I’ve got a problem

Dear @unawaretiger,

I am so glad that you have written this; it sounds like you’re struggling at the moment with your decision on how to move forward but please know that you are not alone and there is a lot of advice, and more importantly support, available to you.

You have made a really positive step today just by reaching out. As I am sure you will find, the Forum is a welcoming and supportive space which allows you to talk to others who may also be experiencing similar issues to yourself.

I would encourage you to contact the helpline on 0808 8020 133 or via our live chat available from the website https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/ both of which are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day and where one of our advisers will be able to talk, for as long as you need, and look at all the support available to you.

Wishing you all the very best,

Jo

Forum Admin

Hi.

Look at gambling like building a wall. For every brick and mortar, you lay the taller and higher and more solid that wall will become. That's it. So the advice is to stop building the wall. Change the cries to smiles. Save money buy the floor instead of wondering how to get the money together. There are no good alternatives. Even if you did win a fortune you would be using that on more bricks and mortar to build more wall and believe me this wall you can leave all together.  Build something else.

Best

C

yea i got caught in exactly the same situation about a fortnight ago and rinsed about £350 over the course of a weekend

i was fortunate i had a real bad run of luck and i got bored of losing and managed to snap myself out of the trance or it could have been hell of a lot worse

lockdown boredom and compulsive gambling is an absolutely lethal combination 

fortunately the weather has began to turn and we can get out a little more

get the gamban mate 

Thanks for the advice, I feel like today is as good as any to move on, I have Gamstopped and have already planned on ways to make back the money (odd jobs etc). For me I hope it was a blessing in disguise, that has made me realise gambling is a losers game. 

I don’t think having a £10 per week flutter is really helping matters, that’s like a smoker having just one f*g a day or a drinker having a sip from the whiskey bottle.

If you have acknowledged there is a problem and have used GamStop in the past then why do you think having a £10 per week bet is gonna help? The betting account will still be open and the opportunity to gamble is present.

I know how you must be feeling and you’re no doubt feeling ashamed, embarrassed, disappointed etc because you just blown £2k but once those feelings pass when will you again deposit £10, £50, £100... chasing the loss.

You clearly give the impression there is a problem, I would advise getting GamStop and blocking your cards from gambling transactions.

@unawaretiger

If you think that you have a problem with gambling, do you think that it is a financial problem or it is more than that?

Whatever you say, if you have a problem, eventually it doesn't matter about the money, it becomes about you. If it is about you, then why would you keep feeding something for £10 a week that ultimately will drag you down to a level you can't even comprehend yet. Think it was bad having to tell your partner you had lost the floor money? Imagine that weekly. Imagine no food? Imagine having no money for food for your children? Imagine your partner walking out after years of pain because what kind of a life is this because you think you'll be okay with a £10 saturday football bet?

Do you think your life would be any worse by not betting? Maybe try it, because gambling will never go away, so try it and if it's not for you, gambling will be waiting.

Find a GA group or go on the chat rooms here or just read some of the other posts about people who tried to do what you're suggesting.

I promise you it doesn't work. Close those accounts, resign up to Gamstop, get some help, have a happy life. Or don't.

Chris.