We’re going along ok. One simple change for me, went online and blocked my bank account being used for anything online betting, sport books, national lottery.
I’ve become more reflective, I now watch racing (ITV) and realise how ridiculously hard it is to find winners. Mad how I would sit daily and bet (when not at work!) filling my hours, just aimlessly betting £10, £20 on anything. The ReqiestABet on Sky, promotions etc. i. now just watch football not getting anxious about a SoT or praying for a corner or a card. That changed how I viewed the sport.
it’s not a major timescale, a few days, but first time in years that I really applied myself and taken a step to remove problem gambling from my life.
I’ve also got a bit more money being put away for my holiday to USA next year and already have £1800 put aside. Small wins.
just wanted to share a slow, steady, positive beginning as I’ve been gambling since 1998, daily for the past 3 years
Really proud of your progress @sinceninetyeight, well done.
Sounds like a pivotal moment of watching sports now and getting relief instead of dread!
Keep it up ?
Keep up the great work, I can relate to the praying for a corner or a card in a football match. It is certainly not enjoyable and is not something I’ll ever be doing again.
Spot on Minnie, enjoying the action, and not sitting there upset that someone didn’t get booked and spoiling the game, that’s a huge change for me.
I didn’t even know my bank could put in the block, the 48hrs takes out any reactive deposits and also I hate going into shops, not been in one in two decades so no chance of slipping there!
I’m just over 3 weeks, what I’ve seen, York and a little from the weekend, my day to day betting was racing and had I been carrying on, I would have lost more so today I paid £200 into my USA spending money savings account.
Small steps, I don’t miss the horses, I do miss the footie accas, but not enough to consider reversing my bank block or face a shop.
Good luck to you all, if I can do small steps - anyone can. Put the blocks in. For 3 years I told my partner, it will just be ITV racing or £30 on horses and £50 on football but once that was gone - I re-deposited. I’ve gone from daily, to not at all. Stay busy.
I got a little urge today, thankfully blocks in place, that thought quickly went. When the racing results came in, I’d saved another £20-£50! Into savings £30 goes. Win, win.
another Saturday which was my routine - without a bet.
4 weeks, 28 days without a bet or deposit!
Will aim on payday in Sept, I aim to take my Holiday spending money to £1900, (2.8.22 it was 1200!)
Good luck, I am using this as a personal diary and reminder.
@sinceninetyeight great work. Keep it up.
It definitely gets easier and you seem focused on how much you gain from not gambling, rather than what you lose from gambling. Every £ saved is another little victory.
A diary is a good thing to keep, so please keep it going. It's okay to have an urge and be proud when you beat that urge.
I’d say I have had two maybe three urges but that’s lasted no more than 5-10 mins especially as I’ve blocked so physically can’t! And I hate bookies shops, the desperation and just horrific scenes. I’ve not been in one in 15-20 yrs so it might have changed?
Day 32. I’ve moved over to the Diary section of the site. It’s another Saturday, NO BET!
68 days no deposit or bookies visit (I haven’t had one of those for a decade tbf!!)
I am more content, relaxed when I watch sport. I put one simple block in place as I’d only bet online, my bank account allowed me to block all gambling sites and has a 48hr block on any reversal in case I got tempted! It’s worked wonders for me. I don’t know I even could - which is why I am adding here. Totally free, done on the bank mobile app. 2 mins and you could be starting fresh. Good luck
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