Life With Sports Bets Only

Really close to random gambling on way home from work last night. Good memories and positive experiences were very prominent in my mind. Bit worrying.

Would love to gamble today. Not sure why but the fondness and memories of past excitement of it are just so strong at the moment. Hope this period passes quickly.

hey captain

I really hope you ride the storm and dont random gamble- you will regret it deeply if you give in! You have done so well so whatever it is you have to do to get it out of your mind do that instead.

Think of that gambling devil rubbing its hands waiting for you to succumb! tell it to f***f and get on with your day

linda x

Hay bud..

Spoke once b4'

Hope u got through today mate...

I feel ya,

Feeling bit better today, the supportive posts from a couple of members really helped.

Thinking back to 30 years ago it felt great to put £10 on a 3/1 shot to win £40. Then it subsequently became betting £10 wasn't enough so average stake became £20, then over the years £50 then up to £100. As wages increased, so did the stake. £10 to win £40 did nothing for me. The amount of winnings became so important. When you put on £50 to win £200, you then never want to win less than £200. So for an even money shot you need to bet £200. That's how it went. Not just an addiction to gamble but a need to win a certain amount to get the same thrill.

Will always wish I could have stayed with £10 bets like your average punter and just had a nice hobby out of it but it wasn't to be

Thanks for the fly by on my diary. I'm also glad to see you haven't given in to those urges. It can sure be hard, can't it?! Keep fighting, Captain!

Hey captain thanks for the post mate keep up the fight my friend 🙂

The bear

Was in the bookmakers at lunchtime, just watching a few races.

I love it in there, the atmosphere, the smell of the place, the fact that you can win or lose on a real or virtual horse race every few minutes.

I have learned to live without it, but for sure I'd rather be able to spend time in there every day. I'll get back to it one day, years down the line, after the finances are all sorted out.

Sounds sad to me captain 🙁 I hate those places misery,loss, panic , waste of a life that's how I see it more so if you have family 🙁

The bear

Yes bear I agree with all of that from the perspective of a compulsive gambler. I really wish I wasnt. I can remember the days 30 years ago when it was all low stakes and fun and good memories. I still live in hope that down the line with years of abstinence behind me I can return to that.

Thanks for the support Captain,much appreciated.

Looking back,the bookies did seem a place of fun,excitement,a social meeting place,i had many a laugh,but thats looking back with rose tinted glasses.

Im conveniently forgetting the times i had to borrow the staffs tea money to place a bet,the times i kicked bins in a rage,slammimg the front door so the glass smashed.-how embarrassing looking back.

I certainly dont miss rushing around like a loon putting bets on anything that moved,-and your could guarantee the one winner i had written out, i would have to wait for old boy in front of me to finish putting his dog bets on,only for me to miss the off!

I havent spent more than ten minutes in a bookies for more than 7 years now,gotta say they are not missed,and by what my friends say.all they are now are glorified arcades.

Bloody shame internet gambling was invented,i wouldnt be on this site now.

Hi Captain... your similar to my friend. he loves it in the bookies, even though gambling has effectively wrecked much of his life... he still goes back for more. If he had the funds he'd be quite happy to spend 3 to 4 hours a day in and out of the bookies placing his bets, watching the races and having what he calls "fun" bets on the machines. But he hasn't got the funds and never will as he gambles all his benefit money when he gets it. Sometimes he pays his bills first and sometimes he doesn't, but either way the money always goes.

I read in the literature that it takes 15 to 30 years for Cg's who gamble largely on the horses/dogs to reach a rock bottom. I reckon nowadays its quicker than that due to the Fobt's. Like Robby says bookies are becoming more like glorified arcades.

I hope you continue to be able to gamble within your self-imposed limits. Regards... S.A

Thanks SA

I was just like your friend for years other than the living on benefits bit. Sometimes I paid bills then gambled. Other times I gambled all I had and more then worried about how to pay bills etc.

15 to 30 years for CGS who gamble on horses/dogs to reach rock bottom eh - wow...well I admitted a problem 6 years ago so I hope it isnt another 9 years to reach rock bottom for me. I've never done the FOBTs so that doesnt impact me, although I've done plenty virtual racing.

I need to remember all the horrendus days of being out of control, feeling I couldnt leave the bookies, feeling trapped in there to bet for hours and lose all my money as opposed to the good times. The good memories have been too prominent in my head recently.

Captain,

Can I ask what triggered your compulsive betting I'm guessing it was the relaxing sitting in bookies having just a £5 a race and enjoying it sadly with gambling I believe you can't jump back a stage your compulsive nature will always appear it seems pretty much obvious really??good luck mate

The bear

Bear

Changes in my life which caused me more and more stress and anxiety and a job which meant long periods of inactivity meant I spent more and more time in the bookies - as an escape from stress and boredom.

When I only went to the bookies 2 or 3 times a week I only bet small amounts and won some money more often than not - because I was focused and relaxed. When I ended up going much more regular - 3 or 4 visits a day in a stressed mode, I started losing, I couldnt cope with losing, my stakes increased and my compulsive behaviour got worse and worse over the years and I borrowed and stole money to feed my addiction.

A typical scenario was winning some money at lunchtime then going back to work, finding I had nothing to do, going back out to the bookies when I should have been in work and winning some more and thinking I might as well be in the bookies winning money instead of sitting at work bored with nothing to do. Of course when I started losing instead of winning it was a different story. I got to a point at one stage where I thought all I had to do was turn up, pick a few horses and I would win, no form studying or the like. When I was relaxed I was focused and only bet after studying form in advance.

Down the line I spent all my money picking virtual horses based on numbers, names and guesses!

I am hoping at a future point in time years away with debts behind me that I can return to going 2 or 3 times a week. for me that will complete my recovery cycle - to get back to being able to gamble responsibly with small amounts in a relaxed frame of mind.