*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

NiceNormalFamily - Really glad you're on track, my friend.

Sars - So glad you're super focussed; it's the only way 🙂

Chartom - No worries. Just keep it going, it's not easy, we all know that. But blocks + day to day attention + support = a strategy that has legs!

I've noted, as we all probably have, sadly, that the Gaming Commisson have capitualted to the lobbying of the gaming companies and dropped the maximum FOBT bet from £50 to 'only' £30. It makes the square root of 'eff all' difference to what is a massive problem to too many.

As I've said before, let's not expect anyone to help us here. These quangos are useless and it's clear what's happening, I won't put it into words here, I'd probably be sued.

Gamcare do their best, but we've got to do our bit, and then some.

Keep strong everyone.

Did you expect anything else from the government? MPs get more donations, gifts and hospitality days from gambling firms than any other business sector. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41027964

So, here I am back to the beginning again. My last post was when I hit 100days, massive accomplishment, felt great! Then a few days after I did what I’d worked so hard to not do!! So, 2 months of hard gambling and hiding from everyone that’s helped me in the past and I’m paying the consequences, kicked out by the other half, Iv been in a really S****y situation because of this twice in the past but i have hit a new low. My other half found out shortly after getting home from work, because she had an email from PSN to say my subscription had ended as payment failed, this is probably the strangest way for her to find out as Iv hidden some colossal things from her in the past (before having to tell all when my situation has come to light). I have tried counselling which worked at first but then I started again. Not sure what’s the next best option! All time low!

git Hi Guys..checking in..still GF. Been busy with DIY..which I’m hopeless at but all good. Keep yourself busy..no urges to gamble. Still hit debt due to gambling so this is the focus. Keep up the good work and be GF. Raj

47 days now for hopefully more to come

Degen - yep, it's a sad indictment of the world we live in. I am very surprised that the Gaming Commission has collapsed and capitulated in this way. There is no other way to describe it. The misery will continue for many. The social responsibility of the government through its agencies and quangos has been superceded by the tax revenue it yields. The beancounters at the Treasury are happy, of course. Us recovering compulsive gamblers don't have it easy, that's for sure. It was a sad hearing that news: whilst it makes no difference to us, because we are not gambling, it shows the offical line which is: the tax revenues are more important than the social welfare of our citizens.

Mitch - I'm very sorry to hear you've come off the rails and as we all know, when that happens all hell can break loose. It really can take one bet, win or lose it, and that's it, like a broken dam all the good work is undone. Chasing and all that pent-up abstension comes pouring out. I'm a bit on the edge, I must say; I don't find it any easier. I'm having to continue, and must never stop, the very tight financial controls I've had in place for around seven months now. I've got £12 on me, and I'll never have more than that (I've 'edged up' from a fiver...). My suggestion is - go for the nuclear option and hand over full financial control, Mitch. It's the only guaranteed way. It will show your loved ones that you're bloody serious and demonstrate full intent. How long for? Fovever. Emasculating? Not if it saves your life. I hope this helps, Mitch; I don't mince my words but this is very serious, isn't it. In my opinion, properly implemented blocks are the only sure-fire way. If there's an 'out', a desperate gambler will find it, use it and the only way is down.

Raj - thank you for the check in. Glad to see your gambling free. Keep going, my friend.

Christer - Great to hear it. Keep checking in!

Let's never forget the 'sick to the pits of our stomach' feelings we get when nursing a big loss. Is it worth it; for us and those close to us to have to put up with it? NO it isn't.

Three things we all have to do:

1. Blocks

2. Blocks

3. Blocks

The best block, IMHO, is to hand over full financial control to a trusted friend, relative or loved one. After years of studying this, it's my only surefire conclusuon. Support and other measures help, of course, but I beleive this is core to a successful strategy. (This is how I've clocked up 220 gambling free days. Every one very hard earned and very hard fought. Have I found things easier? Nope, but not having money, and pre-warned freinds who thankfully won't wantonly lend me any, has stopped me relapsing.)

Keep strong everyone.

Mixer

Hi guys been feeling a bit down in the dumps last few days, not sure whether its because I started drinking again and haven't been to the gym. Got to get back to plan a

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The main issues are I cant afford to move out my parents and I'm 36, I'm drinking too much, ive not been to gym for over a week, I don't think I can afford to go on holiday ive been looking forward to in July. Currently I only earn 800 a month and that's not going to change fora while. Everything just mounted up last night and I got very depressed. Gof to go back to basics I think I ve got a lot to be grateful for and I'm still not gambling my hard earned money away

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Thanks mixer, back to the beginning so I’d like to restart the guru challenge. Hopefully with a happy ending!

