FOBT stake cut to £2 - at long last!

Hi guys

Weekend almost over and doesn't it feel good not to gamble, no stress, anxiety, anger or feeling of helplessness. Wouldn't it be nice if this time next week we were in the same boat as today.

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

thanks again for the post on my diary. Well done on getting through another weekend gamble free. It is really nice not have have the lies and stresses of gambling, hopefully this will make the urges easier to deal with in time as gambling becomes less attractive over the gamble free life.

Keep up the good work

James

Hi all

Yes James it is nice not to lie to our loved ones about our problems, the endless hours I have wasted after a big loss, shifting money from one account to another, going into town to the bank and getting a print out of the statement so my destructive behaviour won't show on the statement we get through the door, etc, etc.

Oh yes, I have done it all.

Shaun

Hi Sha999

Best wishes for your gamble free 2018 & hopefully gamble free life. Looking at your earlier post about FOBT machines. I personelly never played them. Horse racing & virual was my downfall, however I always got to see the people playing them. A lot of anger, deperation and stupidity is what I saw in their faces, very rare to see a smile.

Matt

Hi all

Weekend is almost upon us, let's all collectively make a promise to ourselves that we are not going to gamble for the whole weekend for the sake of our loved ones.

Shaun

Amen to that Shaun. Hows your week been?

Hi Shaun,

Well done on getting to the two week mark! Keep on posting and keep fighting this awful addiction. Hopefully as times passes, the urges will become less and less.

f*** the FOBTs

James

Hi guys

Funny, over the weekend there was a rumour that the stake will be cut on FOBT's to £2. On Monday l*******s, w**********l etc saw £300 million wiped off their shares. Forcing Ladbroke to issue a statement saying that the stake reduction of £2 was just a rumour.

The bookmakers also stated that if there was a stake cut then we may go to litigation as hundreds of shops will close. They are desperate for the status quo to remain on FOBT's, this just tells me that they see us as mug punters and the FOBT's as cash cows!

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

Thanks again for the post on my diary. Good news regarding the FOBTs and really hope that it goes through. I love nothing more than a bookies closing down. To see loads of them closing on a high street would be amazing.

Keep up the fight

James

Hi guys

The start of another gamble free week for all of us.

All good and positive from me, found a way of winning at the bookmakers and it works 100% every time guaranteed. How, simple, just don't go in!

Shaun

Hi diary

Everyday not gambling is a victory for all of us and our famalies. So much more we can do with our money and not forgetting how better we feel mentally.

When we get urges, just motivate ourselves by thinking about the moment after a big loss, losing hundreds/thousands and finding we haven't got the money for a Big Mac. Going home and biting the heads of those that dearly love us over trivial things. Not forgetting that horrible feeling of laying in our beds at night and the pain feeling like somebody is slashing us, waking up multiple times and thinking 'why did I do it'. The next few days walking around like zombies, the list could go on and on, feel free to add anything you like.

A bit strong but if it helps us, why not.

Shaun

Hi Shaun

Can relate to all those feelings as most on here will. It is an awful feeling of desperation, disappointment and sadness when we come to the end of a gambling binge, feelings I don’t miss in the slightest.

That is why we need to stay strong, for our loved ones, and our own sanity and self respect.

Each day GF is a victory for us and a loss for the bookies - win win!

Hi Diary,

All good, don't want to gamble because I don't want to risk having that horrible, horrendous feeling after a loss. Bookies aren't having my money, no way.

One day at a time and everything will fall into place.

Shaun

Hi all

Days mounting up of no gambling for me, only 31, baby steps but one day at a time.

Today, I will not gamble.

Shaun

Hi Shuan

Well done on getting through 31 days gamble free. Just keep on your guard and don't let any silly little urges get the better of you. This nearly happened to me this week and was a reminder how easy it is to get tempted by an urge to gamble.

Keep up the good work, you're doing really well!

James