Hi, I've noticed that as my addiction to gambling has progressed over the years, it has become harder and harder, and I have become less and less likely, to withdraw any winnings. At the beginning of my addiction, I would be happy with a win of £100 and be able to withdraw my winnings, but now I could win 4-5 times my monthly wage, and still find excuses to not withdraw it with the inevitable always happening. It makes it all seem so pointless! Has everyone else found this?
I have when I was gambling heavily, luckily the website I used didn’t have a reverse withdrawal option. But in reality even though the amount was going back into my account, it was only on loan to me a couple of days before I re-deposited anyway.
Yes, and that's the point and the reason we are problem gamblers, and have to stop.
In every single instance the pattern is always the same. The following two steps apply every time we embark on a gambling session (whether it lasts five minutes, a day, week or month - whatever):
Step 1. We lose; in which we chase and keep losing. Result -misery
Step 2. We win. In which case we keep gambling till we eventually lose. Go to Step 1.
This happens every time. Every single Gamcare post I read follows this pattern.
It's no surprise online casinos have a reverse withdrawal button. Problem gamblers will always use it. It's a sure sign of being a problem gambler if you do.
That's why we must stop. We are in charge, remember: we DONT have to gamble and put ourselves through this misery.
We CAN get help to help ourselves.
We CAN put blocks in place.
We CAN ask a trusted friend m, loved one or relative to look after our finances.
We CAN talk to the doctor, or at least look into counselling and GA.
No excuses. We CAN regain control!
Yep those two steps you mentioned definitely apply to me! I bet the bookies knew they were on to a winner with the reverse withdrawal option!
It's incredible how much our mindset can change the minute we start gambling. If someone was to tell me at a time when I'm not gambling that I would win 10grand which is a huge amount to me, and then lose it on 5-6 blackjack hands which is just one example of my stupidness, I would have thought they were crazy! It took me a while to get over that! Leeds fan all the best for next season. I've had a few trips to Elland Road as a Saints fan!
Hi sfc, I gambled for so long (about 3 decades) that I don’t think I can even remember the buzz let alone any “wins” (which were more like loans (of my money back) from the various places I used to frequent)!
I’m always a bit surprised by people blaming the reverse withdrawal on their losses because had my damage been done online, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have given too much thought to where the numbers that allowed me to play were actually coming from! If it made it to my bank, I would probably have just sent it back again anyway until it was lost!
Certainly in the shops I used to cash out (with every good intention of leaving mind you) multiple times...Up (I say up but even would probably be a better description), down, up, down, down, down, down, down & so on until I was broken & unable to withdraw any more from anywhere, including cash back, driving home to get cash/different cards, transferring balances. I look back now & a good day was breaking even as they shoe-horned me out of the door!
Gambling is pointless but we’re addicts so don’t just focus on the money. Recovery is a lifestyle change - ODAAT
Gambling is progressive in its nature - you need more of it (dopamine/adrenaline) to get the same buzz (level of satisfaction).
It doesn’t work the other way, you cannot revert to a normal way of gambling.
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