Hi Christer,
Thank you for your post. You're doing excellent on 44 days. I am not surprised you still have gambling thoughts; so do I. But don't be afraid of these thoughts; remember that you are free of gambling the moment you stop. Feel happy, relieved and upbeat that you are not doing this any more!
And look at the real you that's stepping out the shell. More positive, understanding, and better to be around.
Not the het up, insular, closed, shouty person of old.
Bring gambling free certainly makes us richer. As a person. As an aside, the money situation happens to improve too!
Try not to see the next milestone as foreboding, whether 50 or 100 days, Christer. One day at a time, just take it nice and easy.
All the very best my friend.
Mixer
P.S. Adam - thank you for checking in; let's see double-digits today 😉
Oh the double digits have arrived ;). Just in time for a weekend celebration too!
Checking in on 46 gf days. At least the days are coming sooner for for multi self excluding for all online gambling sites
7 days GF count me in as a newbie
Day Six for me
Hello Mixer and Athena
I've just discovered your challenge and I'd like to join as a NEWBIE.
I'm in the 2017 challenge but it really doesn't feel right being there any more as I've joined and rejoined countless times this year with limited success. I feel that's more a place for those who've abstained for the longer term.
I first joined gamcare 2014 and was at one point doing well - I don't think I made a full year ... but I wasn't far off. I even used to help run the 2016 Challenge at one point (may have been 2015 can't remember !). I felt quite secure in staying stopped at that point. This year has yet been another rubbish year in terms of gambling. I'd estimate I've wasted close to £2000 these past six months or so. That's an estimate ... in reality I have no clue. But I know I'm plunging deeper into debt and should be climbing out of debt. My initial plan back in 2014 was to be debt free by 2019. With a huge push now and ditching the gambling forever from now on, that goal could be still achieved by approximately 2020. Im going to go for it and give it the biggest effort I've ever given it. I am in despair every time I lose a load of money - piling it into those slots. I really can't bear to have my life ruled by this addiction any longer. I'd say it has been close to 10 years now and enough is enough. I can beat this and I will beat this!!
So please, if you'd allow me to join you all and say goodbye to gambling and hello to abstaining I'd like to join the GURU challenge and make a promise that I'll become a GURU too! I'm determined and I know I can do it with the right mindset.
Boxingdayfresh
4D checking in day 31 and happy to report gambling free!!
It's Saturday night as I write; another 1 day deposit made in the Gambling Free 'bank' - 57 days for me. I'm hoping everyone on our Challenge is keeping strong, what with a payday just passed. Remember, it's easy to go gambling free when you're skint. But even if you are, these days count, because they build up your GF bank, and the higher your total goes, the more determined you'll be to build it ever higher. To be a STRIVER (30 days GF) is our our first target. This proves you can successfully navigate a payday.
Remember - no man (or lady) is an island. To stop gambling, day by day, needs help and suport, as well as willpower and/or a mindset that recognises that gambling is no good for us. It's not actually a 'choice' of whether to gamble or not - because who in their right mind would choose a life of continued misery? However, we can right our minds, with a will to succeed and thought-out strategies to support that determination.
Geo - welcome aboard; look out for the weekly rollcall tomorrow!
Boxingdayfresh - you're exactly right; we've got to get our mindsets right. Welcome to our challenge, let's get you to STRIVER level, that's 30 days consecutive gambling free days. Let's see what you're made of. You've done it before, you can bl**dy well do it again.
Adam, Christer, 4D - thank you for checking in; your progress duly happily noted 😉
To everyone - here's a book I recommend. For £3.70, it's worth a look, surely...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EZSK6PM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
Even if the book helps you 'only' 5%, that's another 5% of valuable resolve for the price of a pint or small glass of wine. And what if it helps you 100%? (Oh, and in case you, or Gamcare, are wondering: no, I'm not on commission; it's just a straightforward link.)
FINAL THOUGHT - Has your life gone wrong because you're gambling, or are you gambling because your life has gone wrong... have you ever thought WHY you gamble...?
Enjoy your weekend everyone - full rollcall tomorrow!
