Good evening everyone. It is indeed great news to see www.gamstop.co.uk online. Whilst it doesn't cover every online casino, rest assured it will, in time. And would you 'cheat' in the meantime? No - of course, you wouldn't; you have a consience; that's why you're here.
Chartom - I'm loving the attitude. This new casino blocker will make a huge difference to you. The times, they are a changin', and you'll reap the rewards. Keep making the right choices; remember, YOU are in control!
Stephen - Thank you for the fantastic support you are giving to fellow Guru Challengers. Truly appreciated, and respected. You are top drawer, my friend.
Godoicul - Great to hear you've joined the Gamstop scheme. Hell, you mean this.
Maisiemoo - Glad you've joined too! The tide's turning - you, and we, are getting our lives back, one step at a time!
4D - What an absolute joy and delight to witness your genuine progress. I doff my cap 🙂
Christer - You are not wrong, my friend. We can turn this addiction around, the internet is, at last, making it happen. We are regaining control.
Jeffutd - Gamstop is the real deal; its heart, and objective, is in the right place. Welcome to the Challenge!
Xanggel11x - Thank you for your kind words. Let's change your life for the better, eh. It CAN be done!
Here's to the future. And here's how - one day at a time, we DON'T gamble. That's all we need to do, every day. We need to put blocks in place to make sure we can't gamble - then we truly can't. If we recognise our weaknesses, and deal with them, we'll have a great chance of a much better life rather than the miserable alternative. Are we strong enough? Of COURSE we are 🙂
Your so right mixer it would be interesting to see how many have sighned up already
Thank you for nice post.
Jeffutd - Gamstop is the real deal; its heart, and objective, is in the right place. Welcome to the Challenge!
thanks mixer, everything is in place, altought i quite skint at the moment and last night had money worries and started thinnking about gambling to maybe try help out but obviously its the reason i am in this situation... going to be a tough ride!
Thank you Mixer. As you rightly say, we only have to do this one day at a time. Identify our weaknesses and work on them so we are less vulnerable to gambling influences.
I get a lot of inspiration from the Guru Challenge and feel a sense of solidarity with everyone on the forum. I share this road some wonderful people and I consider them to be friends as well as fellow travellers.
When friends are doing well than I am happy and it saddens me to see friends suffering setbacks. We are a family and want each other to succeed. Brothers and sisters, shoulder to shoulder making our way up the recovery road. Never looking back in anger but fixing our mind on the GamCare mountain and the freedom that lies beyond.
There are those times when grace seems far far away and suffering is something to go through. Sometimes prayers are not answered right away, whether we ask ourselves or surrender ourselves or someone else has us in mind. I just went through a hard week or so and now some grace shines through and this day feels brighter although no outsided circumstances are much different. tara2
Day 5 and never thought I would get past day 1, been a tough week though facing up to many realizations of the damage i have done, looking forward to being able to say I have been GF for a whole week.
Best wishes all 🙂
Checking in on 170 days gamble free 🙂
Checking in 32 days gf .......Pink
Checking in 128 days gamble free. Registered on GamStop so absolutely no worries about gambling at the minute like. Happy days
Happy as a lark ~ Stephen the Stoic
Reflective, calm ~ feeling euphoric
Gamble free for 60 days ~ striving to do his best
Tenacious, hope and courage mark this truly noble quest
** GURU CHALLENGE - Latest WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday, 29th April 2018
Hello everyone and welcome to our weekly catchup.
First things first. GAMSTOP is live! That’s great; it’s a realistic way of restricting our ability to gamble online. A say ‘restricting’ because not all casinos are on-board yet, but they will be. And I say ‘realistic’ because your name and address are associated, you really can’t register even if you wanted to. That’s what I like about it – you can’t ‘cheat’ by using another device, because it’s your address that matters. That said, when you move home, don’t forget to let GAMSTOP know.
Some of us may have had problems registering to the new service so I’ve written a post about it here. Don’t give up – if online gambling is your ‘bag’ then you’d do anything to stop, right? Let’s all just do this. If you can’t register online (takes 5 minutes) then phone then up, as I did. Yes, it’s a bit of pain getting the ID together but I say again – it’s well worth it. It took me half an hour, but what a fantastic addition to your gambling-free ‘armour’.
