Self exclusion, it works.

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It's good that self exclusion is working for you but the problem with self exclusion from betting shops is that it's only for a year and it's almost impossible to self exclude from every betting shop you're able to visit (e.g. there are probably a hundred or so betting shops between where I live and work). Also, the embarrassment factor won't be enough when the self exclusion periods are over and you decide to go to one of the betting shops you rarely visited in the past as you know there's no chance that anyone will remember you or will question whether you're self excluded.

So, are you going to renew all your self exclusions when they're finished? Will you stop checking odds checker at some point? Will you put into place other blocks such as limiting the cash you have available to gamble with (ideally handing your finances over to someone else)?

I'm asking these questions as I've self excluded from betting shops in the past and it's pretty much impossible to self exclude from all of them and stay self excluded (the embarrassment factor worked for me for a while too!). In my opinion online self exclusion works better along with installing something like gamblock but even that's not perfect.

What I want to know is how do you stop wanting to gamble? We get to the point where we understand gambling is not a good thing as we know we will ultimately always lose and end up with ever increasing financial problems but we still want to gamble from time to time (e.g. when we're bored, got some spare cash etc etc). We would all flick the switch if one existed to never gamble again but we still look at odds checker or think about gambling in an almost nostalgic way so the problem is still lurking and will reappear. I believe it's possible for anyone to give up but that it just takes a long time and a lot of effort. Self exclusion is just a tool that helps a bit and is a tiny step to truly giving up.

s1, the only way to stop wanting to gamble is by treating gambling as something that should be forbidden and never ever again allowed in your life, not even a bit.

You need to stay away from gambling as much as you can, just like you would stay away from fire or from standing in the motorway ... that's how you should treat gambling, that's the only way to stop gambling ever again. Your "Never again" should be that never again.

There is no gambling responsibly, it's a myth created by the gambling industry.

I'm really pleased it works for you, I'm pleased for anyone that finds a way to stop whatever that way may be. For me, it doesn't. Simple reason being that if I wanted to gamble I would drive any distance to have that bet, I have been known to drive for more than an hour and a half to visit betting shops and casinos in the past and self excluding form any place within that kind of radius would be almost impossible. I think it can be an aid to some people but for me I found it the least effective of various methods. I am currently 10 weeks clean and can say my motivation is quite simply to make my family proud and to stop my pain and suffering. I wish you every success.