Hi, my name is Lloyd and I'm 20 years old.
Over the past 3/4 years, I've been a compulsive gambler. I have seen it as an out to make easy money.
At first, things were perfect. I won hundreds of pounds on betting websites (lots of money for a 18 year old) and looked at gambling as an extra source of income. I then started to learn how to play poker and thought I could use my new found skills to win at local casinos and increase my income.
Today, however is the final straw. I've known for the past the year that gambling was playing an increasing factor in my life and I felt sick from it. I left the casino last night £200 down and just spent £250 online trying to reclaim those loses and unsuccessfully doing so. At this point, I'm currently in debt by £450 and am taking this stand to ensure that I renounce gambling.
This diary is simply for myself to say that I haven't gambled each day.
If any of you have any tips, even little ones, it would be much appriecated.
Cheers,
Lloyd
Day 1 for me also, we can be in this togeather. We can do it
Hi Lloyd I am a bit older & 'enjoyed' gambling for years. The worst thing I ever did was being good at it. I won on the fixed odds football & loads at online poker. Of course I was then hooked & started expecting to win. I blocked everything on 12 Feb having realised what a f**n idiot I have become. Hang in there / take help & walk away. Do NOT beat yourself up if you have a bad day. Hope this helps & good luck
Day 2 - Budget
I didn't gamble today. I have set up a budget in Excel so I can track were my expenses are going. Hopefully, after getting paid this Friday I can look to pay off at least half of my 450 pound debt. The road is long but we'll make it.
Cheers,
Lloyd
Day 3 - Self Exclusion
I didn't gamble today. I have excluded myself from all betting websites to which I have an account linked. I feel that although from a montery perspective, 450 pounds isn't a lot of debt, it felt like rock bottom for me and that this will be my motivation moving forward.
Lloyd
Day 4 - Control
I didn't gamble today. I had the biggest urge today. After watching a someone put almost 30 quid into a fruit machine without payout, I was on the verge of going over and putting a few quid in. I'm proud that I didn't.
Lloyd
Hi Lloyd. Today I have reached my 2 year anniversary of being clean from gambling. I am alot happy in my life, my bills get paid on time.
My problem was always going to Gala Bingo, spend £££ only to loose it, the only way for me to get my money back was spending more money. I was wasting money on scratch cards, betting at horses and football and getting payday loans. I was in this horrible circle. I don't know why I started, it just did. I really wanted to stop and say enough is enough. But when i was arranging my final date for a payday loan (2 years today) my mum over heard all the conversation on my phone.
I got a major rolicking of my mum. It was what I needed. My poor mum had to fork out £££££s from her savings to help me get my bills sorted out and paid. Well 2 years have gone, and i am free of gambling. Bills paid on time, the only debt i have now is paying the last bit to my mum. My husband, my mum and my Step-Dad are the only people in my life who where there for me. My Dad and Step-Mum weren't.
You can do it. GamCare has helped me alot.
Day 5 - Pay Day!
I didn't gamble today. I got paid today, yay! Nothing of note really, didn't really have any urges as I had the day off work.
Lloyd
Keep going Lloyd; day 70 or 10 weeks & I feel so much better, You will too
Keep strong Lloyd, I am on the same path as you. Pay day next week and my aim is to go every day until the pay day after, that way it will seem like i have recouped the savings that I yet again gambled. When you look back it really isn't worth it, 2 months of work to earn back a few days "fun". I think next time i will go away for a few days it will be a lot cheaper!
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
