DaveUK - New Diary

Feeling stronger than ever and to be honest since I decided to stop playing the FOBT's I have not realy given them a second thought.

I know I can't play as I cannot stop and thats pretty much it.

By by reckoning I have not played them for 4 weeks - its really quite fun not giving them anymore money.

If ony I could think of a way to get more people to see the light!

They just need to be banned completely don't they? There also needs to be far more publicity like with the dangers of smoking, drinking and taking drugs as gambling really is just as bad isn't it?

Anyway, well done for keeping those FOBT thoughts firmly away from your head and for not feeding those reverse ATMs for 4 weeks.

Keep it up!

Cheers Worried - hope all is well with you.

Reverse ATM's - I like that!!

I read this today - 'rock bottom' is the time when you realise that you have gone as low as you want to go' - I like this and even though it was no disaster for me I reached for me what was my rock bottom.

Hope all is well with you Worried - you be good to.

Dave

1 month completed - now for tomorrow.

Life is so much easier without playing FOBT roulette which is ironic because I was playing them to try and win thinking that would make life better!!

No lies, no big losses, no waiting for the card payments to debit my account a couple of days after the loss, no racing heart beat while chasing and welcome back to the ability to concentrate on the things I need to rather than clock watching until I can play again etc etc etc

I have to say I am finding it easy to stay away at the moment - probably because I just concentrate on all that is bad about them - and there is plenty to keep me going on that front !

I have finally realised there is no point ever playing them again. Even if I won it would just bring the greed in me to the surface which prompts me to try and win more which always ends the same sorry way.

Regrettably I have a personality which prevents me from stopping playing once I start - just one of those things I am afraid and after all its no big deal as regardless of whether I could stop or not we all lose in the long run - thats why the machines are there.

Life is better and is going to keep getting better.

Well done on 1 month - that is fantastic, you must be feeling brilliant!

There are plenty of bad things about them - just read everything on this forum!

We will all be much better people when we stop wasting money.

Keep it up, mate!

Cheers Worried.

My last loss was now 5 weeks ago and since taking the decision not to play FOBT roulette again I do not even give them a second thought.

Once the penny droped that 'I cant play as I can't stop' it got a whole lot easier.

I no longer see it as a failing to admit to myself of anyone who matters that I have this as part of my personality - it just one of those things I have been born with, has taken too long to accept and is costing the bookies alot of money - haha to them they are not getting a a penny more!!

Great milestone Dave, so happy for you.

My last FOBT gamble was last Sunday (not my last gamble) but they can suck someone else's notes in because they're not having mine.

In fact ironically the last time I played a FOBT one of the bookie staff saw me feeding in coins (As I had a lot on me) and said "Can you please pay straight at the cashier it takes us hours to empty the FOBTs of coins" in my head I just thought "I'll save you the trouble full stop in that case and not play on them any longer"

Still on course for those shoes then???

LOL

Keep going Dave

TC

Kim xx

come out come out where ever you are.......

Hope your ok Dave

Kim x

Hiya Kim

Apologies for the lack of posting - poor effort I know. I hope you are well.

On a more positive note I have not been anywhere near the FOBTs and have not done so for the last 52 days.

I think part of the reason I have not posted is that I have wiped them out of my mind. This said I know how the wrong feelings can come 'out of the blue' so need to remain on my guard.

I will try and do better and thanks again for all you do x x

Dave

52 days! WOW! Well done! That's fantastic!

Yes, those evil thoughts will come back to you every now and then and it's really up to you to fight them off. And you are!

Well done, mate, so good to hear such a positive story.

Keep it up!!!!

N

Still going well and reached the 2 month mark. The loss now seems like an age ago and still no temptation to return.

I cannot play the FOBT as I cannot stop.

All the best everyone.

Dave

9 weeks later and still going well.

I am still saving £1 a day in a jar so now have £63.

Taking it a day at a time is going well and made a whole lot easier from when i admitted I cannot play FOBT roulette as I cannot stop.

Best wishes all.

Dave

Well done, Dave! Imagine. It's hard to do but just £1 a day ends up at a weekend away in a year!

Thought it was time to check into my diary particularly as I had a near miss at lunchtime!

For some bizarre reason I was wandering around the shops feeling bored and had a sudden impluse to relieve my boredom by playing the roulette machine. I kept saying to myself don't do it as I know I will not be able to stop and it wil spoil the good work I have done over the past 3 months.

Anyway - I found myself at a bank machine withdrawing £100 and wandered in to the bookies.

Although there was a spare machine I kept telling myself no no no - as I stood there I saw people feeding in note after note and reaching for their backpockets to top up the machines and I thought 'if I give in I will be gutted as it will be me being the sucker feeding the £20 notes in and I will have really let myself down'.

With this in mind I left the shop and went and put the £100 back in my account.

Goodness knows where it all came from and thank goodness I did not do it.

I need to be on my guard as this could happen again - on the positive side I remain gamble free for 3 months and now have £90 in my saving jar!

Best wishes to you all.

Dave