Abstain and maintain.Stepping forward never back.

Morning diary.

ds123 I hope we can further help each other in our quest to live happy and gamble free, I was inspired by the honourable Mr.I>brown to do whatever I can to help myself and others understand the compulsion to gamble.

I am thrilled to read the enthusiasum from so many new posters and would like to see them stick around, I feel I would like to clarify thinking in my own diary as regards the FOBT, I had a terrible relationship with them, they resulted in being the sole purpose of my living, to feed them, but today I want to put my feelings across.

The fobt if regulated, restricted or made a farer way to gamble would still have absolutly no place in my life. my addiction is the compulsion to gamble, it does'nt matter what the odds are on offer, or the stake I place, the result in whatever form of gambling I partake is the same.

I CANNOT WIN BECAUSE I CANNOT STOP.

So I have made a choice, my choice to abstain from gambling, to do the best thing a compulsive gambler can do is arrest the addiction.

I believe for myself this is the only way I can enjoy life is to take away the thing that destructed my life.

So regards regulating the fobt, myself I feel this would only result in me spendingmore time to lose my money, you can buy a £10 scratchcard in your convience store at 16, gamble god only knows what online(as stated I never used this form of gambling) the value of money bares no relationship to gambling.

I would like to see the self exclusion system reviewed as if you can stop more problem gambling you would further win.

The press and the media in general have made a mockery of our addiction many times since I have arrested my addiction, my hope is through this they have not derailed many others.

I made a choice today.

To better my tomorrow, to look in the mirror and smile back, a gift the bookies stole from me one last time on 22/01/2012.

Duncs stepping forward never back.

I DID WIN BECAUSE I DID STOP.

And you will continue to win fir the rest of your days Duncs. I am confident of that!

Have a lovely weekend.

Take care

Lady Feb.

Great post Duncs...

Concerning regulation in gambling, I would say we're probably 5-10 years away from society catching up with just how big a problem this is. As everyone knows, we're bombarded with advertising / promotions - and gambling is seen as socially acceptable in this country, in much the same way cigarette smoking was promoted in the middle of the last century. But things will catch up with the industry... we CGs might seem few in number, but I am sure there are many hundreds of thousands who either do not see they have a problem, or simply don't publicise it, or know where to turn.

The FOBT debate is an interesting one. I've been helping a Cambridge PHD student with some research into problem gambling / addiction / triggers etc. The betting firms still maintain that FOBTs are not addictive(!) in themselves, and back this up through 'independent research' by neutral think-tanks. The problem is that most of these think-tanks are registered as charities, so do not have to declare where they get funding from. The unfortunate reality is that many are funded by the betting companies themselves, therefore their 'independent' viewpoint is perhaps not independent at all. How anyone can argue they're not addictive seems ridiculous!

In any case - I'm with you on this Duncs. Whether regulated or not / whether the outcome is fair or pre-determined or whatever, I cannot have a relationship with them. If it's not FOBTs, or online roulette, it will be football, horses, dogs, poker, whatever. The truth is, even when I've sensed a game is rigged or unfair, it's never stopped me ploughing hundreds and thousands of pounds into it.

I do hope government sorts the industry out, but personally I'll be having no part of it.

D123

Hi Duncs,

Great post there sir. I am in complete agreement. For me it's the same. I cannot win because I cannot stop. It took me many failures to finally accept that as my truth. It's an honor sharing this journey with you Duncs. And, thanks for that last post. I really appreciated your words and, of course I lift my mug of steaming joe in your direction. 🙂 -joan

Hi Duncs,

Great post and like others i agree, It took me years and years and thousands upon thousands to learn that lesson. I can not win, because i can not stop... So i just dont start.... Simple and very effective for me.

Inspired..

Blondie

Hi Duncan, what I want is fair play, simple no doubts, after all we are not playing 50p slots. The seduction of the near miss a win sequence, am I playing random numbers or a slot sequence, if I am playing a sequence then its legal action...

I also would like to prevent others from following my fate so would like the repeat button removed.. Transparency wouldn't it be nice if like the 49s the numbers were screened in store.

My recoverey slow and hard your an inspiration cheers going man

Hi Duncan, what I want is fair play, simple no doubts, after all we are not playing 50p slots. The seduction of the near miss a win sequence, am I playing random numbers or a slot sequence, if I am playing a sequence then its legal action...

I also would like to prevent others from following my fate so would like the repeat button removed.. Transparency wouldn't it be nice if like the 49s the numbers were screened in store.

My recoverey slow and hard your an inspiration cheers going man

Hey Duncs,

Hope your enjoying your weekend, thanks for your kind words of encouragement, always very much appreciated.

Chicagoguy

Hi duncs,your right my gambling fishing rod is in 100 bits! Lol payday y,day for me and was spent taking family out for the day and out for meal tonight not sitting hopeful that Munich win champions league. Sorry bookies ram yor bait where the sun dont shine! 😉 keep up the fantastic work mucker.

Scottyboy

Morning diary.

Well enjoying a lazy Sunday morning, yesterday i worked hard and my lovely wife enjoyed her birthday, lol another step closer to the big 40, she was gifted with lovely presents and enjoyed a glass or two of a decent claret.

So today we are enjoying a slow start to the day, each of us hanging either side of the bed as our two whippets found there way in earlier and are playing kurplunk in the middle, snoring out a lovely tune.

No leafleting today i thought i would gift pompey a day off letterbox rattling lol and two days off work to boot.

So after topping up on my resolve here on a good dose of gamcare medicine i will scrape the hounds up and walk a few miles then make myself busy in the kitchen as Sarah threatens to watch les miserable a gift from yesterday, very much not for me!! Still trying to get over the musical version of sweeny Todd!! Lol.

So i will make my excuses and let her enjoy it.

Today i won't be destructing the life i enjoy by having a punt

instead immensely proud of what i have and as a family what we achieve.

Today i also thank Steve for a great post, and am proud that so many folk from each side of the addiction are able to live better through the understanding more about this soul destroying addiction.

Together we stand.

Stepping forward never back.

Duncs compulsive gambler no bet since 23/01/2012.

Hi Duncs,

Thanks as always for being a constant source of support and encouragement. It really is much appreciated.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

Best wishes

Dave

Just a quickie, Abstain and Maintain, love that.. Have a great sunday, my anger quelling, but I know what I have to do. your a fantastic source of energy, today will be a breeze, take care Liberation not too far away

Trimless Gammon is all good Duncs, heavy on the pineapple easy on the egg. Enjoy your day you deserve it.

Steve

awesome...:) I am so glad your wife had a lovely birthday, I thought about her 🙂 x

Duncs thank you for your support, as much of a mess as I am in it the encouragement gives me a little light to aim for

Paul