End of Lockdown: Let's be ready

Hi Roch 

This thread will be of big interest of me, I have all the online blocks in place and I’m super proud and happy for myself in regards to that. I do realise the hard work may start once the local bookie opens again and to be honest I’m kind of dreading that day I live in a small down where everyone knows everything and it will be embarrassing for me or at least il feel that way if I have to self exclude myself and besides this I work in a different town that I live in so there is bookies there too. I will be actively looking on this thread for tips and hints on how to do this I have time before the open again but really hope I can find something soon. 

I hope your keeping well mate and keep up your amazing work 

Stephen 

Yes excellent post. I am also fully blocked from online in the ways described (and they work) but also somewhat nervous of the bookies opening up again, temptation returning. Unfortunately for me, even the moses self-exclusions didn't work because I live in a city (many many bookies) and unless you make yourself known then its unlikely you will be challenged, unless its a local bookies and they know your face.

Part of me hopes that when they do re-open, they will be with such heavy restrictions (remember tier 3 restrictions) that it will make it pointless, especially if you are a machine gambler and tended to spend an hour or ten(!) at the machines. One suspects though that it won't be like this... which gets to my point...

I think its more to do with the self-awareness and knowing yourself and when your most vulnerable and yes continuing to appreciate the pointlessness of gambling. having said that I am a good example of someone who can talk the talk until the cows come home but then completely ignore my own self-awareness and go and do it anyway. Its not going to be easy. Old habits die hard.

For me its also about finding other stuff to look forward to. Am looking forward to running races with friends (remember those!) and socialising a bit (I had to google what socialising actually is lol). The point being that if i become trapped in my own thoughts for too long, then gambling becomes a possibility. That's my challenge. Picking up the phone when i really need to pick up the phone and not just when am in a good headspace.

Always a work in progress.

not sure i really agree with this post 

online gambling has been overtaking every physical form of gambling for years , the statistics for problem gambling during lockdown is through the roof along with the profits of the operators 

combine problem gambling with draconian lockdowns and you have big problems 

its not coming out of lockdown gambling addicts need to worry about its going back into one 

Hi, I get what you mean. Lock down has created a population that spends more and more time just sitting at home looking at a screen on a device and as society becomes even more disconnected, mental ill heath increases and addiction flourishes.

I think what the author of the post was getting at though, is that as society starts to open up again, there will be even more opportunities to gamble once again. Land based gambling venues still exists even though they are on the decline.

I agree that going back into yet another lock down would be a disaster. But coming out of lock down also has its challenges.

I agree, S.A., and also see your point, maxmahar.

On reflection, maxmahar, I believe that our addiction doesn't really 'care' about whether we are entering, or exiting, a lockdown.  There are pitfalls whether we come out of lockdown or whether we regress back into one.

Where I'm coming from is what appears to be the likelier path right now - that we're coming out of lockdown.  Let's not worry about going into another one - for now.  Let's cross one bridge at a time.

Let's pragmatically concentrate on what's likely to be happening rather than what might. 

Stephen, it strikes me that the MOSES scheme might be good for you. Living in a small town, and working in another one, means you can target which bookies etc. you can self exclude from.  I strongly recommend you doing this. Pick bookies etc. from as wide a zone as possible.  Think: where would you go if you had a weak moment? Ban yourself from wherever that is.  Make life as difficult for yourself to gamble as possible.

S.A.,  I fully understand that living/working in a big city makes pinpointing places to target almost overwhelming.  The opportunity is everywhere. This therefore requires a change of tack (although you can ban yourself from as many places as you can). I recommend cutting off your money supply; when necessarily out and about, take what you need (and small emergency contingency) and nothing more.  No cards.  Having an independent financial controller (say, a partner or other trusted friend) makes sure you can't go out, premeditated, with more funds than you need.  The more you get used to this, the easiest it will become over time.

Let's keep talking and 'brainstorming' this ... !

Yes stephen do moses mate, theres nothing wrong ith having a problem with gambling, i joined moses and i drink with the manager of the bookie i used to go in and we had a chat and now if i go to walk in they have my photo and will stop me from gambling.....  If i was an alcoholic id want a landlord stopping me having a drink or having the ability to stop me,,,,, in a way we are in a better position than alcoholics and drug addicts as we can put these blocks in place.

