Since New Year when I had a bit of a slots binge I have been carrying £1700+ of cc debt run up by gambling...it went up to £2600 at its worst. Then the last couple of days I was having a run of great luck. So I told myself once I'd got enough to pay off my cc I would quit out and block all accounts etc...
This morning I woke up so happy, walking around knowing I was down to my last £400 of debt! Really easy to pay off the "hard way" in a couple of months. All I had to do was block all my accounts.
But of course the little voice tells me I can get that £400, can't I...just one go and it will all be over.
So now I'm sitting here £550 worse off. £950 on my credit card.
Have self excluded everywhere I had left and have set up a standing order to pay the balance off at £150 a month. So not the end of the world but I have just tied myself into 6 months of repayments when it could have been 2. For the sake of an hour's gambling that I didn't enjoy (because I didn't win!) Why oh why did I keep depositing? I had such a smile on my face this morning.
At least I can't do it again now I am blocked (have never been interested in betting on physical machines so not worried about that side).
Glad I found this place and know that sadly I am not the only person to have done something so boneheaded.
Gutted doesn't even come close.
Oh why oh why am I so stupid.
Found sites I hadn't blocked and another £500 down the drain. I have small kids and they need my money, not gambling sites who already makes millions in profit. I'm so angry and afraid I can't ever stop :(. I am intelligent and logically I KNOW and understand I will never win but some part of my brain thinks it knows best.
Hi bidger81
If you have access to money, and you want to gamble, you will.
You have to really want to stop, and put measures in place to help yourself. Can someone in your family take control of your finances for a while? Have you told your family of the problem you are having with gambling? Support from family, friends and this forum can be very helpful . Have you given any thought to GA meetings?
There are a lot of things you can do to help yourself along the way. Read some of the threads on this forum. You will find a lot of helpful practical advice from people who have been or are in your position. If you get this under control before you cause too much damage, you can have a happy life. Make the effort now and avoid a lifetime of misery.
Best wishes
I'm not the best person to give advice at the moment, but trying to gamble your way out of a gambling problem will never work. How can repeating the same mistakes do us any favours? If you cleared your credit card, would you stop? Probably not. Compulsive gamblers find new ways to justify placing a bet.
Stop now, before your debt becomes completely unmanageable. Concentrate on kicking your addiction, rather than the financial effects of it.
Hi bidger81,
Please act on wal1957's advice quickly. What The Mask says is relevant too.
The 2015 Challenge has helped me no end as well. Have a look at it. You can keep a diary on here as well if it helps.
Cheers.
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