Hello there everybody.
After months and months of putting this off I've finally bit the bullet and admitted to myself more than anything that gambling has over took my life, my thoughts and my emotions.
Well let's start with an introduction, I'm a 22 year old male who for the past year have worked in a bookmakers.( What a coincidence my gambling has got worse with being in such a poisonous environment.) My main bet is or hopefully now, was the football. Very rarely have do I bet on a horse or dog or even a virtual however show me a 5th division game from some obscure European football league and I'll have a bet on it. For as long as I remember I have always had a punt starting in the bookies when my old man would put a coupon on for me in my teens.
Tonight after receiving my wages just the other day I blew a fair chunk on the football. I'm embarrassed with myself. So near to Christmas and here I am betting what pittance I receive in the form of wages on football rather than buy those close to me presents.
I've broken down in the past and have told my mother and my long-term girlfriend about my gambling. Both supported me and let me knew if I needed to talk they were there. Both of them told me to close my online accounts down. Something that I hadn't done until tonight. I since then told the rest of my close family that I was positive that I have an addiction however in a more humorous way.
I can't exactly just leave work knowing that the possibility of walking into an other job is .01%. I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I've had stages of anxiety and depression in the past so I fear just quitting work would send me back there.
I honestly don't even know why I'm writing this. It feels good to get out in the open. But I have no idea what good it'll do me. Anyway thanks for reading.
morning guvnor
the fact that u r here means you are mentally in the right place that u need to end the cycle.
u have identified your cycle. football bets. start slowly. the weekend is upon us. think how nice it would be not to be looking on ure phone all day or getting the latest scores on. u, ure family deserve better.
i am one month free. that is one month of no massive ups and down and living at a constant. you can do it.
u r in a position of working in a place where people are throwing money around. u know ureself how many of these can afford it. how many come in with that big win.
u r young enough to address this problem but need to be really strong. i have just finished work and rather than log on and have a bet i have wanted to read here and support some others in a similar situation.
i suggest this may be an option.
above all. dont think about what is gone. it is gone. dont think about that next big win. it really wont come. think about the future of u and ure partner and the rest of ure gamble free life.
all the best a.n.d
Hi Guvnor, i just wanted to let you know my situation as i am 10 years on from you in life and from 22 to 32 for me things just escalated with my gambling. I am currently in 15k of debt and rather than pay off some of this, every time i have some 'spare' money it goes into gambling (mainly fobts). I did have a problem at 22 but just thought to myself ' its ok, i'm young and have loads of time in my life to earn money and have all i want' and so didnt really address the issue. If i had, back then at 22, i'm pretty sure would be absoulutely fine now. The issue with being a compulsive gambler is that its an illness that will always be with us, thats why we will never win anything as any winnings just go into that next bet. I just wanted to give you my story in the hope you dont head down the same road, i am 10 days gamble free now and hoping this is the start on the long road to recovery. Good luck mate
Hi, been gambling since I was 18 started small, was fun a laugh soon realised that the fun part turned into the uw how much can I win part and that turned into cr** how much have I lost part. I'm now 24 and in in £2100 debt. I took out a £4000 pound loan to buy a car a lost the lot in just under 3 months have regretted it since but have slowly got it down. I've been dealing with it basically alone spending my weeks wages the same night lending loaning money so on n so on n have realised that life's to short an important to be consumed by the haze of that next win. Nearly through a solid week without a penny gambled it's not my longest but it's my most positive and my outlook has changed, find a help point mines my girlfriend, I could lose anything on a roulette table on my five magic numbers but knowing that one more bet I could loose her no win is to large to compensate loosing her. Sorry if I've gone on but had a couple of drinks and talking helps me release the urge to do the one thing I know I never want to do again.
Hi gov,
i am in the exact same boat but mine is fobts i work for a betting company and never gambled in my life untill i started working there. Good thing is that we both work in the industry so we know the help out there and how to get it
good luck love =)
Just thought I'd write a reply to this.
So I've left the bookies and I'm currently unemployed but don't worry about that I feel like I have done myself a favour in the long run. I've not had a bet since 28/11/13 not went to any meetings just been open to my friends and family and more importantly to my friends. Now when I do have the odd fiver in my pocket I'm finding myself walking past the bookies. It's not all been roses and flowers at times I've contemplated signing up to a online account but have fought the urge and not given in! So that's 120 days without a flutter! Let's keep this going!
Well done you I'm only 5 days free from gamberling I played the fobt in the bookies finding it really hard at the moment but your proff it can be done. All the best and keep it up dean
Twit twoo Guvnor, it's come to my attention that you haven't gambled for a whole year. 365 days. 52 weeks. Now that X Factor is back, it's got to be a 'Shamaaazziiing' for you! You've done so well Jamie, I know you're not on here often but all the same, wins like this should be celebrated. Well done buddy! Here's to the next year.
Twinks x
Just looked in for the first time in ages.
The above posts give me the fear reading them back. I never want to be back in that situation.
As you've pointed out Twinks it's now been 366 days gamble free. Just taking everyday as it comes.
Thanks for the message!
Jamie x
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