Day 1... Again.

Hi Kev

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like losing that money has given you the motivation to take action. It's great that you are focusing on the positive and that you have identified your goal - and you sound determined to achieve it. I would recommend that you look into installing blocking software and/or self-exclusion via www.gamstop.co.uk. It might also be helpful to put some blocks into place in terms of accessing money to gamble. Do you think payday is a trigger for you? Or are there any other situations that might trigger your urges to gamble?

Have a look around on the Forum and on our website, you will find lots of tips and advice on what can help you achieve your goal. You are also very welcome to call our Helpline/Netline,  our advisers are here to support you through this and they can offer some further practical strategies to make gambling less accessible. We also offer free treatment support and an online course which may provide additional support. Our helpline and netline are available 24/7 if you would like to chat to one of our advisers. We are here to support you however we can.

Warmest wishes

Zoë

Forum Admin

@kevgambler

Changing a habit takes effort but also needs things to change. I would promise myself and others I'd never gamble again but all I relied in was my willpower and a want to stop. It never worked, not because I was weak, but because my addiction was too strong. 

The change for me was always GA meetings but from that came the time, place and money. You need all three of these things to gamble so if you can take one away you can't bet.

I would be interested to hear what you plan to do to help yourself abstain from gambling.

Chris.

Thanks for response Chris.

Im going to try Gamstop which Zoe has recommended because im not the type of person who is desperate to bet anywhere if that makes sense? If i had no access to online casinos, i wouldn't be in this position which is why i think they can be so lethal as money doesn't seem like an object.

I think your point is really important and id never thought about it like that. Money and time I'll always make sure i have for it. But a place can be taken away using gamstop.

I think the initial first month or so will be the hardest for me because im feeling bitter and angry with myself. I keep thinking about what i could have spent the cash on. Hopefully over time and when money is replenished this will become a distant memory that I'll never want to revisit. 

I have never considered going to GA which maybe i would consider if this step did not work. I think im probably to scared to show myself in person. 

Kev

Kev,

I can't give you any advice that you are not already aware of so just wanted to say keep your chin up. You've had a set back but I think it's really positive how quickly you have shaken yourself down and are ready to go again. That is very encouraging. 

Thanks @mythdunk

Just sick and tired of the feeling of guilt and don't want the problem to get any worse. Hopefully i can nip it in the bud now. 

Hiya kev 

Sorry to read your post my friend as it's not nice when you've hit the gambling again but you know it's day one as you say it's back on the gamble free journey again but this time more aware and assured, like the rest of us kev your only human and not a computer so these things happen and it's down to damage limitations, well done for starting again 

@kevgambler

Gamstop will be a good first step. I understand that you feel online casinos to be your problem and Gamstop will definitely help.

You can also consider blocking your access to money buy giving it over to someone you trust. As I don't know your personal situation I can't guess but if you have a partner or parent you may find giving them your cards and stopping your access to your money a massive help. That means being honest with them and being accountable for what you have. It's not to control you but just to stop that instant access which causes problems.

A thought for you for the future too is that if you consider yourself a compulsive gambler, just blocking one type of gambling will sometimes make you look for other avenues. It could be the bookies, the casino or arcades. Just be aware is what I'm saying and with groups like GA or counselling through Gamcare you'll get other tools to help with staying off that first bet.

Good luck.

Chris.

Hi Kevgambler,

Well done for dusting yourself up and coming back here, you could have gone the other way and try to chase again but you didn't, that's a very positive move.

Chris.UK mentioned two very important things, the first is money and the second is if you consider yourself a problem gambler. Rightly said, if you take away money from the equation, then you can't gamble. This is something I'd strongly recommend if you are struggling to keep hold of money. My counselor mentioned yesterday about the different stages of the addiction and that it's always good to identify where you are on the ladder, it doesn't appear you've become a destructive gambler like myself so things like gamstop, gamban on your phone etc should help along with willpower you've shown :). I crossed the social gambler to problem gambler bridge a long time ago so I don't keep any money with me anymore - zero on all accounts. I am only 3 weeks off gambling myself so you are not alone in this. Have you identified other things you really enjoy doing? see if you can occupy yourself with those and don't put pressure on yourself too much regarding your debts as that could drag you back. I used to enjoy fifa before kids came along so I've just bought ps4 and fifa 20, set up a new league and I am third on the table now, that's what I do now in my spare time...oh, did I say spare time? spare time I wish, I mean the times I am home and the Devil comes knocking, I work round the clock trying to pay off debt circa £60k as a result of approx £109k gambling loss. Stay strong my friend and let us know how you get on. 

Thanks for response frogman. 

I don't think i have reached a destructive gambler yet but can see how i could go from problem to destructive quite easily after a gambling 'binge'.

I have got other things that will keep me occupied and being the end of the football season, that should help me avoid wanting to bet on that. Although at the moment i still never want to gamble again. I have the odd thought of maybe one last bet on the final games of season but i tell myself how stupid that would be and remind myself that i am determined to not bet again. I have to wait till monday to put gamstop in place but when it is i feel like a big weight will be off my shouldsrs and i can move on.

If the gamstop doesnt stop me then i think i will have to take it one step further and not be in control of my money, but i dont think im quite there yet. 

I hope you can get rid of that debt as quick as possible. Im sure with the right attitude you'll be rid of it and can get on with life with less stress! I can see from others posts how destructive it can be, you'd think that would be enough to put anyone off! 

Kev

@kevgambler

Why do you need to wait until Monday for Gamstop? Do you have bets still running or are you planning to bet on Sunday? 

Unfortunately 40 years of doing this makes me doubtful of everything!

Chris.

No bets still running just waiting for a payout that i wont receive till after season finishes, will be putting the gamstop in place for the 5 year maximum following this though! 

Ok, i understand.

From my understanding putting the stop on now won't affect any bets or monies in the account, they'll just follow their withdrawal policy, but I understand why you would want to wait until you have the money in your bank.

Could you have someone do it for you so you don't get tempted once that money is in your betting account or pending withdrawal or tell someone you're accountable to so they know too?

It's easy to stop when you have no money but the temptation can be hard when it's right in front of you.

Again, I just know what I'd be like suddenly presented with available money that no one knows about.

Chris.

Chris

I think i might have to consider that but probably too cowardly to admit problem to closest. 

Day 3 today. Wasn't in the best of moods last nights and feeling similar today and not sure why, possibly because of what happened on the online casino. Ive been reading through others stories on the site and have read some horror stories that have scared me about stealing from close people to gamble.

I hope within the next few days i can come to peace with what's happened. Ive replenished money lost with savings and feel like have cheated the system. Im going to work hard to save money now and enjoy a break away later this summer. The what ifs come to mind though, have effectively had to pay double for my holiday now because of the loss. I find it really odd how im reluctant to by a 200 pound garmin for fitness, but I'm *happy* to gamble it away on roulette.

I think roulette is the most dangerous game on there. You can play speed roulette and gamble every minute. That is way too quick. How is that safe for anyone? It just screams problem gambler to me.

Kev

Day 5, back on here when thinking about a bet. 

No longer feeling so down about what happened earlier this week, trying to turn the loss into a positive and not beat myself up over it. It only leads to me feeoint down. If i can kick this horrible habit im sure it'll change my outlook for the better. 

Still 100 percent comitted to giving up and reading everyones posts on this site is helping me remind myself of that. Im sure with the right help and breaking the habit we can all get through it. 

Kev