*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

Checking in 21 days gf , 10 more days untill i become a Striver and determind to get there , have my good and bad days but nothing compared to if i was still gambling, thanks to Mixer for the time spent running this challenge it does help to keep me on track.

** GURU CHALLENGE - 5th WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***

It's Sunday 17^th September ... which means - time for a Rollcall!

It’s mid-September, in normal circumstances a time when monies might be a little tight after paying off the excesses of the summer months… or, there might be a reasonable bit of cash free. This is normal life; reflecting back on a good summer and certainly not on our uppers. Now, all of our personal situations are vastly different; life may have thrown us good times and bad times, but nevertheless we would control life to a degree – the decision not to gamble.

Let’s contrast this to a life of gambling, or a life of continual relapses that, financially at least, still ‘count’ as continuous gambling – stuck in the gambling ‘rut’. Probably skint by now; with worsening debt perhaps; not a brilliant summer (things could have been so much better…). Possibly feeling c**P, guilty and having to hide what you’re doing from friends and loved ones. Self-loathing, being grumpy for the umpteenth time etc. etc. Same old, same old …

Why do I mention this? It’s simply a “backward glance’ to see how we’ve been in the past, and how it could have been. And, indeed, being gambling free, are living! It doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves from time-to-time what being gambling-free is all about. It’s about what we’re fighting for here. (And, for the avoidance of doubt, I have been personally stuck in the ‘gambling rut’ for too many years. So this reality check very much applies to me, too).

Let’s take a look at how we’ve all done this week. It’s been a mixed week – it’s not easy, this, but we can do it and as life gets better, the reasons why we are doing this get vindicated. We see the positive results for ourselves – and not just in our wallets or purses.

First of all, a warm welcome to our new members – 4D and Adam808; it’s great to have you join us.

And a ROLLCALL OF HONOUR goes to … Amt722, smashing through the STRIVER ribbon as part of our lifetime gambling free journey. It’s a very important milestone this, Amt722 – you are proving you mean this and we are delighted for you!

Here are the stats this week; and new from this week, I've hyperlinked all of our profiles!

GURUs

Phil72 – 586 (days) – Heading for a big milestone here Phil, but as you reminded me in the Chatroom, your immediate target is 587 days.

ELDERs

Degenerate – 173 days – You have come to a new realisation and are sinking it in: “I need to learn to accept I will never gamble again.”

Abstainer – 129 days – Every day, the power of song and lyric reminds you of what this gambling free journey is all about and the better life ahead if we take the right path. The lyrics also caution us to the perils of "fools gold"; far frm being "enjoyable", gambling actually leads us down a very perilous path indeed. The good news is, thanks to your sharing them with us, that we can all listen to this great music too!

ItMatters – 107 days – Having elevated to Elder status last week, you still have your foot on the gas. You also hold the title of longest Gamcare username – an impressive 34 letters!

Sars27 – 107 days - Likewise you’re keeping the pedal to the metal! There’s no let up to this; you must continue to live a better life, OK (wow, that seems… reasonable!)

Kadiz1 – 106 days – You’ve gone quiet, Kadiz; no update since 25th August. Please let us know how you’re getting on. I’ve made you an ELDER, but will rest you if we don’t hear from you by next weekend. We all hope you’re OK.

STRIVERs

Mikey Nash – 68 – Haven’t heard from you for a while Mikey; please drop us a post! We’ll rest you next week otherwise but really hope you’re keeping Ok.

RubyBaby – 51 – Delighted to see you’ve hit the 50 day milestone Rubybaby; feelings of dread replaced with positivity. That is what it’s all about.

LaurainSky – 37 – We haven’t heard from you for a month, please get in touch if you can. It’s not easy being Gambling free and we will support you. We’ll rest you next week but we all hope you’re Ok.

Mixer – 37 - that’s me, keeping it going, one day at a life. Always remind myself every morning: do I want life, or misery? As simple as that..? No, I have solid blocks in place (my wife controls all the finances).

Amt722 – 31 – An absolute joy to welcome you into the hallowed ranks of STRIVERs. My goodness, looking around, you’re in some good company 😉 . A very important milestone, this, Amy722. The journey has really started now. Day by day, you have proved you can do this.

NEWBIEs

Raj – 29 – Without fuss, you are on the cusp of being a STRIVER. You’re spirit and assistance to others on the forums is great to see, and testament to your own commitment. Looking forward to your promotion next weeks, as, day by day, you vow to be gambling free.