Mixer
Thanks for the welcome Mixer... I caught up on a lot of this challenge earlier and some really funny stuff and also great advice and inspiration. I'm looking forward to being part of this challenge and following everyone's journeys. Only 24 days off being a Striver!
Best wishes to you all!
Boxingdayfresh
Checking in , 128 days GF ! 🙂
Checking in on day 42 gf....
Checking in, 52 days GF.
Checking in Day 8
Chilling with my feet up in a nice little place called 150 Days GF .... Wishing all the Guru Challengers a great sunday .... stephen
checking in 49 days
** GURU CHALLENGE - 8th WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday 8th October – time for our fortnightly rollcall!
So, here we are, one or two weeks past pay-day, for those of us paid monthly. Are you keeping strong, one day at a time – or have you relapsed, and living yet another month of miserable penury... we so hope not, but with you if you stumble (it's happened to me...)? Our rollcall will reveal all.
But firstly, here’s some news that most of us will find bittersweet. The sweet bit is that the Gaming Commission, backed by the Government, is planning a major crackdown of the gaming industry. And bitter, because we have all sadly been affected by this; however, as recovering gamblers we can at least take an interest in what’s happening.
To cut a long story short, the Gaming Commission is showing some teeth at long last. It has demonstrated its credentials recently fining an online casino £8m for allowing players that have previously self-excluded themselves back to gamble again. Other online casinos have been quickly scrambling to update their software ever since…
Measures that the GC are taking as part of the triannual (3yr) review include, as most of us will be aware, taming the crack-C*****e of gambling, FOBTs. Their focus is on the max stake and frequency of spin. Currently, the max stake is a ludicrous £100 (£300 per minute at the current rate of 3 spins per minute). Campaigners are looking at a max bet of £2 per spin, bringing them in line with other comparative gambling.
Most amusingly, one of the big bookies went ‘off message’ calling for the max bet to be dramatically reduced to at least £10. The other bookies went up in arms at this – now knowing full well the game is truly up. The first bookies weren’t being entirely altruistic; most of their profits are made online, so they could afford to cast their land-based bookies adrift a little and cause a bit of bother to the larger opposition. But, anyway, a big step in the right direction.
The GC are casting their eyes to the online world too. They’ve noticed, as we all have for a long time, it’s turned into the “Wild West’. Lots of generous offers like “Deposit £10 get £30 free” seem good, but the Ts & Cs make it virtually impossible to cash out a profit – for example, you’d have to play through that money something like 50 times, which was never going to happen in practice.
And online affiliates, especially on Youtube and other channels, are always seemingly winning on their slot and roulette channels, making the gambling proposition even more enticing. The truth is that these players are playing games set at over 100% payout, in cahoots with the operators. It’s the real players that, as usual, get shafted. The hosts of these channels are appearing a little sullen of late...!
The GA is looking to stop these sharp practices, and you’ll see all the major casino affiliates closing down as the casinos are fast realising they will be rightfully hung out to dry if any affiliate misbehaves.
And finally, to complete this ‘perfect storm’; whisper it – have you noticed a few bookies are starting to close? Yes, it’s true. Why, you may wonder. Well, I think the reason is quite simple in my opinion; so many compulsive gamblers have got into serious financial difficulty (and therefore unable to gamble much more) the bookies are finding it difficult to replace them, there aren’t enough new gamblers coming through. And whilst that's my opinion, I believe this not to be far off the mark when you 'join the dots'. And with the new measures, stopping such sharp practice, it isn’t going to get any easier for them to draw in a new generation of addicts, in my humble view.
So the winds of change are blowing, my friends. It will be interesting to see if the GC - and their Government paymasters - hold their nerve, or buckle like they have done in the past. Fingers crossed.
Talking of holding our nerve; how are we all doing this week?
WELCOME!
Boxingdayfresh and Geo – welcome to this challenge! Both NEWBIES, your immediate target is STRIVER. I sense from reading your blogs you’ve had enough of all this c**P and, day to day, get there. Interesting reading about your GA meeting, Geo; and how similar all of our stories are, basically.
STATS FOR NERDS: We have 2 GURUs, 4 ELDERs, 7 STRIVERs and 5 NEWBIEs on the Challenge – 18 in total. In addition, 2 members have been ‘rested’ from the Challenge.
