Help Stopping

I feel exactly the same way when I lose a bet.

I could have won £500 on a bet or in a casino session and then the next day, I’ll place a £10 bet on a treble and it’ll lose. Instead of feeling as though I’m still £490 up, I’ll focus more on the £10 loss and the fact that I am no longer £500 up. Immediately I’ll chase that £10 back with usually a catastrophic ending.

That’s why I can no longer gamble. My brain is wired up whereby I focus too much on the losses.

I’ve signed up to Gamstop and it’s helped me massively. You say you got round it but surely what you’re commiting is some kind of fraud by putting in xxxx without their consent?

DeterminedDan wrote:

I feel exactly the same way when I lose a bet.

I could have won £500 on a bet or in a casino session and then the next day, I’ll place a £10 bet on a treble and it’ll lose. Instead of feeling as though I’m still £490 up, I’ll focus more on the £10 loss and the fact that I am no longer £500 up. Immediately I’ll chase that £10 back with usually a catastrophic ending.

That’s why I can no longer gamble. My brain is wired up whereby I focus too much on the losses.

I’ve signed up to Gamstop and it’s helped me massively. You say you got round it but surely what you’re commiting is some kind of fraud by putting in xxx without their consent?

Our brains certainly sound similar as far as that is concerned, I am waiting for the win that isn't coming and then stressing out over what I have then lost... The bad feelings of losing and wanting to gain it back will then be present all day for the next week or next time I get paid.

As for fraud, I haven't really thought about it like that but what I have thought about is the failings of the gambling companys to see either a middle name added... or a different address

Surely if there is one person living in a certain city with a name and DOB no matter what address that should raise a question especially if it isn't a common name. I feel they just do not do enough and there all guilty of this

As far as I was aware (and I may be completely wrong about this) the T&C’s that gambling companies provide, state that it is up to YOU to make sure that you don’t find a way to gamble, once self excluded. So as much as they say that to cover their own backs, I think, yes, they’re possibly guilty of inviting the weak and vulnerable back into the clutches of gambling.

I know, that truth be told, that if I really wanted to gamble right now, I’d possibly find a way.

But what I am doing is taking some responsibilty and trying to change my overall mindset on what gambling actually means to me and what it does for me. Which is nothing. There are no advantages to gambling. Only disadvantages. And major ones at that.

Ultimately, as much as the blocks can help, it’s also up to us to change our lifestyle habits.

It is up to you... but that's like asking the alcoholic to leave one weatherspoons... he will end up in the next one down the road or go back to that same one tomorrow when there is different bar staff, It is quite similar all be it different devastating effects.

I have just transferred the £1500 to my girlfriend's account and she is going to hold it for me for now, she has also changed my ISP login details and activated there blocking feature which is quite good and we've had a good talk, she knows fully about my gambling issues and I've gone beyond her back too many times over the last 9 years.

I feel alot better already just knowing I have nothing to gamble.. I also dont have any funds right now to go buy milk etc... but we will sort how we proceed going forward.

Its a shame the major banks cannot block gambling transactions their end, They've got to be doing more also!

Personally being on Gamstop does stop me, because, I would be raging to by pass the system have a big win and then be caught and not get the money. I sounded risk it because they would sink me to new lows and I would be on tender hooks waiting on any win. Would be so bad for my nerves. I'm at peace now not gambling.

Nonchaser the issue is I did bypass it... I did win and still got paid out

I have also lost bypassing it and well you don't get paid out for losing!

1 Day now gambling free but its still playing on my mind and no doubt will for the next week.

Nonchaser wrote: Personally being on Gamstop does stop me, because, I would be raging to by pass the system have a big win and then be caught and not get the money. I sounded risk it because they would sink me to new lows and I would be on tender hooks waiting on any win. Would be so bad for my nerves. I'm at peace now not gambling.

Exactly my thoughts, Nonchaser. I wouldn’t want to attempt to bypass Gamstop for fear of winning and then having the money taken off me. I wouldn’t relax knowing that could happen at any time. Which I’m sure if you carry on playing, it will eventually.

I’m happier and safe with the acceptance that GamStop is bulletproof and I can no longer gamble online. Or at least for the next 5 years anyway.

Thats another issue... 5 years only! There should be a permanent option

At my age I know my life would be improved greatly if i never gambled again

Hi Stopping2019, Thanks for your post on my diary i wish you well in your recovery, as you are probably aware it will not be an easy ride especially those early days but believe me if you are willing to put in the hard work the benifits are so worth it, get as many blocks in place as possible and you will soon see those gamble free days mount up .... all the best.

DeterminedDan wrote:

[quote=Nonchaser]Personally being on Gamstop does stop me, because, I would be raging to by pass the system have a big win and then be caught and not get the money. I sounded risk it because they would sink me to new lows and I would be on tender hooks waiting on any win. Would be so bad for my nerves. I'm at peace now not gambling.

Exactly my thoughts, Nonchaser. I wouldn’t want to attempt to bypass Gamstop for fear of winning and then having the money taken off me. I wouldn’t relax knowing that could happen at any time. Which I’m sure if you carry on playing, it will eventually.

I’m happier and safe with the acceptance that GamStop is bulletproof and I can no longer gamble online. Or at least for the next 5 years anyway.

Call it weak, but the issue I have when I get into that gambling mood nothing can stop me, I am going to send gamstop and email and tell them how i have bypassed there blocks by using my middle name etc etc and see if I can assist them with my experience so they can look to improving there system for me and others.

chartom3 wrote:

Hi Stopping2019, Thanks for your post on my diary i wish you well in your recovery, as you are probably aware it will not be an easy ride especially those early days but believe me if you are willing to put in the hard work the benifits are so worth it, get as many blocks in place as possible and you will soon see those gamble free days mount up .... all the best.

Thank you for commenting on my post and also making your diary, I am willing to put in the hard work as I cannot keep carrying on like this not only has it affected me massively financially its also starting to make me feel ill each time.

At least this time some money has been taken and moved away from my access so I can at least have a good xmas for a change, The real battle comes every payday from now, I think im going to take the same approach with my partners help.

Hi all

This is just to let you know that we edited out the details of a couple of posts which mentioned a fraudulent way of getting around GAMSTOP self-exclusion. On the forum rules and etiquette we state that we may moderate or delete mentions of criminal activity: https://www.gamcare.org.uk/frontline-services/chatroom-and-forum-etiquette

Stopping2019, you have raised some good issues about self-exclusion.

Thanks all for your support of Stopping2019 and your useful perspectives.

Best wishes,

Forum Admin

Apologies never my intention to break any forum rules, Going forward ill direct my concerns and experience directly to gamstop in private in the hope they improve the system

Yep, sounds like the system needs to improve, there are obviously many ways round continuing to gamble. Ultimately the person themselves need to want to stop.