I gave advice last year to another stephen about being prepared for the eventual bookies opening and he was and now he is almost a year gamble free....!!!!! it can work mate

One thing thinking of advice that really helped me with bookies was not carrying any cards with me for the first year.....Id transfer all my wages after mortgage bills etc to my dad, then when i went to town id ask for some cash and carry that with me but no cards.

then the worst that could happen is i lose this cash.  I cant keep going to a cash machine on a bad day untill i cant take any more out as ive reached the three hundred pound mark that day.... That happened three r four times out of the four times i used the bookies in town.... Its really not a money making scheme.... And when i did go into the bookies i paid the bookies rent and staff salaries and didnt pay myslelf anything that month...

They are there as a business....We are not making the odds they are!!!!

Excellent post Roch and reminder to me that I am still a compulsive gambler regardless of my 258 days gamble free. 

Having never gambled online it has not tempted me although I did register with Gamstop as a precaution.

With MOSES I have self excluded from nearly 50 betting shops and in the past when I tried to gamble in them I was ordered off the premises by staff in 3 different shops and they were not my regular haunts so I do believe it is a very good idea to self exclude.

I am now in the habit of paying for everything with bank card which means I don't need to carry much money and I have a gambling block on the card for 48 hours.

I can only do so much to prevent myself from gambling and after that it is down to me.

Aum ?

This thread has certainly put the frighteners on me. 

I was feeling quite pleased with my recovery but the thought of betting shops reopening and no restrictions has made me start shaking. 

It would destroy me completely if I gambled again. 

Aum ?

Yes if anything lockdown has reinforced online gambling and those not on a proper recovery journey will simply be back gambling if their only method was physical gambling dens.

Lets not beat about the bush...Lockdown will have introduced people to gambling and created a fresh wave of addicts. Humans do not generally react well to stress and anxiety

For anyone following the tried and trusted advice payday or lockdown dates should not be too much of an issue.

Lets be frank in that I have suffered anxiety and some depression during this lockdown.  I live alone and my very being needs to get out and about meeting people and keeping friends. My job will have changed (if I still have it) and I am essentially starting an induction day when I return like a new job...there will be new managers and colleagues there..It will not be particularly pleasant starting afresh. 3 months out of my industry is a lifetime but I have not gambled and never thought about wanting to gamble.

I am firmly aware that gambling is more dangerous to me than any of that. Its the most dangerous thing that I could do.......thats the difference in a long and strong recovery.

Whats crystal to me is that even if I end up staying at my mums or claiming benefit...gambling is never the answer and simply not something i want to do...dont worry,be happy has almost become a motto because I cant change whats going on and have to ride with it.

So if anyone is worried about end of lockdowns get on the phone and start having someone protect your money. Lockdown or not these measures should be in place and there is no room for complacency.

The major thing thats changed with me is that I also monitor my own feelings and if I ever felt anything like a sneaky urge. I would be on the phone to report it and instant measures would swing into place as I have discussed with my monitors. I just know how dangerous gambling is to everyone... I dont qualify it by saying to people like me...TO EVERYONE as its designed to be highly addictive.

Keep smart, keep strong and stay aware

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

Thank you everyone for your brilliant thoughts and advice.

Adam -  You have highlighted the benefits of MOSES in that the bookies have an up-to-date photo to easily pick out out anyone trying to circumnavigate the ban.  Nothing is more humiliating than being turfed out of a bookies, or anywhere in fact. MOSES is a massive deterrent because the thought of this will deter most reasonable people, which, deep down, we are.  The fact you are social with a manager of a bookies shows that it's not "personal"; he knows not to let you in, and you know daren't even try!

You've also hit on another point.  When lockdown is wound down and bookies etc. are open again we must be careful not to leave home with a premeditated amount of money or other means to spend (e.g. cards).  If we do leave our homes with these, then we are inviting trouble.

