*** Rollcall below! ***
** GURU CHALLENGE - 10th WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday 22nd October – time for our fortnightly rollcall!
Before this week’s rollcall, let’s start with some interesting news. It’s looking like, at long last, the tide is starting to turn against some of the gaming giants, who have had it their own way for too long. The Gaming Commission, with a discreet nod from the Government, are, at last, baring their teeth.
After the charade of ‘Responsible Gambling Week’ with the bookies etc. “trying to show us they care” (c’mon….), you’ll have noticed that gambling advertising has been moderated somewhat. Out have gone offers where it was nigh on impossible to win – “Deposit £10 Get £20 Free” seemed a good offer, but the Ts & Cs made sure there was no such things as an easy quick buck. Now, any offers have to be straightforward, and, as recovering gamblers, we can see them for what they are – an invitation to lose money. The faГ§ade has been stripped away.
We know that those insidious FOBTs are going to be reined in – it’s just a case of what the minimum stakes will be, speed of play and number of machines per bookies. I hasten to add, that this doesn’t affect us of course – we’re off these thieving flashing boxes for good – but it does remind us how damaging and lethal they are.
And today we have learned, thanks to some great investigative work in the Sunday Times, that online slots that attract under-eighteens cannot be advertised on their websites. Which should eliminate most of them! It’s bittersweet for us because although we may have been hooked in, hopefully the younger generation coming through will be less tempted to take the gambling path.
What’s the point to all this? Gambling is truly exceptionally damaging and the Gambling Commission frankly had to act. Let’s all keep on the straight and narrow.
So, how have we been this week? I’ve had a bit of a shocker with an imminent big pay cut at work. But at least I still have a good job with some prospects – so I count my blessings. And I’m not gambling, so therefore not making my circumstances worse, and I'll get by - don't we all these days. To be fair, I’m even less inclined to gamble now! But enough of me… how are we all doing.
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR!
HowdidIGetToThis has clocked up half a year – a terrific milestone to reach. Our congratulations to you.
NEW CHALLENGERS!
A warm welcome to Wallyweird and Velvet7 – “Welcome to our motley crew, can you be a GURU too?”. Let’s see if you can; we’re a pretty determined bunch here chaps!
STATS FOR NERDS: We have 2 GURUs, 5 ELDERs, 9 STRIVERs and 12 NEWBIEs on the Challenge – 28 in total.
So... are you RESTED, RELAPSING or ROCKING…? Let’s find out!
Phil72 – 621 days – ROCKING! Storming through the Double GURU level, marching towards the triple – always one day at a time
Changemylife – 359 days – ROCKING! Likewise, marching ahead and looking forward to next week’s rollcall, my friend!
ELDERs
Degenerate – 208 days – ROCKING! Showing character and spirit Degen
HowDidIGetToThis – 182 days – ROCKING! As aforementioned, settling into the second half of the year….
Abstainer – 164 days – ROCKING! So glad you’re feeling a lot better and always enjoying the musical selections
ItMatters – 142 days – ROCKING! Your continued gambling free journey is noted and respected
Sars27 – 142 days - ROCKING! Keeping the guard up because it’s so worth the better life you and your wonderful family are living!
STRIVERs
RubyBaby – 86 days – ROCKING! Starting from a snowball atop a mountain, look how that snowball is gathering pace now Rubybaby!
Christer1 – 61 days – ROCKING! On the Challenge, Christer1, sorry I left you off before (nothing personal!)
Mixer – 72 days – ROCKING! No choice but to live a better life; no choice really!
Raj – 64 days – ROCKING! So glad you’re keeping strong Raj, stick those gambling emails in the 'junk' where they belong
Amt722 – 66 – ROCKING! Haven’t heard from you for a short while, Amt, but fingers crossed you’re still on the right track..!
Antics – 63 – ROCKING! Likewise, Antics, you’ve gone a little quiet which is fine, just hoping you’re still rockin’ !
Chartom3 – 56 – ROCKING! Well done Chartom for hitting the nifty fifty, half way to ELDER!
4D – 46 – ROCKING! Great to see that you’re taking this seriously 4D – it measn we take you very seriously. Respect.
Athena1991 - 45 – ROCKING! Excellent to see my partner-in-crime on this challenge eating up the days. Superb stuff Athena!
NEWBIES
Adam808 – 26 days – ROCKING! Are you going to be a STRIVER next week? I strongly suspect you will Adam!
Xenedra – 25 days – ROCKING ! Wow, this is good. Xenedra – let’s***t that Striver level. This time – you can do it. You care!
Ineffable - 23 days too - ROCKING! – Can we have a triple STRIVER rollcall of honour next week, Ineffable. Will you be part of that trio?
Geo – 22 days – ROCKING! Putting in the effort with GA and other measures in place – lets do this, Geo.
Boxingdayfresh – 21 days – ROCKING! This is good stuff – 3 weeks under your belt. Ready for this crucial period to take you to STRIVER level? C’mon…!
Tooshie - 21 days – ROCKING! – Haven’t heard from you for a short while Tooshie, here’s hoping you’re still on track.