I have just received a breakdown from betstars (the account I used January 24 2018 till last Friday.

2570 bets
£4464.99 staked
£1693.51 deposited
£1133.16 withdrawn
51 days
50bets average per day
£87 daily total stake average

Seeing that shocks me. Not good after doing well for over 100 days.

Tara2 checking in at one week. The escalation of my gambling wagers and frequency was sobering. It either has/had to be sobering or the next excalation could have taken me to a realm I have not yet seen. High stakes kept coming to mind as I was thinking the only way to get my losses back was go to high risk and I started to have plans and ideas in my head. This , along with going from binge gambling to more of a weekly thing, along with higher spins and cash advances... this was over the top for me. I also found myself getting angry in the casino the last few times and felt that I was ready to break. My break was to call my bf and tell him where I was. I came home very late ( for me) that night , last week. My immune system is down and I feel sick today, on my day off. Thx. Mixer. I am happy to be here doing the challenge with a group and with an organizer like you. I really aim to see what a year or more free feels like and then more of the same. tara2

Thanks Mixer, great roll call as always. Checking in 131 days. Another chunk paid off my debts. 55 days to go and I'll be freeeeee woohoo. Have a good week everyone 🙂

That's a hell of a lot of bets Mitch 50 a day blimey

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As always Mixer a great weekly rollcall.

I am pleased you had your wits about you whilst in the pub with your friends. It is crazy but one moment of madness can undo all our hard work.

Congratulations on being strong and staying focussed on your journey to freedom...stephen

Can I join please? 36 days gf at mo Lulu x

Hello everyone, here's a mid-week update!

I must start by talking about the identity fraud attempts that I'm continuing to bat off. Whoever it is has tried to create accounts and get credit from Vanquis, Debenhams, Thinkmoney, Lloyds, Santandar, Argos, Thinkmoney and a few others so far - all in my "name". It's a really aggressive attempt and I'm having to be right on top of it. Thankfully I'm registered with Experian and have it all in hand.

Right; enough of that, here are my replies to you:

Adam - It's sometimes easy to drift into introspection after being gambling free for a while. You tend to look at where you are in life, where you think you should be, and what you can do about it. The way I look at it is this. Firstly, you're only 36, you have stopped gambling at the right time. You're taking stock, have a job, and are at a tipping point in the right direction. I can see, though, that you're finding it difficult to settle into a new post-gambling routine. Keep going to the gym but vary the times and dates. Go at different times; you'll see different people and it will shake it up a bit.

Drinking won't be helping you (although I can talk - I'm drinking a fair bit) because, if you have got money on you, you'll be more inclined to gamble it. You know the score!

Now... the weather's improving, the suns starting to shine and so after what's been a particularly cold and 'orrible winter things will start looking up. You've been hunkering down, Adam; now's the time to look ahead to brighter times. Just keep off the sodding machines - don't be the mug punter! The tricksters have been missing you; don't give them the pleasure.

Mitch - It's depressing indeed looking at the impact of a relapse, not only in terms of the money that's been spent - and you'll know better than me if you've gambled more elsewhere - but it's the valuable time you've wasted and the effect of that lonely activity both on yourself and others. It's all bad, in other words. I'm hoping you're going to snap out of it, and quick, because there is no other way, to be frank. Hand over financial control is my considered advice. I can relate to you 100% Mitch; I've been where you have been many, many times. But it simply cannot continue any more. Welcome back to the Challenge. Keep writing ... this thread speaks from the heart.

Slot Fool - excellent to hear your progress and a positive target you're aiming for and, day by day, you're determiend to reach. What happens when you hit your target? We find another one!

Stephen - thank you for your kind words and you are so true. I won't deny, I was close to putting on a racing bet, especially as the big race approached and the beers were going down all too well. Fortunately, one of my close buddies pulled me over and reminded me that I am gambling free and he made it clear his disgust if I were to bet - a sign of a true friend. So I relented, and didn't bet on a race via another colleague's online mobile betting app and borrowing the tenner from him. Would I have won? No, but that's not the point. We all know however it would have gone I would have got the 'bug' again. It was close, and as a direct result I'm, once again, going to work with pennies, as a penance and reminder of why my strategy - handing over financial control - is for life. If I buckle, I promise everyone on here, you'll be the first to know. But I simply can'y and day to day resolve not to. I'll pass by your thread later, Stephen, it's been a while since I said hello!

Lulubobs1966 - yes, of course you can join! And congratulations for going 36 days without a gamble, proving you can bat off a payday (assuming you're salaried) and not waste it away. Way to go.

Take care everyone,

Mixer