Antics – 28 – Looking forward to your elevation next week, too. I agree with your comments about the Australian slot (pokies) video and these games designers have a lot to answer for, if only they knew the misery they were helping to perpetuate. Keep going!

Adam808 – 22 – Our NEWBIE newbie! Welcome Adam, and liking the cut of your jib. I sense your determination to be a STRIVER. Let’s see you get there; one day at a time.

Chartom3 – 21 – Your quiet determination is noted, and a big test coming up if you’re paid monthly: payday. You can deal with this and really storm through the STRIVER milestone, always one day at a time.

4D – 11 - Welcome to our hardy gang! On 11 days, and glad you are wrapped up in our wonderful little gambling free world! Stay here, it’s the place to be. Welcome aboard!

Athena1991 – 10 – I know you’re struggling at the moment but you are back in the saddle once more. You are honest about how it’s going, and that’s really respected. Keeping plugging those gaps that are making you gambling. You have said you’re skint, which of course forces your non-gambling hand, but it’s a miserable time Athena. We want you to be happy

Loafin – 8 – Haven’t heard from you since the 3rsd Sept Loafin – we’ll rest you next week if we haven’t heard from you. We all hope you’re keeping Ok.

Xenedra – 4 – I know you’re finding it tough, too. Remind yourself, when you next get paid, to steer clear of the work PC. You will be storing up trouble … you know this. Again, you’re honest about your journey and you’ve got to keep plugging those gaps and seeking help and sup port.

Moorey – 4 – Thank you for updating your status and I can see you’re on 4 days. I know you’re not finding this easy; don’t forget to post if that helps you. We’re here to listen, and help.

Sidney – 4 – I know you’re finding it tough but what you wrote earlier this week is spot on, to the effect of: we can’t win, because whatever we win, we give back and then lose more. Back in the saddle Sidney – there is only one choice here; life, not misery.

Conradnose - ??? - I'm not sure how many gambling-free days you've chalked up but in the absence of doubt have kept you in the NEWBIE ranks. Here's hoping you're Ok and would be great to know the latest from you and your blog.

Bornagain - I've rested you from our group for a while at your behest as per our Chatroom chat; just let me know if and when you'd like to rejoin us. Meantime - take care.

Let’s keep strong; keep sharing and let's remain, day by day, gambling free. There's no "choice" about this, really. Life, or misery? No contest 🙂

Mixer and Athena, your hosts for this challenge

*** NEWS UPDATE ***

Many of us will be aware of the news that FOBTs are going to be more regulated. Going gambling free, it makes little difference to us, we know that it's all about avoiding the next bet.

But it's at least good to know that there will be certain measures put in place to perhaps limit a new generation of compulsive gamblers coming on-stream. The changes will hopefully not just consider restricting the max bet to £2, but the speed of those bets - on slots, it would still be possible to lose hundreds of pounds an hour. The article acknowledges this. I would personally like to see jackpots capped at £100 instead of £500.

But irrelevant to us as I say - one more bet is all it takes to get us back on the slippery slope. But at least the Gaming Commission is starting to bear its teeth.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/16/fixed-odds-betting-terminals-odds-crackdown

Checking in 107 days GF !!!

Checking in.

Amazing effort from Mixer updating this thread with the latest rollcall. Well done.

The link to the Guardian is no longer working. Seems interesting though.

Hi Degen and thank you for your kind comments. Hopefully, the link's fixed now 🙂

Congratulations Mixer on the Sunday Rollcall today . Absolutely brilliant, how you keep up to date with members progress is a complete mystery to me. You have a rare talent coupled with a caring disposition. Many thanks for the contribution your making to my recovery. Yours respectfully. stephen

Hi mixer its Adam or route 66 is the aim (changed my name as I no longer wish to travel to Las Vegas as that would be a nightmare destination for me). Ive changed my name and would like to join the challenge and hope I can become a striver. I spent my savings that were for a holiday on Saturday night 117 pounds, went overdrawn and had to move my holiday money from another account so I wasn't overdrawn. This is another hurdle. I'm top of my poker league with two weeks left but instead of finnishing it off I'm going to start this new journey. I really cant trust myself in pubs with fruit machines in them so I will have to find new places to enjoy my spare time. Here's to a fresh start. Starting tomo

​

Abstainer - thank you, as always, for the kind words. I echo the same sentiment to you; you're helping yourself by helping others, not taking your eye off of your own personal journey and needs. The result is: Karma 🙂

Adam (next step): We've had many chats, Adam, and your bugbear has always been those pesky slots. I really can resonate with you, because I've been in your shoes. I was in a poker league at my local (Redtooth) and actually won the poker league one quarter, and attended the regionals. (I'd like to say I was knocked out by a bad beat, but, in truth, I went 'on tilt' very early on.)

