Ok a we bit history folks. I'm a 30 something male and I have worked in a betting shop for over ten years. Machines seem to be my issue ( roulette) but I do dabble in sports betting too. I have ran up a debt of nearly 50k so it's time to face my problems and tackle them.
My first step is to complete 100 days with no betting of any type and think where I need to go. For me this is a major challenge, being in a betting shop 5 days a week. So here we go day 1 bet free 31/7/14( glorious Goodwood) happy days and oh yeah an 12 hour shift!
Welcome to the forum, you are in an incredibly tough position. I use total avoidance of gambling as a way to beat my problems, and couldn't imagine having to see it for myself day in day out. I guess you need to upload a few cvs and try to find a new career. Hopefully there may be others here who have been in your position and can help.
Well a surprisingly easy start. Never tempted and I had plenty cash on me too! Just 99 days to go and a mass debt to tackle!
I think that even tho my vice in the betting shops was virtual horsesdogs on the fobts i often would often go into the shops for a simple golf or football bets and would see others playing the machines sweating and talking to themselves and this is when id be at my strongest because i could see how ridiculous they looked... You can do it even if your still in the shop!
Hello mate I too used to manage a betting shop and I think that's where my problem started. Though saying that it was only when I left that the addiction really took hold. Fair play to you for confronting your problem, and though it wont be easy having gambling in your face every day you could use it to your advantage because it will constantly remind you what can happen - we cannot win because we cannot stop.
keep posting on here it really does help.
Mark
Thanks for all the positive comments guys. Day off today and babysitting so no betting opportunity. Tonight got free time which I would normally sneak to bookies for a while. So need to he strong, I got faith in myself.
Two days done. Statuary a great day for s gambler, horses and *********( which I never miss). I feel good and I want this for my daughter's future so onward and upwards!
Brilliant! First time I ain't bet on a Saturday for years. Really starting to believe I can do this. Spoke to a cancer survivor yesterday and it really put my problems in to prospective!
Boom! No bets all weekend. What an achievement, onward and upward.
5 days done and going well. Been tempted but not bet. Excellent.
Hi Newman
Well done on 5 days nearly one whole week keep strong and keep going forwards don't look back and keep positive
Best wishes
Suzanne x
Well one week done and no bets, feel good for it. Longest I ain't bet for years. Footy season about to get under way with no bets, I might actually enjoy football again, not bothering about outcome!
Hi Newman
Have huge respect for you working as a betting shop manager and still being strong on your recovery, its amazing because at one stage when I was trying to quit gambling I thought if i got a job in a bookie then I would see all the money people were losing and not want to gamble again. Thinking back on it that was a stupid and selfish thought because in reality no one is safe from the lure of gambling and using other peoples misfortune as a tool for my own recovery is wrong. But if you can do it and still work around gambling every day then I guess the rest of us have little room for excuses. Wish you all the best mate.
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