Stephen (Aum) - I've been giving a great deal of thought to your posts and can see you are clearly concerned about this whole thing. I hope I haven't brought on these feelings; I like to think I'm confronting the truth that we need to be ready and prepared and deep down I know you know this to be the case.  I don't want this to unnecessarily faze us. As I've just written, Adam has wisely ensured that when he ventures out, whatever journey it is is undertaken with limited, but sufficient, means.

Perhaps, Stephen, as you stroll around Hull and lovely waterfront, you have £20 to spend.  An ice cream, small treats etc. but you know, and I know, £20 is an insufficient amount to gamble with.  It's just not worth it, especially with MOSES following us around...!   Therefore I would predict that you'd arrive home with £15 or more because, as we know, we only spend what we need to.  When gambling is out of the picture we are money managers par excellence.

Joydivider - as always, you are on top of this and know full well there is absolutely no room for complacency (something we are all acutely aware of).  If the releasing of lockdown triggers us in any way we need to be on to it like a flash.  

You also right allude that, when our mind, attitude and blocks are right and in place, the unfurling of lockdown should be "just another day" and nothing to fear.  Properly prepared, you are right; it should just wash over us.

Let's be ready. Keeping smart, keeping strong and staying aware - as you rightly say, Joydivider.

For the record, I will be joining MOSES tomorrow (via the 0800 number). They weren't open today. But when they are, from tomorrow (although it's a Bank Holiday; if so, then I'll do it Tuesday instead) I'll report back exactly what happened. I will ban myself from everything I can in a wide an area as I can.

I will also go out with £20 and no more. Working from home now, I  don't need to carry any more cash. There's nothing I need to buy that I can't do online and I can't gamble online.  I'll never go far and in an emergency have a mobile phone.

When I go to a pub, I will not gamble - £20 is not enough. So I won't even start. When with friends, they know about my addiction and so I wouldn't even dare.

Blocks, blocks and more blocks - the three most important things on my mind right now!

Let's keep talking ...!

Hi Roch 

This is a great thread and for me personally I’m worried about the bookies opening again as it was something I didn’t think about but I do need to have that in my recovery as if I feel I’m getting it very easy and I will come complacent which could see me slip back into my ways so I need someone to say to me about every possible angle there is to gamble and if that means worrying about bookmakers reopening then that’s just a harsh reality, I know everyone is different in recovery but I know personally I need people to be blunt with me and to myself and I’m glad this thread and forum is here for me. It’s not easy and sometimes people may get upset and what is said because not everyone is the same. 

Hi StephenM22! You've made some very good points; it is important we are honest with ourselves here on Gamcare. (In fact I'm more honest on here about my gambling and past than in my real life.). The fact we are honest here means we may at times appear more blunt, or more frank, but that's fine: we're being constructive and we need to be told, or aware.

We are all different, as you say, as that's a good thing, too.  We are all individuals, personalities hence why our approaches are different.  But with one collective goal in mind, I like to think.  To understand and manage this addiction (by manage I mean controlling it by no longer gambling).  And also to understand, appreciate and enjoy a fulfilling life outside of gambling. These are not bad aims eh!

We are collectively readying ourselves for a gradual dismantling of lockdown, as are non-gamblers too, come to think of it.

But we're putting in place extra contingencies.

Stephen (Aum) has hit upon an excellent idea, one I will be using personally.  That is, purchasing a Tesco voucher for £150.  Thus, able to leave the house with a small cash float and plenty of shopping money. *That's* what I call out-of-the-box shrewd thinking.

Let's keep talking; the more we do, the more we understand.  The more we understand, the more we recognise the futility of gambling.  And the more likely we are to manage it, by not feeling the need to gamble any more.

Definitely Roch. I couldn’t agree more to what you have said there. I’m the same I feel like I can say more on this website than in real life there’s going to be stuff said that people may feel uncomfortable with or disagree with but as you say everyone wants the end goal to be the same. I’m glad it gave me a thing to think about as it will be hard and we have to be realistic with ourselves too. The main thing is that we are all in this together and all want the same outcome and everyone who I have come across so far as been so helpful and understanding I can’t get over how easy it’s been to chat and to listen