Hi all
i posted on here beginning of last year when I felt my gambling was going out of control, I cut it back quite a bit but didn’t stop completely. But the last few months it’s back up again.
My vice is sports betting and my problem is chasing losses. I honestly don’t feel I’m chasing a big win. It’s trying to win the money back no matter how small the stake. For example last night I lost £10 on a tennis match. I then lost £40 trying to win my tenner back. I then lost £300 trying to win my £50 back. Then lost £1000 trying to win my £350 back. Then I thought ‘here we are again back into gambling dispair’. I’ve probably paid 5k off my debt (around 15k in total) but stupidly just put 1k back on that debt in the space of 2 hours.
I’m fortunate that I have a professional job and also work a second job so I can pay monthly towards my debt and still have money to live on. The bills get paid but when I look back at those repayments each month I do feel ashamed.
I have chosen to keep my debts private from my partner and family. They know I gamble but not the level of debt. I guess I do feel ashamed to tell them but also I still pay all the bills etc so part of me thinks they don’t need to know. I’m a pretty balanced person and don’t get too depressed about it. It’s my mess and now it’s time to sort it out.
I have come on here again as I think it motivates me to make changes. I’m aiming to post a monthly update. My long term goal is to be able to place one £10 football accumulator bet on a Saturday afternoon and just accept the loss if I lose, withdraw the money if I win and then wait until the next Saturday. That might be unrealistic and I might just have to stop altogether. But I know from the past I can maintain control if I really knuckle down.
I know my problem is a lot worse than some but also not as bad as others. Perhaps I’m in denial but at this point I do believe I can sort this out for good over the next 12 months. I welcome any support and also would happily offer support to others who may be in a similar position.
Over and out
I’m 22 and I’ve betted on sports for four years. Probability will catch up with us all. The only option is dropping it all completely, you should let that idea of the odd accumulator go as I’m sure that won’t go well. I’m sure even if you did land a longshot accumulator you’d continue to wager and even if you continued on a hot streak you’d end up giving it all back and more in the end. I was 70 days GF but then I got some bad news, I lost my job and tried to make a day’s wage through gambling (stupid thinking in hindsight but this is when the addiction can get us, when we are vulnerable.) I won a couple bets then spunked it all, deposited more chased and broke even. Do I stop there? Have I ever stopped there? No I continue until I have exhausted all means of getting that toxic rush. If we are up or down it’s all irrelevant as we cannot ever walk away. I’ve lost 5K over four years of gambling. I can save that this year if I sort my self out and live within my means. I’m trying to be positive and rebuild, you should too.
Stay active, all the best.
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