*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

I would also like to join this challenge -day 1 newbie.

Hello hope ur all good and great rollcall as allways. And great to hear everyone in this group are trying to make a difference for themselves

Stephen - thank you for your kind words. We're all aboard the Guru Challenger, navigating choppy seas. Yes, it might well be pay day but we're not going to throw money away becase we don't have to, don't want to - because it's bad for us. We have a choice and today we have said: "Just for today, no matter what, I am not going to gamble!". One thing I am going to do Stephen is listen to the mantra you've referred to on your thread. (your posts as always an excellent read). I definitely need to chill a bit, what with one thing and another - I'll let you know how I get on!

Tara - it's a real pleasure to hear our thread's helping you. It's great to hear about your visit to your family, and although challenging it yielded, as you say, sentiment and love. And that's what makes the world go round!

Notever1 - Sometimes it takes an insight, a moment of realisation, to understand the impacts of how we've affected others. But we can put things right, and our loved ones are delighted when we turn a corner. They want us back to how we used to be. Not what gambling turned us into. This is hard work, but the rewards are immense - never mind the money, it's our self-respect we get back; that's priceless.

Maisiemoo, Soul-searching and xangel11x - Welcome to our group - great to have you aboard! May I draw your attention to the first post in this thread, which I hope will help set the scene for you. It's a long post, but hopefully evocative of the spirit of our group. Welcome to the Guru Challenge!

Serendipity - Delighted to read you're committed to this Challenge and a much better life for you. Keep it going, my friend - it's worth it 🙂 !

Christer1 - thank you for checking in; and great you're committed to this. You know it matters, you know we're not perfect - who is? - but you are giving this a really good shot. There's no reason, one day at a time, you can't succeed.

Take care everyone 🙂

Mixer

*** GREAT NEWS *** everyone!

GAMSTOP is open for business --> just click here!

Register and you'll be unable to join or play at any UK-registered online casino! Easy to do - and make sure you tick the exclusion box for 5 years - nothing less will do!

The site also has links to other websites so you can ban yourself from the following:

CASINOS - Visit playingsafe.org.uk

ARCADES - Visit bacta.org.uk

BINGO CLUBS - Visit bingo-association.co.uk

BETTING SHOPS AND BOOKMAKERS - Visit self-exclusion.co.uk

If you are serious about stopping gambling - and I know you are - then make it a priority to register at every single one of the links above. Just think - you are putting into place serious blockers that will really help you and show great intent. And how good are you going to feel afterwards. You'll have done a great thing for YOU; and as a bonus, your loved ones and friends will be delighted for you too 🙂 No regrets - let's get excluding - it's the RIGHT and BEST thing to do.

I've just registered for Gamstop - it's quick and easy (I phoned 'em up but you can do it online)

Please feel free to share your experiences 🙂

Mixer

Done quick and easy only took a few minutes glad this have finally arrived 🙂 .... all my problem gambling has been done online only so this is a great help to me and no doubt to many others, thanks for the heads up Mixer.

Stephen the Stoic wrote:

Morning Soul Searcher and welcome to the Guru Challenge.

You will find a lot of friendly
support and information on here. We are all striving to overcome our gambling addiction and try to help each other along. Mixer runs the challenge and he will add your name if you would like to join.

You can read the introduction at the start and also the weekly update a couple of days ago. That keeps us up to date with everyones progress. Wishing you well...stephen

Yeah add me to it, I need to do this

Thank you for the advice on signing up to GamStop which I have done. Awaiting confirmation....stephen

Just done the Gamstop registration took a few minutes that’s all.

Cheers Mixer

Also joined Gamstop so glad that there is something like this.

Evening all, 4D checking in for the week on 231 days gf :))
There is really no comparison to my life as it was gambling and my life now...looking back I feel like I was on a treadmill, or more like a hamster on a wheel, I was obsessed with money and living for the next payday just to gamble, or hide my gambling debts. Now I don't have that panicky, horrible feeling as it nears the end of the month. I don't have that oppressive layer of worry. Life still got its ups and downs, and I am still busy, but instead of being on a treadmill now I'm actually working towards various goals.
I don't check in all that often because honestly I don't think about gambling very much these days, and even the adverts don't bug me like they used to.
I will keep the blocks in place because why not? I don't ever want to go back!
Thanks Mixer for keeping the roll calls going and loved the zen sayings a couple of weeks back 🙂
Keep going everyone!
4D

Wow im in this feels like christmas this is biggggg news which will help people

hi guys

i seen this and thought i would join in if thats ok i am currently on day two, i seen a post also about gamstop and was over joyed at the fact this is in place and i have signed up.. been on the multi betting shop one too (althought i keep having to add shops that i stumble on and in to at times which doent help, i think it would be easier if they just add your file to all shops in the city you live and all outer suberbs) and managed to exclude my self from casinos too, so i hoping things are rock solid now and have a little ease and freedom to stop with no temptations..

juts to add, i was a little concerned that gamstop had information already about me like previous addresses, i thought it may of been s scam but by the sounds of it from here it is legit. but who iam i to complain i have been giving all my money to the betting industry for around 15 years now they have it all and its time i stop...

i do have concerns around the way the bookies handle things but after seeing other posts, gamcare a little touchy about FOBTs

Thanks for the link to the first post of this thread not sure how I hadn't seen it, a long post yes but a truly inspirational and beautifully written one, I found it so helpful and thoroughly enjoyed reading it thankyou. Only on day 3, was feeling a bit low and tempted yesterday but didn't break, less low and tempted at the moment and feeling determined just for today.

Wishing everyone the best 🙂

Checking in for the week on day 138 gamble free, still making the right choices ...