Winning money back then stopping?

It will never, ever work for you. It's something I've battled hard with over the last few months. I still can't accept what I have lost, it make me feel sick and is going to be difficult to accept.

I got into gambling through matched betting (I know I'm not allowed to go into more detail on here so mods edit if needed) and it was a reliable second income for me for a while before things got out of control over the last 8 months or so.

A couple of times I abstained for a while , then thought I could go back to what I used to do and use that money to pay off my debt. Sometimes it worked for a while but then the CG in me clicked in a and before long it was losses, chasing etc - the usual cycle.

I'm sorry mate, it's very, very hard to accept but you are just going to turn that 7k loss into a 10, 12 ,15 if you keep going. Maybe you are lucky and get the 3k back that you want. Then you will think - i can get it all back. Maybe you will. Then you are going to start thinking about getting into profit. At some point you will hit a loss or up the stakes, and then the chasing will begin. I know this because it's exactly what I've done/

I've learnt this the hard way - and read through others posts, no matter who you are, how intelligent you are, how good your life is we can't just bet in a sensible manner.

Good luck with it - I'd recommend getting in the chat room 8-9pm, it really helped me.

I was doing the exact same thing the past 18 months or so. I tried to win 10 a day and it did work for a while until I had a couple of bad days and before long I was doing massive bets to try and recoup my losses. Twice I got bets up of just over 2k but amazingly I was still down money!

Each time I pulled myself out of a hole I abstained for a while then started off low again but not surprisingly it doesn't be long before it spiralls out of control.

If it really was that easy to turn a small profit regularly then everybody would be at it. I doubt it has ever worked for anyone to be honest.

Hi carl - Very wise words from dot and Warren.

My simple answer to your question is: NO, NO, NO, NO!!

There is a saying on here which we use a lot:

"I cannot win because I cannot stop". You must know from your own betting habits that any amount won soon disappears in your desire to increase it. It's a trap we have all fallen into. When I started playing online slots I really thought it was a good way to achieve a steady weekly income - what a chump!

If you are serious about quitting, then there are no half-measures - it's all or nothing.

Best wishes

Joanna

Hi Carl. welcome to the Forum,

You have to change your way of thinking my friend - winning money is far worse than losing, and you should fear it more.

All it will do is make you crave more at higher stakes than before, which will lead to losing and then spending money you don't have. If you lose, then there is at least a chance you might actually stop at some point.

Your thoughts are consumed by winning, but your biggest win is in fact your biggest nightmare - all it will serve to do is drag you in deeper; you may have that initial moment of joy but it is a fake, false sensation based on a lie - that you will be able to walk away and spend that money on other things; you won't, you may spend a small amount within that (fake) initial period of jubilation, but you will always be thinking about that next amount, that next big win, which will ultimately be your downfall.

If you choose to believe anything different, then you are living your life based on something that isn't true my friend. Accept it, walk away and live your life - it isn't what you spend, it isn't what you stake, it is what it will lead to; even pennies in a penny arcade could potentially lead you onto someone more.

That's why it isn't worth it. It took me twenty years to accept that, until I stopped over five years ago - I didn't want to believe it, I didn't want to stare reality in the face, but there comes a time when you have no choice if you want any kind of future.

JamesP

Thank you everyone for all the words of wisdom- and particularly James P who strikes me as someone who puts himself out to help others constantly on this site through obvious personal experience of this crazy bad habit. I will take on all your advice and hopefully pull through- I cannot fathom me being in this mess in five years time it really doesn't bear thinking about although it is easy too understand now why so many do find it hard to escape from the hole that is compulsive gambling.

I really do want to win at least 3000 back- I have decided that I want to quit on a high- I believe I have the will power to do it- although I suspect many on here will not believe it as it is evident that many only believe in zero tolerance- I hope I can stop after withdrawing 3000 back I really need that money...

Carl... Please dont try chasing your losses, 3000 is almost impossible to win back, your stakes would have to very high and you would need an enormous amount of luck. Its more likely that you will just end up losing even more money.

I know its hard, especially when you have funds available left to gamble but you really shouldnt try chase.

And when it comes to compulsive gamblers you could never ever just finish on a high... its impossible, the next day you will be constantly remembering the "high" and you will struggle not to return to chase that feeling again. The money is irelavant, its just chasing that buzz that makes you return...

Hi Carl - you have received some great advice which I endorse but won't repeat.

You have to decide now - my guess is you will chase, maybe win but definitely end up losing more until it's all gone.

Nobody ever wins then stops which is why people are here in the first place. Personally I would take the advice but it's entirely up to you as you are the one who will have to clear up the mess you will definitely create.

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

Dave