FOBT's

I do that Dave, glance into the bookies as I pass to check out the FOBT feeders and other gamblers. Sometimes they stand outside smoking a roll-up so I can get a better look. What are they wearing? Designer clothes & Rolexes? No, they are not. Do they look as if they have just had a lovely holiday, a nice hair cut, do they have that soft skin rich people have? No, they do not. Funny that.

I don't do this to feel superior. I am one step away myself from entering a bookies so I can keep feeding my own addiction (which is online gambling). Thankfully I am female and youngish and am therefore too intimidated to go in (so far). But I try to pay attention to what those bookie guys look like so I can hammer home to my brain that there is no winning, only losing.

To remind myself that they are me.

Online gambling is just as bad as the FOBTs, it's just that you don't see it because it's hidden away in people's homes.

Best wishes to all. FF

Great post FF - you sum up most of those who frequent the bookies very well. They are scruffy, smelly, deluded, money wasting, time wasting idiots who have nothing to show for their money and spend a majority of the time blaming childhood, family, bad luck and anything but themselves!

I don't feel superior, no actually I do a bit as I had the sense to knock it on the head and for me there is no going back. They are still deluded enough to think they will win.

You keep well away from the bookies and the online gambling as you will never ever win in the medium to long term. Here's an idea - when you are tempted to gamble put what you can afford to lose in a jar - eventually you will have enough to have a Rolex or something else really special.

You are very sensible and long may it continue.

Dave

I'm glad you have managed to give up. I'm glad your self esteem has improved. Perhaps my arrogance wiil increase too when i manage it (giving up ). Then I can sit back and insult the less fortunate. Criticism and put downs make us feel so much better.

I can assure you highwayman I am neither insulting or criticising anyone at all. If you look at how the way the posts are worded they are written to make people take a step back and think about what they are doing by mindlessly pumping more and more money into the FOBTs. Seems to be working as has made you think and I really hope you will give up gambling.

As a side issue - you accuse me of being arrogant but I am not arrogant enough to still think I can beat an ultra ultra clever machine.

I wish you well with whatever you decide.

Thanks, these machines are certainly addictive, I will probably steer clear of them in future.

DaveUK, good posts keep up the good work.

Highwayman1 - top man and top decision! If you can keep away from them I can promise you will be better off in so many ways, financially, physically and mentally.

Alev - thanks for your post I am glad you like what I am trying to do.

Dave

i have read all the pages of this thread and its all true what you say ,so why do i play the evil machine , the time spent on it is a total waste of life awell as money and both will never come back .the man behind the counter knows the play is in trouble but does not act ,the other people in the bookies watch you play and wish you luck -everybody talks about the stupid idiot thats just lost a satck of cash the minute you walk out the door self humiliation,why oh why this has to stop forever for me before its too late ,tommorow will be day one of forever.

Hi Fobtkillsme

I hope you found some of the things on this thread helpful.

People who watch you play the FOBTs enjoy the entertainment and I can promise you are willing you to lose as this makes them feel that little bit better about themselves. They give it the old 'bad luck' to your face but as soon as you are gone are taking the mickey out of you.

Sometimes I think the people behind the counter pity the punters but are almost powerless to intervene. They are under instruction to take every penny possible and risk losing their jobs if they were found not to be doing this. Also could you imagine if you asked for a top up of the machine when you are in the middle of another bad run, chasing your losses and they refuse to complete the top-up ? You may just be able to walk away and say OK but are more likely to strangle them 🙂 There is nothing more annoying than being interrupted when in 'the zone' !!!

The reason you keep playing is because you think you will win. Despite everything you think you will win. Only when you realise whats gone is gone and that its impossible to win long term will you stop.

I think you can do this.

All the best with making the right decisions from now on.

Dave

Thanks dave ,well its 24 hrs now since last fobt input and i know i will keep it going i was made to change user name and i can see why now ,y mood reflected it yesterday but im feeling a bit better today and hope to put it behind me .

Even if you win it always goes back - with interest!

Why do you think those FOBTs are there?

You have two choices if you are tempted to play the FOBT today - play or stay away.

If you are in two minds take a good look through the posts and diaries on here and it will become very easy to decide what you should do.

Dave

Still not managed to find any long-term success stories from punters playing the FOBTs - I wonder why!

Dave, you are right. I don't hear any success stories when mentioning fobt's. I have managed to go a month without playing.

Now I am using the forum more, not done a diary entry for a few days, but to be honest i haven't felt the need to.

If all of us genuinely want to quit we have to put measures in place, which will help us all to get into a positive pattern, there are much better distractions out there.