Hello My name is Jordan, Living with my parents still, I've been Gambling for around 6 years now, started off with putting £2 pounds on Football bets then turning to putting a couple of pounds in the FOBT's thinking it was never going to get worse, How wrong could I of been.
When I started on the machines that's where it all went wrong, In the last 3 Years I think I've lost around £15000 on them, At the time I worked at Mcdonalds so that was funding my gambling addiction, getting payed every 2 weeks and losing it within days. For around 2 years it wasen't too bad until this last year. I took out around 10 phone contracts to cover my loses, selling the phones on for £400 each, but having to pay £300 pound a month in total each month.
In August 2013 my parents were on holiday for 2 weeks and I lost £600, I went and did the worse thing ever & stole money from work, got suspended but instead of going to the meeting I handed my notice in so it was easier to get another job. Luckily I applied for a few jobs and I got one at Royal Mail, which I'm very happy with, this is where i thought the gambling would stop.
It's just carried on to get worse for them, I've been to counselling sessions, I didn't really find them that helpful. What doesn't help me is that each time I lose money my parents will give me the money back because they don't want me to chase my loses.
I lost £2000 a year ago, They gave me the money back, but they've promised me that would have to be the last time I gambled. My Parents have lost all trust in me, they are worrying about me 24/7, Seeing my mum and dad cry when I've told them I've lost money should make me realise what I'm doing to this family, so why isn't it ? There not bothered about the money, all they want is to see me stop gambling & to see me happy again.
Other times I've taken my best friends Card to draw money out on, Stole Money e.g and yet every single time my parents have stood by me, I need to stop, it's got far too much for them where they can't even enjoy there lifes.
I was gamble free for around 6 weeks, until 2 weeks ago .. In the space of 2 weeks I've lost £4000! I'm feeling really confused now, parents are on holiday, so don't want to tell them, Not sure where to turn too, I Can't gamble anymore. The bookies are always going to win, what makes me mad is that I spent £2000 in a bookies within a hour & not once did they say anything to me about the amount I was betting.
There's alot much more to it, but there's that much to say I don't know where to start, sorry for the Mixing & Matching, Any help would be helpful. Also good luck to anybody else trying to quit, it's a Evil game! Thanks for listening Jordan. I'll keep you posted!
"They'll always win"
They always will, you need to keep telling yourself this.
Would you set up a business that loses you money? Nope. Do you think bookies and casinos do? Nope. They aren't here to help you win money, they are all here to take it.
"what makes me mad is that I spent £2000 in a bookies within a hour & not once did they say anything to me about the amount I was betting" Why do you think that is mate? Because they were the ones benefiting from it. I can assure you, if you'd be the luckiest guy in the world and kept winning (you never will) they'd have soon taken notice of you and stopped you!
I was in a simlair situation to you, many are... but it is recoverable... it's bloody hard, but its so satisfying knowing they won't get another penny from you.
2 things helped me (not gambled in about 6 months so far from recovered, but the constant thinking about gambling has gone and it gets easier after the first couple of weeks) 1) Install a blocking programme, get someone to set up an email address for you (so you don't know the passwords or even email address) and have one of those future email sites email you the password and email address in 6 months. You can go 6 months, I did. When that 6 months comes, you'll set it up all again because you'll love the feeling. 2) Keep telling yourself, the casinos and bookies aren't here to help you, if it was up to them they would stand over you putting the boot in when you're rock bottom telling you to gamble more. They are s**m and only out for themselves.
It's hard, but I know even one £10 deposit would set me off to lose about £500, take it completely out of your hands and install a blocker.
Good luck mate, we're all friends here... you know who aren't your friends? Those s******s who want to take every single last penny from you.
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