Cognitive regret

Absolutely! They develop the machines in particular to take your money on a curve. Sharp or smooth its all an earner for them. They are designed to give the illusion of activity and bank on the fact that it creates problem gamblers

The machine developers spend loads make sure they get everything right for maximum addiction.The very sad  fact is they are getting better at development and advertising

To put it simply they are pushing a drug addiction and doing everything possible to ensure punters ignore reality and ignore the risk.

Thats why there are so many games....one will grab you. hook you and take you out of your mind....quickly and easily!

Its actually the biggest scandal of modern times. A Lie!..the emperors new clothes and I only understand it as legal because the government are in on the take.

If there was no tax on it, it just wouldnt be legal. It is the acceptable face of addiction to people who are supposed to protect you from legalised scams..

The RTP is effectively MEANINGLESS per session and the small amounts few gamblers are really bothered with make up part of it.

If I showed people the real table of odds it should be a massive reality check. It starts at around 1 in 10 on the smallest amounts. even on lower odds you would be stuffed....Oh it could be you but just like the lottery its a random number generator and you could be stood there for infinity pushing a button

Like countless others I was hooked like a zombie for it. When I started to realise it was a drug and not the money it made sense and I was able to do the recovery

The tragedy is that addicts dont wake up until its too late or almost too late for any easy recovery.

Scandalous! Wake up everyone!

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

I have not been writing for a while as I don't feel that I have anything to contribute atm. I have been reading some of the posts and it is clear that this illness is growing like the virus. There are more and more seeking help.

Reflection today is this. Is it possible that the gambling addiction we carry become irreparable damage for some?

Because if so, people have a real chance of getting back at the industry. The general rule for anyone who wants to take them on in court is that we need to show that there has been irreparable damage done and they knew about it. They will talk about the free will of man and that you can not prove that they knew that their products created lasting damage but the more time goes by and the more I see peoples histories I am more convinced than ever that for some repeat gamblers they are permanently damaged because they keep on coming back for more.

This should be really be looked at by admins here and other experts because if they can just prove a few cases they will open up the door for people to seek damages from the industry and that is something very few people even try to do.

Stay strong and don't ever give up!

Hi c43h

I agree with the fact that gambling for long periods affects your mental health. There is also argument for addiction being an illness, so which came first?

Did you have a unknown mental health condition before you started gambling? Gambling is often described as self medication.

Look at the case that is making headlines. An addict. Viewed by everyone as a loser. No one sees the illness.

Gambling is designed to deceive you, to become addicted. Natural instinct is when you lose, your desire is to win it back. Starting with the pea under the cup.

The gambling industry is corrupt. They make so much money . They are immoral. They have no interest in the common man. The government supports them because they make so much money from them.

What really needs input and support is mental health.

I am the wife of a compulsive gambler, I have and probably still am, co-dependent and enabler. 
Very few understand that statement. 
I have my own ‘issues’. Addicted to the addict?

Acceptance. Choices. Self awareness.

Many of us are severely damaged by the gambling industry directly or indirectly. Proof?

I think looking after yourself and recovery is priority. It’s like that first bet, you’re never going to win, you’ve got too much to lose.

I do think they are accountable, but they will never admit it.

Here are some thoughts of the day.

Wanting change or making a change. There is a big difference. If you don't do anything about your situation nothing will happen with it.

Jim Rohn " For things to change you have to change. For things to get better, you have to get better. Direction determines destination"

If you are stuck in a mind loop. Change the record. We tend to think about exactly the same things as we always think about. The only way to change is to put on another record and force yourself to think differently.

Gambling and chasing losses is like speculating in your emotions. Money is unimportant. If you think otherwise you are to involved in money and need to distance yourself from it so you know what it is you are chasing. Most of us have emotional issues. Find out what that is then you can realise how to deal with it.

The big loss or losses is normally a lesson taught by life so you can grow. Figure out your lesson so you know what to study and what you need to get better at.

Finally. All of this is self-made.  All the chaos pain hurt history self-loathing cheating, stealing etc. 

If you can create it you can get out of it.  However hard you think that you can not you absolutely can.

Start with a small change. Then another then another. You will see that your tomorrow will be completely different than today!