Mitch91 - 21 days - ROCKING! – You can do this. It’s about having a future worth having. Or misery. No contest!
Paulll - 18 days - ROCKING! You’re starting off very well with regular posts that are backing your sentiments with solid blockers and other actions. Keep going.
Wallyweird – 14 days – ROCKING! - Early stages, in the foothills but half way to STRIVER already. Ready to reach the first base camp? I should say so.
Velvet7 – 12 days – ROCKING! - Payday’s always tough but with the right blockers and support in place it’s just ‘another day’. No more hard-earned down the drain, what’s the point of that.
Helpless (Previously ‘Next Steps’) - 6 days – RELAPSED I know you’re finding it tough but the future really is in your hands – you don’t want to live a life like this.
Slotfool - 4 days - RELAPSED – Time to work out what went wrong; the relapse wasn’t a release, it was a weakness allowed through, but you can plug it! We’re all with you.
RESTING
No-one rested this week (again) – great!
Once again, we’re mostly ROCKING! Let’s see if we can ALL rock next week. Payday? It’s just another day, remember. Let’s keep our money and spend it on worthwhile things, for us, and our loved ones. Let’s make ourselves, and others, smile, and keeping smiling!
n.b. Don’t forget the Christmas Challenge – you can’t have enough Challenges! J
Let’s keep strong; keep sharing and keep strong!
Mixer and Athena, your hosts for this challenge
Thank you for the mention mixer, I didn't even realise it was half a year I have hit , it's late in the day but al be sleeping with a smerk on my face!
Count me in, only joined today but ready to make a change!
Thanks for the update Mixer and Athena ! Rockin' n Rollin' with three weeks under my belt. Optimistic about the future. Money and life has been much better for quitting. Only a couple of moments where I've thought about going back to gambling - but I know I must deal with these promptly and tell myself it's not an option. I've spent enough £'s and time and this is now my time. I'm no longer being held to ransom by the slots stealing my time and money. I'm free and it must stay this way now. No more weaknesses or failed attempts. I'm here to stay now and I've joined the Christmas Challenge too ! Ho Ho Ho !
Thank you Mixer, enjoyed reading your 'Sunday Roll Call' . Wishing you a good week ahead.
Thanks for the roll call Mixer. Day 23 Check in. Pay day today. Feeling anxious as most of the money will be going to clear some debts so not much will be left. However feeling better as my gf has my card and she lives out of town so the urges can just wait. For now I will take it one day at a time.
Ineffable - you won't be the first, and you won't be the last mate. Payday is a tough time and many buckle once there's money in the pocket. You have a choice: repeat this next month and be skint as we approach Christmas, or put extra blockers in to make sure you can't do the same next month.
The gambling devil on your shoulder found a weakness, you need to deal with it now - if you really want to.
Wishing you well as always - no judgement from me, ever, been here too many times.
That was your "dry run" - right 🙂 ?
Yeah that was the dry run, but I think also I have seriously come to the point of no return in terms of returning to gambling. I have put measures in place so it will be difficult to relapse even on this pay day. I will make it through without gambling. Focusing on getting these GF days and living life a little better.
Mixer my man. Always putting in that extra effort. As always MUCH appreciated - this is one of my highlights of the week so please don't stop doing this!
This is officially my last week as a Newbie. Cannot wait to claim that Striver title.
Cheers mixer for the free advertising!
And a well done on your 72 days and your continued success of this great challenge.
Checking in.
Amazing effort again Mixer! Keep up the good work.
Keep going everyone, we can keep winning by not gambling.
Evening everyone, and thank you all for your kind comments. All read and all appreciated!
I wanted to quickly touch on the Gamcare Chatline; I was a regular until last week (almost every night as regulars know!)
However, when chatting to a moderator one quiet afternoon I was told a didn't have to be a "hero" and keep trying to help everyone, to concentrate on my own journey.
I appreciated the sentiment behind it but was a bit taken aback that this is how I might have come across! Not my intention, I can assure you.
I am 'just' an Average Joe with, sadly, a gambling problem (currently on Day 73, in recovery).
We all have our crosses to bear, our strengths and weaknesses, and are trying our very best to make sure we knock gambling on the head and become better, happier people too!
And, just to reaffirm, and make clear to Gamcare mods (who I have a lot of time for); I ain't trying to be the hero, just using my time, where I have it, to help me and others on a Challenge. There's no harm with encouraging others here and on the other two fine Challenges around.
But I will knock the Chatline on the head, and generally 'ease up' on my posts.
Rest assured, the Challenge continues. We are a team, and a team sticks together!
Let's all be gambling free today, and prepare for tomorrow. Let's do it for ourselves, and others will see and bask in the difference in how we are, and how they feel as a result 🙂
Checking in on 23 days - keeping my check ins regular to keep me on track. Previous failed attempts I've wandered too far away from this site & ive had enough of failing. Looking forward to a great Christmas ... that's only about 9 weeks away ! What status will I be then ? Certainly not a newbie, Striver next isn't it ? That's my next goal.
Loving your positive attitude Boxingdayfresh and I sense your inner determination here - let's get you to Striver next week.
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