My point is that before, during the break, and after the poker session I bombarded the slots and lost a fortune. Then I discovered the next day the 'tricksters' did the rounds and emptied all of the slot. I was filling the slots up, along with other mugs (because that's what we are) only for the professional slot machine emptiers to say - "thank you very much", and take the money. The same probably happens in your pub. You'll never win whenever you go on the slots; the tracksters have them tied up.

You are, partly due to the weekly poker sessions, feeding the gambling cycle, Adam, and you've got to put a stick through the spoke of the wheels of this cycle ride to misery. £117 of valuable spending money wasted on nothing. On top of the rest of it.

I know there's only two weeks to go and you're riding high in the league. Here's what you do. Annouce to everyone present at the next poker night (it'll be early/midweek, right) that you're not going to touch another slot. In fact, you'll give £10 to ANYONE who sees you gamble. That includes the bar staff. Make a fuss of it! You'll be ribbed, but - inside - you're very serious about it. Extend the offer to anyone who sees you gamble anywhere. An instant tenner for anyone who does! (You might be surprised at the number of people who quietly whisper in your ear: "Good on you, Adam ... you're doing a good thing keeping off those bandits, son")

Fact is, Adam, you could be extra sneaky and gamble somewhere else where no one can see you. But you'll be kidding yourself. How seriously disappointing that will be.

I know, like me you've been trying to stop for years but you're like a yo-yo, my friend, and it's time to take a fresh look at this. What fresh ideas do you have in mind?

Oh, and welcome to the Guru Challenge 🙂

All the best,

Mixer

Yeah great idea mixer, ill do that tonight. I'm going to finish what I've started by going to the last two weeks of poker but ill tell everyone that is it ill go out on a high. If anyone sees me they get a tenner simple as.

​

Hi just wanted to drop in and say I really like the idea of this challenge. Love the levels. All the best. Stay strong all

Checking in here. Still going strong!

Good morning fellow Guru Challengers! Yes, I really am writing this in the early hours; I suffer from terrible insomnia, if anyone's got an advice; Indont want to take sleeping tablets but will consider herbal remedies; I don't want to add to my addictions (Well, recovering addiction, to be precise - gambling).

I'm on Day 41. Does it get easier? The way I look at it, every day, every reflective moment, is this: Do I want the rest of my life to be real, or misery? Do I want my loved ones to be tarnished with my misery 'brush'? Did they ask for it, or deserve it?

Is life more boring without gambling? I used to think so to the extent if I planned a holiday and there wasn't a casino in proximity I'd get the shakes!!

But I now know, older and wiser, I was mistaken. I just hadn't considered the options. Hadn't opened my eyes.

It's not just doing different things, spending money on alternative things.

It's about what's right in front of us. All our senses, dulled by gambling and the actual soulless monotony of it, come alive.

We start to listen to others; and find them interesting. They renew an interest in us. Music sounds better. Food and drink taste better. What we see becomes clearer, brighter, more detailed. We stop to smell the roses. We consider. We care. Our imaginations reawaken. We become better people.

The rewards of being gambling free are many fold. We just need to take them. Or sink into a rut of our own making; don't blame anyone else. We know what they're up to, the gambling operators. There is help out there; we can all shape our destinies to a degree; that is, to steer them to a happier, non-gambling path.

Today, we will all be gambling free -NO excuses, right?

Ok, I'm going to TRY to sleep. A temporary price to pay, I rationalise. At least I'm not gambling. And I instantly relax at the thought.

I can see Robf's point of view. But I see the challenge for what it is - a mechanism to stay gamble free!!

Today is my second day and I would like to join too please. Strength in numbers I believe

You got it, Mark, this is all it is - a simple gambling free mechanism, one of many. If it helps, it helps. What concerned Robf were the names of the 'levels' (Gurus etc.). I re-affirm - and 99.99999999% of readers get this - you won't become a real Guru after 300 days.

You are welcome aboard and will be part of the next rollcall.