One final important point – GAMSTOP allows you to choose your exclusion period, up to 5 years. I implore you to choose 5 years, not less. If you don’t make it 5 years then what’s the point? Remember, I believe we’re compulsive gamblers for life but we can control it. Please don’t pick anything less than 5 years. Tick the right box.
Please also remember that GAMSTOP will only help you block one type of gambling – online. They’ve helpfully put together a page of links to help exclude from other types of gambling, for example bookies and bingo halls. There are also guidance for other support. Again, I implore you to take action; you can register over the phone for these.
Right … it’s time for our rollcall. How are we doing?
Are we ROCKING, or have we had a blip? You always have our support … so long as you’re honest. If you’re honest to our fellow Challengers, it means you’re honest to yourself. It means a lot to us all – because it shows your respect.
NEWBIES
We welcome to our challenge five newbies this week: Maisiemoo, Soul-searching, xangel11, jeffutd and caughtup. Great to have you aboard and settling in. I’ll provide a personal update for you all from next weekend. Meantime – every morning, say to yourself, and mean, that that you’re not going to gamble. If you haven’t already done so, think carefully about blocks you may need to put into place. My post here, if you haven’t already read it, might help you. In fact there’s great advice everywhere you look on these forums and a real togetherness – for example, take a look at Stephen the Stoic’s thread. Welcome aboard!
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR
Pink2018 and Serendipity77 are now STRIVERS having passed through the 30 day gambling-free milestone. We all congratulate you on this important achievement. Day by day, you’re out of the foothills and are climbing up the mountain!
Our GURUs
Phil72 – 810 days GF – ROCKING! – Like you, Phil, I miss the Gamcare Chatrooms. Hopefully they’ll be back soon. Meantime – as you’ve written- it’s looking likely that FOBT stakes will be capped at £2 a spin. But just watch the rearguard action from the bookies’ lobbyists that’s in full swing. Regardless, it makes no different to us: we mustn’t spend one penny!
Sars27 – 331 – ROCKING! – Hey Sars, I hope life’s treating you well! Living life as it should be lived without the irritant of gambling casting a shadow. Every day, hoofing it into touch!
Our ELDERs
Rubybaby – 275 - ROCKING! – Hi Ruby, I hope everything’s well with you. I know you pop in from time to time which is just fine with us 🙂
Mixer – 261 – ROCKING! I still find being gambling free very, very difficult but have maintained my single-minded approach of passing wholesale financial control to my wife. I go to work with £5 in my pocket. It works. Is it time for me to have cash and cards back? Sadly, no. I know myself far too well. I have to do this for life. But the upside is so worth it.
Raj – ROCKING – 253 – I hope you’re keeping Ok, Raj, after what has been a personally very rocky time for you.
4D – 235 – ROCKING! – As I wrote a few days ago, what a lovely post you wrote comparing your life before and after. This is what it’s about, 4D, keep it going!!!
Slotfool – 171 – ROCKING! – Thank you for checking in Slotfool. Can you believe it? You’re coming up to six months. But ALWAYS one day at a time – as you know, we’re a complacency-free zone here!
Chartom3 – 141 – ROCKING! As you’ve noticed the benefits of being gambling free can be realized after a while – this realization comes over us like a ‘slow wave’ and you hit on a major positive – that’s being guilt-free and being able to sleep at night. Priceless.
Godoicul – 121– ROCKING! – Two major events for you this week, Godoicul. Joining Gamstop and speaking to Stepchange. Excellent moves. Actions speaking as good as your very good words.
Ineffable – 120 – ROCKING! – There’s no doubt about it; working hard to pay off debts is frustrating. However, you’ll adjust meantime, “ cutting your cloth” and the long-term rewards, once it’s all paid off, will be immense. Meantime, here’s my advice. During the 4 years that you’re clearing the debts, enjoy life and whatever money you do have to spend. Enjoy the challenge of making the best of what you have. Enjoy these times; enjoy your family and the things that don’t cost money. Let these be good times, for, after all, you’re not gambling and your family gets ALL of your attention. That’s worth more than money can buy.