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR!
Abstainer – 150 days – Congratulations on not only becoming half a GURU (does that make you a Goo, or a Roo?) but on having one of the most enjoyable dairies I’ve read, with an (almost) daily song choice to listen to for good measure. We collectively give you a deserved ripple of applause!
4D – 32 – It is of immense joy to add you to our STRIVER ranks 4D, because it is the first ‘promotion’ up the ranks and means you have dealt with a number of temptations including likely availability of cash. You can rightfully feel proud. And now, it’s serious as you, day by day, get to hallowed ELDER status. Our hearty congratulations to you 4D!
Athena1991 – 31 days – My Challenge partner-in-crime has become a STRIVER too! This is a really important moment Athena and shows the inner strength that you have. At a time, when there’s a bit more cash floating around, you’re proving to yourself, and others, that you care not just for you, but for them, too. We are all delighted!
Updates
Phil72 – 607 days – Not content with being a double GURU Phil is marching towards triple GURU status! Leading the pack Phil, and living a life, not misery!
Changemylife – 345 days - … Cruising steadily towards a certain milestone but never taking your eye off the ball.
ELDERs
Degenerate – 194 days – Some one else with a milestone in mind but keeping that focus.
Abstainer – 150 days – Treble Bull by never any Bull in how you’re approaching this.
ItMatters – 128 days – Great to read you’re enjoying life. And racking up those days, day to day to eternity.
Sars27 – 128 days - Living life, travelling the world, appreciating and sharing what you have with those you love. This is what it’s truly about.
STRIVERs
RubyBaby – 72 days – Chalking up a fantastic total Rubybaby … let’s keep it going, day by day!
Mixer – 58 days - ‘Tis I. Clocking up, one day at a time, with meaningful blockers in place.
Amt722 – 52 – Doing this with willpower alone; some say it’s not easy to do, but it’s working for you and its showing your true character. Don’t waver. We’re watching and willing you on, you know that.
Antics – 49 – Great to hear from you Antics and one off the ‘Hawaii’. You mean this; I truly sense it.
Chartom3 – 42 – Genuinely delighted to see you eat up more days with the distinct intention of becoming an ELDER. We’re all shoulder to shoulder with you, Chartom.
4D – 32 – Our latest Striver No.1!
Athena1991 – 31 - Our fellow latest Striver No.2!
NEWBIES
Next Step – 21 days – Haven’t heard from you for a week or so, Next Stop – hope you’re keeping strong. Let us know – remember, we’re here, we care and we do our utmost to help keep you on track, even if you fall off!
Adam808 – 12 days – Great to see you ‘back in the saddle’ and you know the biggest challenges are to come. Let’s see you hit STRIVER status Adam. Let’s see you really mean this.
Xenedra – 11 days – Back on board Xenedra and I know that you’re living another skint month and life’s just drifting by… but not this month. This month, this payday, its going to be different. This can’t continue: you know this. But we’re with you!
Boxingdayfresh – 7 days – Let’s see what you’re made of…!
Geo – 8 days – Likewise, let’s see your true intentions!
RESTING
Raj – I’m resting you Raj – haven’t heard from you awhile - but hope all’s well. Drop us a post and you’ll be back on the Challenge!
Mark SNB – I’ve rested you Mark, ditto. Do let us know if you’d like to continue on the Challenge.
Video of the week: This is an enjoyable short video with a message that may not have occurred to you (certainly hadn’t occurred to me!). Link copied, with permission from - and my thanks to - c43herb, from his dairy here.
Let’s keep strong; keep sharing and keep strong!
Mixer and Athena, your hosts for this challenge.
P.S. If anyone wants to join us, just drop us a line. We don't profess to have any formal expertise with how to stop gambling; it's all from the University of Life. Hence why this thread doesn't get bogged down with gambling theory and associated psychology; so we're not one for the purists! There are plenty of other threads here that entertain such matters in considerable detail; and its certainly very interesting and enlightening. In respect of this Challenge, we come in from a simple, but hopefully useful and helpful angle courtesy of the twin angels of positivity and encouragement 🙂
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