tears after throwing away £1200 in one day on online slots.

We have to stop. We have to fight this addiction by being proactive. let the losses go. That money is gone.

Best wishes.

Hi i am new to this,i have been gamblin for about nearly 2 yrs now and i have git into alot of debt thru it i have stopped for about 1 yr but i started about 3 months ago wich i thought i never would i used to think i didnt have a problem until my mum sat me down and told me how mich longer can i do this until i loose everything so she gave me this site and i spoke to an online adviser and it really helped me out so i signed up,and it made me relise that i am not goin to b the bug winner my problem is online gambling cos its so easy to do in ur own home i have excluded myself from most of the online sites i used to go in the bookies but stop goin in them for over a yr now.i jus feel trapped cos of lots of debt and u think tht u gunna win big to clear it but in turn it getts u deeper it not worth it at all

Good morning all. I understand each and every one of you. It amazes me just how quickly one can get addicted. I have trolled the Internet and have read lots. I understand that we will never be winners. I understand even if we have a win it won't be out for long.. I just pile it all back in the day after and more! I enjoy being there until I start losing and begin getting stressed then I start chasing my money when u put in £200-£300 then get a feature and it gives u £30, it's heartbreaking. I hope in time and with support we can all overcome this I've had enough of being broke and worrying where the next penny is going to come from. Have a good day all. Star x

Hope your ok Star take care a reach out for some support

Hi Star, tough day huh. Please consider reaching out for some real help & support. Your partner is rightly upset with you at the moment because he keeps hearing you say you will stop but you dont, So show him you are serious. Get to your nearest GA meeting, you will find some amazing support there with no judgement. they have all walked in your shoes. They will have solutions if you want them. Give gamcare a call. They can advise on debt, blocking software etc & refer you for counselling. Its time maybe to accept that your way does not work. Take the help available to you, it wont improve until you do.

Dan x