Stay strong and stay safe!

Very true 

Thanks for the advice 

Wise words. Very insightful. 

I am a tech nerd so I need to ask this. Would you trust an app or a computer program to help you in your recovery? The reason I am asking is that if don´t trust yourself with your own recovery could you or would you trust an app for example to do the job for you? We put a lot of our energy and attention into our mobile phones so we do not have to think properly so the question is legitimate and I am pretty sure there will be some kind of tools for recovery out there soon.

Thanks for reading.

Tools are there to help us, they won’t cure us.  We personally are the only ones that can help ourselves. 

Trust an app to do what?? You can have a million exercise apps on your phone but if you do no exercise you will not get fit. There is GamStop which self excludes us from online sites, adn GamBan which can stop us s***g gambling products on our devices. As the poster already said these are just tools to aid our recovery.

Hello everyone

I dont know...will there though? What sort of app to do what?

Ive got no problem with people using apps to keep a routine. I worry that a lot of apps seem very shallow in my opinion...maybe thats just me

For example do we really need an app to tell us how to save money?...maybe some people do and if it helps good on them. Ive just never found a use for a lot of apps...maybe Im not part of the app generation.

Having said that I use messenger, planday for work, google translate online banking, this forum and a lot of sites on the computer to keep myself entertained and informed....good apps LOL

I worry when people seem to solely rely on banning software and I would worry if somebody thought a couple of apps on their phone is all they need.

They can be tools when the foundations are in place but I feel it takes  a lot of communication, building relationships on honesty, humility and learning about the addiction....people rather than apps...am I wrong?

Then again if apps help build hobbies and confidence up its surely a good thing.

I dont know exactly what you mean and Im not sure how a  specific gambling recovery app would work.

If someone has been using their computer or phone to gamble is probably best they put their phones away and go and do something away from a screen.

Come up with an idea for an app and lets talk about it

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

Thank you for the responses.

There is a very small percentage of us that seek active help. The ones that don't seek help are still on the slots or placing bets somewhere. But they may need help as well. What if one could have like a personal assistant app that would remind you frequently through earphones and tell you bluntly to pack it in and go home or It will auto call your other half and tell them what the heck your up to? I know I am simplifying it but basically, a tool that says if you listen to my voice and get out when I tell you to you will be better off than if you tried it on your own.  That was the rough idea.  Yes, I know all about being zoned out of your mind until the money is out of your pocket but some people are very distressed about their own lack of control. Could one give that trust to a program and act on that? Tricky question but it should be discussed.

Thanks for reading.

Yeah I see what you are getting at but I wouldnt tell the partner of a recovering addict to rely on any app like location services or warning messages because there are ways round it.

What would work there is a loved one calling....no answer or something strange they can assume you are gambling...the mobile telephone app has already been invented. Having to report in regularly would be a bigger deterrent than any app I can think off

Human monitoring is best as it develops a sixth sense backed up with evidence and receipts.

I dont think many active gamblers or relapsing gambler would listen to app reminders or a daily app diary. When I was gambling my phone could have been going beserk in my pocket with warnings but I would have just switched it off or walked out and switched it off before finding another place to gamble...human monitoring would keep my phone on but I was already in recovery when I had human monitoring so didnt seek an app

Maybe the bookies should have to scan the phone for an app that says this person allowed or should not be gambling That would only work with a person committed to recovery and I should be blocked in the gambling dens anyway.

In id card and signing in would be better but the gambling dens wont do that

There may be an app that would help but I really cant think of what it might be.. Im not keen on daily diaries or reminders. I had some very strong measures in place and was living on a small food an utility allowance. I knew what I had to do and I was finally strong enough to report any failures.

I can only think of location warning apps that phone somebody but I cant see them being a reliable deterrent that wont be bypassed

All the best

Use gamban or other blockers. You can have it on mobiles and computers. You should have them because it gets you peace of mind to do something else with your time. The little devil on your shoulder will never tell you to quit. That is up to you. When you have made up your mind having a blocker between you and gambling is not a bad thing.

Have a good day!

I agree 

Without blocks I would have defo relapsed today

I find gamstop is another useful one