I joined last night (after another big loss) and read quite a few of the most recent posts. It's strangely reassuring to see how many people are having similar issues.
I used to be a casual sports and casino gambler for a few years and my introduction to on-line gaming (2010) soon made me what you would call a 'problem' gambler. I have excluded myself from all sites on several occasions only to sign up to new ones. I seem to be most attracted to the blackjack / slots combination. I find live dealers and sports betting too slow! I'm grade A beef to these sites and they love my gambling patterns!
My head is still above water financially but I'm tired of handing my money over and maybe having a voice here will help. Sure I've won big, very big, but as you all know this is a blessing in disguise when you are 'addicted'. I would be too ashamed to try to even guess my net losses over the years.
Any ways, let's be positive. Life is good and nobody is perfect. I am making a statement that I will quit gambling from today. I can't guarantee my success but I will give it my best shot. Target 1 no gambling until 2015. I hope to have time to keep a sporadic diary if anyone is interested. I have a lot going for me (family, health, job etc...) so I'm not going to feel sorry for myself and just STOP. This would be my biggest win yet!
Good Luck all (no pun intended)
Hi NoLuck
Welcome to the forum and well done for posting. You will find a lot of support here and a community of people who understand your struggle with gambling please keep reading and posting on the forum and many people on here find writing a recovery diary a very positive step.
You have taken steps to restrict your access to online gambling sites by self-excluding but you say you have been tempted to sign up to new ones. You could look into installing software which will block your access to online gambling sites. We recommend Betfilter and Gamblock but do research which type would suit your needs best depending on the devices you use. Some of our forum users have described additional ways they try to limit their freedom to gamble online, by arranging their finances in ways that slow down how quickly they can access their money, or limiting their ability to spend money online. Some forum members talk about changing their bank account to remove the facility to spend online, instead using a basic cash card that allows you to withdraw cash on the high street.
I would encourage you to call our helpline and talk things through with a GamCare adviser on 0808 8020 133 or on our netline. The advisers can provide emotional support and helpful information as well as facilitate a referral to free one to one counselling appointments if you’d like to access that service.
Best wishes
Rachel.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and comment. I previously had Gamblock and it worked well for a while but 'where there is a will there is a way' and I found myself using different devices for gambling when I was on different / unprotected devices. The limited bank account is a good idea and I will look in to this.
I feel quietly confident this time, so fingers crossed.
One thing I did was open a savings account with a 30 day notice period for withdrawals so I could put money away but not have it immediately available.
Blocking software is good for some people but if you are technically minded there are always ways round it - and new laptops and smart phones are so cheap to buy now anyway.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
