Gamban

Hi @rogertb

I downloaded Gamban App to all my devices and have also signed up to Gamstop for 5 years which is a great move to self exclude from all online sites. It has made my recovery much easier so far. In regards to banks it's just a case of contacting them and being honest about your situation. The majority of banks out there now have a gambling transaction ban that is there to help out problem gamblers like ourselves. Its important to get as many barriers up as possible so I would advise on putting everything in place. Taking away that ability to gamble online will make you feel alot better.

Good luck with everything

RGC123

Thanks RGC I’m tending to agree, pull out all the stops so to speak, annoyingly my bank, co-op, can offer nothing, I might need to look to another !

Hi Rogertb.

They are software tools but not the most important factors in really making the addiction history.

Have you told anyone close to you? The addiction likes secrets and it will shrug off you acting alone with so called willpower

You need the big measures of openness and honesty. Someone who can ensure you have no card with a security number on it...the number can be removed before you have access the card if you let someone help you when you order a new card.

It may well be that you have to give up your online access for a while. Are you ready for steps like that? If you want to beat this addiction it has to know the fight is really on.

If you think I sound over dramatic and you are an adult who can handle anything, you have a lot to learn about this as a drug addiction.

With help and monitoring you can talk through any urges or the possibility that you may try and bypass anything. Ideally you need your money protecting as you do a period of cold turkey.

As you know this is no game about a silly flutter. It totally destroys people and there is a known phase where you may pay lip service to it but the addiction has you in its grip...we have been there!

Make no mistake this is an addiction in your bones and it knows your weaknesses. It will bide its time unless you take this deadly seriously and know you can never be complacent again. That becomes a positive statement you will not fear

Believe me the tried and trusted advice is not awkward when dealing with the most dangerous addiction I know about.

Your life will improve when free from gambling and you are better than gambling. Its well worth the effort to break free from it

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Sign up to GamStop you register your details so when you sign up to any gambling site or have an existing accounts open - they will automatically close / prevent you from opening and accessing them etc.

Thanks all I read this:

New regulation from the Gambling Commission means that from 14th April 2020 you can't pay for most forms of gambling on your credit card in Great Britain anymore. From the 18th November 2020 this will extend to gambling transactions in all countries outside of the UK, including Northern Ireland.

But I managed to place a bet online yesterday I thought that it wasn’t possible using my credit card. Any thoughts please ?

Thanks for that Jollyman I am signed up but it’s very easy to find non gamstop sites I’m sorry to say.

Best thing you can do is move your banking to a bank that doesn't let you gamble. Close your other bank accounts while you're doing it so you can't be tempted to lodge cash in the other accounts to gamble with. If you have just the 1 single bank account, you'll not be able to gamble with it. That's one big thing to help block gambling.

The other is one I suggest to many, if you have a urge to gamble, go to the FRIENDS and FAMILY board on here  https://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/family-friends/

Read some of the posts from distraught family members desperately trying to get help, that's a wake up call that boots any thoughts of gambling to the kerb when you read of the devastation it causes. Offer your comments to them to help them and it re-enforces your desire NOT to gamble.

Might not work for you, but it worked for me when I made myself read the posts, going back months, to see what damage gambling causes families and friends, I quickly lost the gambling urge.

I wish you well.

Thanks for that mccawpa ... makes a lot of sense.

Hi rogertb,

Thanks for posting here and well done for asking for help. A few of the forum users above have mentioned Gamban - if you'd like to call our Freephone Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or contact us on Livechat, we'll be happy to give you a link giving you free access to Gamban on up to 15 devices for up to 5 years. We're open 24/7 so contact us any time. We may be able to help in other ways too. I'm not sure where you are but you did mention Northern Ireland. If you are in Northern Ireland you can call Dunlewey Addiction Services on 08000 886 725, open 9am-11pm every day.

Best wishes,

Deirdre
Forum Admin