It has been sometime since I was active on here, although I have been a passive reader of peoples situation. My situation isn't much different from many others on here (we are all faced with the same demon that sits on shoulder and ultimately wins out to make us make a bet!). I move to the Middle East some years ago and luckily for me gambling is illegal here and for a few years I really never had the opportunity to place a bet at a bookies or online. However last year I acquired a VPN and I placed a few sports bets. This wasn't my a a Achilles heel though- I love blackjack and over the last year I have gone on a roller coaster that has seen me initially win 45k then to blow the lot and then some back! Technology has made it so accessible for gambling and now they have live dealers online this was what took me and the euphoria that I
had from winning such a large amount I can't explain!
Alas though that make-believe land where you are invincible is soon shattered and I found myself having lost a fair amount of money. Today was payday and I lost about 1200, this hurt and I have decided to self excluded myself.
Although I can't answer for anyone but myself I have to actually ask myself why? Why have I gambled today and in the past? I find gambling strangely therapeutic in a sadistic way. It allows me to park my issues large or small, it is escapism and I believe at the time a solution which starts out as financial benefit but I loose that goal very quickly and it is the simple process of making a bet and needing to make a bigger one!
To everyone out there who is suffering, recovering or got through this terrible affliction we all know the destruction that continued gambling will ultimately do!
I hope you all find your way to suppress your gambling demons so you can see what is important in life and it certainly isn't making another bet!
Thanks
Took me a long time to accept that compulsive gambling is a recognised addiction
Some can play for entertainment have fun and its no problems
Some are addicts who can not stop whatever
Self exclusion helped me in the past and other things. Keep trying to get help whatever happens
Tri
If it was just about winning money rich people wouldn't gamble because if they had a brain they'd look at the world around them and realise they had enough money already. When you've got enough money to be happy what's the point in winning more?
Personally as a CG my jury is out on whether it's an 'addiction'. But that's a big debate and we can all trade medical stats. But what is undeniably clear is that we bet for psychological reasons. Mainly because it feels good to feel like a winner and get free money. But IMHO we bet out of:
If you're rich: Greed, boredom, the buzz, low self-esteem, guilt and a need to punish yourself.
If you're poor: Desperation, need, false hope that you can change your life... PLUS Greed, boredom, low self-esteem, the buzz, etc...
I've never met a CG, myself included, who bet to win money.
Accept that and you can start to get to the root cause of your issues with gambling and solve them for good.
M
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