Hi
I'm new to this so bear with me. I've been gambling for a very long time and have got myself heavily into debt as a cause of my gambling. It's usually online slots and Bingo that get me.
I can go to a bingo hall, and yes, spend a lot of money, but i'm controlled and don't leave myself in a state as I do when i'm online.
A few years ago when I was a student, I got a £25k inheritance. I cleared my debts, done up my house and spent some on gambling. since then, I've accumulated about £15k in debts due to further gambling and I just can't take anymore.
A year ago, I became self employed. I am to put 20% of my earnings away in a savings account to pay my tax at the end of the year. There should be £10k in there, but there is £0. I fear what I am to do. I am in £2k worth of rent arrears also. I am paying that by installments, but usually I spend it on gmabling then borrow money to pay the rent!
I just don't understand how I can be soooo stupid! I have a daughter who deseves the world. Yet, I say "No, it's too much money", then go home and spend £200 in 10 minutes online!
I have attempted many times to get a 'consolidation' loan, thinking this will help me put everything in place and I can start afresh, with no spread debts, one monthly payment, relieve some stress and then I wouldn't have to gamble. But I don't know why I think that as I had that opportunity years ago, and I didn't do it then, so what makes me think I'd do that now?
I think i'm just looking for other things to blame. I don't know why I do this. I'd love some insight into what I can do-maybe I need to alter some mentality or something, i'm not sure?
I intsalled the K2 Bluecoat system (used a friends email addy so I couldn't change the password), but I managed to get an uninstaller programme off of the internet. It seems that all of these blocking softwares have loopholes to uninstall. I'd love to find one that's impossible to uninstall as that's probably what I need.
I've blocked myself from most sites, but new ones come out almost weekly. Not to mention I've set accounts up in my husbands name, my mothers/dad's/brothers (all using my debit cards-not theirs).
My husband and Mother are the only ones that know I gamble, but they DO NOT know to what extent.
Hi and welcome. You are right, no one has to be alone dealing with this. The hard question you need to ask yourself is whether you actually want to stop. Not because of your debts or for anyone else but because you no longer want to gamble. You are right, you will need to change your mentality to gambling in that you have to learn it is your enemy not your friend. Going through this myself right now, I do realise it is far easier saying it than doing it!
Personally I think you are going to have to ask someone to help you control your finances. As long as you have access to money and are able to gamble you probably will always give in to temptation. I know it isn't easy on any level, having to hand over control and to admit you are having such problems but it is a bitter pill worth swallowing. You need to break the cycle you are currently trapped in.
Others may disagree but I am not sure blocking software is good for everyone when you can buy new smartphones and even laptops for not much these days. Also as you say, people who are technically savvy can find a way of removing them.
Have you contacted Gam Care yet? They can refer you for counselling and offer other support.
Everyone on here knows how difficult it is to stop gambling after a long period at it. I see it as like a parasite that takes over you. I can be the last thing you think of at night and the first thing in the morning. We do it when we are happy, sad, upset, bored, angry. It fits every mood. You can have a bad day and gambling will always be there to comfort you but as we know it is all a big con, a big racket designed to relieve us of our hard earned money.
Not sure if this of any help but there you go.
Hi, I myself am new to this site and it comforts me knowing Im not alone. I've always gambled since the age of about 16. I'm now 25 and over the last 6 months my gambling has taken over my life. I'm in around 5k worth of debt and this is mostly down to gambling. Any spare penny I have I put in the machines and chance I get I go into a bookies. I've opened up to my gambling to my family now after a heavy loss of over 1k. This has helped but almost made me feel as though it's not a secret abynore and I can gamble at ease. I'm not in any real financial difficulty but I fear the way things are going I could well loose everything! Today is a new day and I will be banning myself from the local bookies I use!!! I will defeat this demon !
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