It all started when I was 16 working on a building site. All the older guys would go to the bookies on break time. Silly me started to go with them. It started 20p chips started winning everything was going great. Then £1 chips etc... In the end I lost everything. I was only 16 I was on £200 a week didn't go home with a penny at the end of the week. I am now 26 and have been gambling since then. I have had my ups and downs big wins big loses. It's starting to get out of hand and I can't put my family through this again. My parents think I've stopped. I can't break the news to them again it will break their hearts. I am now in 8k debt over my gambling problems lucky enough I have a descent Job it's going to take me a while but I think I can get out of this. It's took a lot to come on here and write this. But it's got to stop before it's to late ! Is there anyone else out there going through the same thing ?
Hi Billy,
Welcome to the forum, you'll find some great advice from the users on here who had similar experiences. I have a similar situation to yourself, started young (18) and started onto football which has gone onto FOBT and horses and dogs and anything that I could bet on. My parents do not know about the gambling and the debt I am in. I have close to the same amount of debt as you. I am working to pay it off slowly and I have stopped gambling as of yesterday, Day 2 at the minute. Feels great. Let me tell you there will be days where you have urges, the key is to fight back against these urges and fill your spare time with other things.
Good luck on your journey.
Hi to you both,
Very well done in realising it is time to stop. If only I had done that a long time ago. Although it may seem like the worst idea ever right now, if you were to open up and tell your parents it would make things easier. It would take a burden off your mind and also give you the chance to obtain the support you require.
I'm currently starting again and have started a diary on here as of today. Every time I may think of gambling I'm going to question myself, girlfriend and my life back or a bet? I really hope this works as it will hopefully mean the situation will sink in! Good luck both.
Thanks for that lads I hope everything goes well for you two. It's going to be hard but I got to start somewhere we can get through this tough time together !
It's day 5 I've cracked. I deposited £5 on the football I had a good feeling but normally that would of been £100. What are your thoughts on this ?
Hi Billy
Hey at least it was on a fiver, you stopped at that and that is a big step forward, but why even give that addiction a fiver, because it can make it hungry for more, well done for stopping at that, carry on and why shouldn't you, you are in recovery, you gave it a taster and then starved it today, it will hate that keep going this will make you stronger now and well done again.
Suzanne xx
Hi Billy. Sound like your just like me, maybe you'd like to have a read of my diary as I was just like you. Thought it was ok to continue gambling on things (football) that werent a problem for me. Im kinda seeing now that id be better off in the long run not gambling on anything. Although over 6 months free from fotb's im only on day 3 of complete non gambling after losing 70 quid on football bets since 31 oct.
Thanks for that guys. It wasn't just a fiver. It ended up being £270 luckily I got back £250 I'm £20 down now I think it's best I don't gamble at all !
Hi Billy,
If your reading this then please give us all an update on your situation.
Mark
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