Life With Sports Bets Only

Captain what you say is so true - these 'face' are not friends. I made the mistake of thinking i was losing a lot of my friends at the start but soon realised all we knew about each other was in relation to punting. I did work in the game aswell and so considered many of my colleagues friends but again after I chucked it and met up agin with these folk we suddenly had nothing to talk about and it was so awkward. We couldnt relive yesterdays racing and talk about cr** rides by x,y or z. We couldnt say oh he stopped that one or listen to the value I got - 12s a winner returned 9/2. Suddenly there was nothing left. In fact - i wondered had there ever really been anything there to start with.

Great point huni - u remember that and keep punting safely.

Eyes X

Saturday night - first time I have put a 2nd post on my diary in the same day but its necessary.

Had some winnings to collect from my football bet so go to bookies around 6 tonight. I am advised that I need to wait 10 mins.

There is a south african race from Greyville about to start. I cant help looking at the form. The favourite at 6/4 looks a cert. I dont bet it. I watch the race. It wins.

I look over to the counter - the girl indicates 5 mins before I get my money.

There is a dog race from Newcastle. I check the form. The Racing Post Nap is running in Trap 1. This just has to win. I resist betting it. I remind myself I now do advance sports bets only. I watch the race. It wins at 7/4.

The girl skips out from behind the counter with my winnings. I thank her, take the money and walk out. I feel like I have lost because I didnt bet the horse and the dog.

I spend time thinking about this after I get home. Have I 'won' by not betting or have I lost? I know it would have been the start of the slippery slope of random gambling again and although I would have won tonight I would have lost it again at some point.

I repeat to myself 'You bet advance sports bets only now'

Evening Captain,

Well done mate. Not backing the favourites at Greyville and on the dogs was a really positive decision. They may have won this time but you do not need me to tell you that back favourites on South African racing and the dogs is a sure fire fast track to financial ruin.

There are thousands upon thousands of people who are able to have a disciplined bet every weekend mate. I see no reason why you cannot be one of these people my friend.

Well done on making your betting pay this weekend. Do not go giving the bookies any money back.

Morning C,

Isn't it always the case that if we don't have money on something it always wins. I remember watching someone put a quid in a machine and one spin and the £500 jackpot came in straight away...and of course...I was just about to go on that machine! It's faulty thinking. You came home a winner yesterday C...it's good to think you can still enjoy a controlled bet....I personally can't but that doesn't mean that you aren't able to. Perhaps if you have to wait for your winnings again you should stand outside...just a thought as it may just be the case that one day your resolve isn't as strong and you go with the gambling Gods. "Money Can't Buy Me Love"

Try to have a relax and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Jas x

Firstly Captain,very well done on resisting the urge to have a random bet when collecting your money yesterday,as you know i do have concerns that you are putting yourself in an environment that could be very dangerous for you in a moment of weakness.....,so i will give you a little food for thought,firstly Newcastle and Sunderland Greyhound tracks are both owned by Wi**iam H**l,the leading contract trainer at both those tracks took them to court a couple of years back as he had lost £2 million betting with them whilst self excluded,his case was based partially around the fact that they would not allow him to place any greyhound bets on his accounts,and this led him to randomly become compulsive in his betting on other sports....,he lost his case in the high court.Hope you see my point Captain,the b****rds will have you over any way they can.

Seano.

"Money Can't Buy Me Love" - Blackstreet.

Go Jas, Go Jas ha ha

Hope you are enjoying your boring Sunday C......"This Modern Love"

Jas 😉 xx

"This modern Love"....Bloc Party...hee hee

Jas x

Hey Captain. Well done on avoiding the random gambling. You seem to have great awareness about your gambling. You are right about what would have happened if you backe that Dog and horse. You would have kept going until you lost the winnings and more. I am scared of the Golf even though I missed a winner this week. I have won more and lost more on golf than anything else. There was a 6 week period when I won large amounts every week on it. Believed I was invincible. Then spent 7 weeks tracking Tiger Woods always finding a reason not to back him. He won 7 in a row! Then Finally when I felt the time was right I put A huge amt on him to win midway through the 2nd round. He lost and I was SICK. I was never more confident of a winner in my life. Have never got back on track with golf since then. About 6 months earlier I put €330 on Andres Romero at 28/1 with the last money I had and he won. Lived it up in Turkey for amonth. So there's been some serious highs and lows. I think we are the only ones attempting controled gambling. Nice to know I'm not alone! Stay well

Monday - Payday

I go to the bank and withdraw money to pay the necessary. I come out and see the ********* manager. He waves to me. I wave back. He must be wondering where I've been for the last 3 weeks.

I am DESPERATE to have a random bet. I long for the buzz of a horse or greyhound running and having the chance of winning a few hundred quid at lunchtime.

I go and pay what needs to be paid. I have rarely done this - usually I would go to the bookies and then go and pay things in the hope that I am paying with winnings. Sometimes I would lose and not pay what I should and then be running behind with payments.

I get back to work. God that has been difficult. I have a really strong urge. I think all afternoon about the thrill and buzz of a random bet after work.

I leave work. It takes all my energy to drive past the first bookmakers. I get to the 2nd one. I go in. I somehow manage to go in, pick up a midweek football coupon and come out unscathed.

I am home. I am still desperate for a random bet. How will I cope tomorrow? The urge has returned stronger than I thought it would.

Hi Captain

Stick with it kid.

Thanks for your post on my diary and to answer your question.How do i watch racing or sports without a bet.

Well Im a person who needs to keep occupied all the time or the boredom gets to me.The golf,darts ,drinking etc ive always done even during my gambling.My life probably consisted of 75%gambling 20% drinking and 5%my hobbies(sometimes i slept lol).What i find myself doing now is exactly the same things only to a different ratio.I watch the racing as i always did but without the bet.Inow tend to watch the race as a whole instead of just tracking my selection.

To be honest i do miss the adrenelin rush of my horse coming to win the race (on very rare occasions),but i dont miss the bout of depression after i lose.I suppose m8 its for 2 reasons 1. boredom and 2.habbit.

Anyway captain you seem to be doing really well keeping away from random betting keep it up.All the best Jeff.

I am worried about you C. Those urges are painful and they can pile on so much pressure that you just crumble.

As you are choosing to gamble in a controlled way I can't suggest you self exclude from your usual haunts. I suppose, if you do *** and have a random gamble you have answered the question about the possibility of controlled gambling.

Stick with it my friend. "Addicted to Love"

Jas xx

I re-read my post and wondered why a word I used had been ****

Can you guess what it was?

Hi Captain,

Thanks for the post re my job,i'm well chuffed mate......,now then i'm concerned for you Captain,i fully understand how your feeling,i have been there a million times,that's why i decided to quit totally,perhaps you need to have a little re-think?,find another way to have a controlled bet on the football....the last thing you want to do is undo the good work of the last few weeks?.You know what the random betting would lead to,as compulsive gamblers we are by nature very restless souls,it's tough but you can do it,you will be very much in my thoughts.

Seano

I think you were in the firing line in chat.

Keep going with your recovery C and keep up the support of others...me included.

"Your Love is King"

Jas xx

(the word was c r a c k) perhaps it's because it's a drugs reference.

Hi Captain, I got your message on my post. Listern Captain i dont think iv said anything wrong to you. I was just chatting same as the way you were chatting 2 me. I know it was harsh at times, but iv got no hard feelings against you. I think your a good man and you just tryin 2 support me and others with this illness.

All The Best