Our STRIVERS
Lulubobs – 75 – ROCKING – Thanks for the check in, Lulu and great to read you’re getting your life back. Stick with it – it’s the only way, and the best way.
Stephen the Stoic - 60 - ROCKING
There once was a man, he was Stoic
His approach to GF was heroic
He kept on because
The alternative was
A future described as azoic!
Tara2 – 46 – ROCKING – I enjoyed your last thoughtful post. It is interesting to think about life, and fate, and how everything knits together. I believe in karma – natural justice. As a rule, we reap what we sow. I like to think that this keeps this chaotic planet in some kind of order. Meantime, you’re racking up the days, one hard-fought day at a time!
John64 – 37 – ROCKING – You are exactly right, John. We cannot win because we cannot stop. That’s what it’s all about, in one sentence. If we act on that brutal truth, we are hosed and dry. We just need to remind ourselves, every day, of this simple fact.
Pink2018 – 32 – ROCKING – Excllent stuff, Pink, hitting the thirty day mark. Proving you can cope with a payday. This shows the mettle you’ll continue to need. Good, good, good.
Serendipity77 – 32 – ROCKING – Great to see you smash through one month gambling free too. Urges will subside but we must always be very watchful … you know this and I know this!
NEW & re-RESOLVED MEMBERS
Christer1 – 29 – ROCKING! – You are exactly right - the introduction of GAMSTOP is fantastic. A real boost and tonic for us all. Let’s see you hit STRIVER, once again, next week!
Notever12 – 17 – ROCKING! – Thank you for your kind words and great to see you’re up for the challenge. I assume you’re on “Day 17” gambling-free; you’re welcome to confirm. Let’s do this for ourselves, predominantly, but for those we love, and love us, too.
Martymart – 17 – ROCKING! – I hope you’re Ok, Martymart – do get in touch if you feel able.
HowDidIGetToThis 4 – re-RESOLVED – It’s not easy this, but you can do something about it. Do share how you’re feeling … we never judge and we genuinely listen.
Mitch91 – re-RESOLVED – I know you’re struggling; I’ve been here many, many times. It’s not easy. But we’ve got keep trying; right!
Adam123 - re-RESOLVED – 8 – I’m delighted to see you’re back in there and this is an important time for you, as you recognize. Just keep off the demon slots, right – and I’m looking you in the eyes here, Adam - don’t be that mug punter again. Good man.
STATS FOR NERDS: We have 5 newbies this week, so, in total, along with 2 GURUs, 8 ELDERs, 6 STRIVERs and 6 NEW/re-RESOLVEDs, 27 of us on our challenge.
*** THOUGHTS OF THE WEEK ***
More Zen sayings for you (I know you're a fan, 4D!)
Keep strong and keep smiling everyone!
Mixer
If you haven't read them, here are my thoughts about --> how we can control our gambling <--
Can you remember EVER going to your banks atm and mindlessly stuffing a twenty into the slot thinking a few thousand would be added to your bank account? At least by the next business day? hmmm not the best joke, but think about it. Glad to be here! tara2
Hi Tara - I've lost over £250k over my lifetime - one of the world's worst, so, yep, I've been there, chasing a measly £500 slot jackpot. The words I write, and harsh they are at times - especially around payday - are to me; to remind myself of what I stand to lose if I buckle. And these words are for all of us - because it IS tough, and tough words are what are sometimes needed to keep us on track. For which I make no apologies!
I think you're doing great Tara, you are no fool and you're real 🙂
tara2 wrote:
Can you remember EVER going to your banks atm and mindlessly stuffing a twenty into the slot thinking a few thousand would be added to your bank account? At least by the next business day? hmmm not the best joke, but think about it. Glad to be here! tara2
***This was supposed to be a bad joke ie. trying to insert 20 into a banks atm. I was highlighting how insane slot play mentality is by comparing it to stuffing 20 into an atm (the wrong way) and expecting a couple thousand to show up on the bank statement. I think that slot play is about as crazy as actually doing that. tara2
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