My FOBT recovery

Hi john

well done for finding the strength to post and sharing your story , there is loads of help and support on this site firstly have a good chat to one of the gamcare advisers they can also arrange counseling for you

in my experience on here its very difficult to stop after a big win so i would quickly get that money protected , the euphoria of that win makes it want to be repeated which of course we all know doesn't happen

you have everything in life a family a wedding coming up the question is what more is there to win ? for me you have everything to lose and gambling definitely as the power to just do that

stay strong and make that right choice , i wish you all the best in your recoveru

castle2

Very true.

I have managed to stay strong and keep away from the FOBT - that is my disease the horrible FOBT.

I read the vast majority of people on here all getting suckered in by it and I cannot think of anything worse.

I still love and enjoy horse racing and im always pretty good at picking winners , but the horses always lead to the FOBT dont know why they just do.

Unfortunately for me I cannot get rid of gambling out of my life , I like playing the lottery and having a controlled flutter on the horses.

The FOBT I turn into a maniac and blow 100s at a time.

Do I need to stop completely or is it a case of me blocking the fobt and concentrating on the part of gambling I enjoy.

John whatever you do stop everything. I've quit on and off for the past 5 years. Many times I've crept back into it convincing myself I just like a sports bet or the lottery. You get worse every time you come back.

Whatever money you have won pay off any debts or give it to your partner otherwise it will be gone.

You cannot win because you cannot stop so those winnings are only borrowed from the bookies while you kid yourself you'll just have a flutter on the horses. I don't mean to sound harsh but until you truly want to no gamble at all you will never stop, or at least that was the case with me. I feel sick at the thought of it now and that is what helps me. I know I would not have been able to quit on the back of a big win so I wish you luck

John whatever you do stop everything. I've quit on and off for the past 5 years. Many times I've crept back into it convincing myself I just like a sports bet or the lottery. You get worse every time you come back.

Whatever money you have won pay off any debts or give it to your partner otherwise it will be gone.

You cannot win because you cannot stop so those winnings are only borrowed from the bookies while you kid yourself you'll just have a flutter on the horses. I don't mean to sound harsh but until you truly want to no gamble at all you will never stop, or at least that was the case with me. I feel sick at the thought of it now and that is what helps me. I know I would not have been able to quit on the back of a big win so I wish you luck

John,

First of all fantastic that you are here and that the penny dropped while you were up. I really hope that you can stay strong and avoid going back. I would echo the advise about handing your money and your access to money over now. Roulette on those machines has cost me dear over the years. It is the only form of gambling that I have really done and it is the one thing that always drags me back. I have heard it described as the *** C*****e of gambling. The rush on being down and then bouncing back is huge. Often shouting out as the money piles up. However I have been up and down and up again but I have always lost it all. Over the last 6 months I broke even at least 4 times and was once a months wages up. All the time I was thinking about the next session. I tried walking away several times but I never got past day 10. Why? Because it was my winnings or it was my chance to win more or win it all back or because I was bored / happy / sad / stressed and deserved a break. In the end it didn't matter - I had to loose a month wages to finally stop again. This pattern has repeated for years. Money lost is bad enough but it's the person I become that hate most. I lie, cheat, break promises and risk my entire family every time I go on those machines. For the first time ever I have handed over control of the finances to my wife. I can no longer gamble easily. I can still get hold of normal amounts of money but 20 on the roulette is pointless as it's not enough stake money for me - I need at least 300 to have a decent stab at it and would often have staked 1200 to win back 1300. If I can't do that then I won't bet. That's how my brain works! You know your own triggers. Please do not rely on your will power alone and do put other barriers in place. Nobody can get you to do anything that you don't want to do and you will only want to listen to certain things. All I can do is share my experiences. Well done for walking away. Now find the means to stay away!

I too have been stupidly addicted to roulette , 99% of all the money I have lost is online with debit and credit card , this game for me at least is a disease , and a disease that's easy to catch as access to it is too easy with being able to do it online . Someone I know once said to me you can loose your home while in your home , so true and how stupid I was not to stop then , but to be fair to myself then I did try but could not as at that point it had dawned on me that even if winning I can not walk away . So well done for doing so , seriously you need to listen to the last few posts . you should close and self exclude from all online sites you have used and bookies and pay off debts with your winnings and any extra put into your partners bank where you cant get it, and then keep for your wedding or even a long term isa where you cant get it , I wish I had done this many thousands ago , well done for coming on here and remember don't go back as you know if you do that money will disappear, thanks simon

The main thing for me is the fobt , I know before the fobt came along I enjoyed betting on the horses , having a flutter on the football and buying my weekly lottery ticket.

I guess different people will deal with things in different ways , I think before the reason I have failed is because I have tried to block all forms of gambling from the moment I realised the problem was there.

This time I have taken a different approach , the fobt I know I want to knock on the head all together , all blocks in place at home.

However I still watch the horses , bet on the football and play the lottery , ive realised that part of betting I actually enjoy , its the fobt that creates the problem.

I know people will say it should be all or nothing but so far ive managed to stay off the problem which is the fobt and enjoy the rest of my social gambling.

This can only go two ways , I continue to bet socially and enjoy it or one leads to the other and I go back to the fobt.

In my head I know I love the horses and that is a big enjoyment for me on a weekend to sit down and watch ive told my self one more slip on the fobt and I will lose that enjoyment I have.

Im not sure I can control it all forever one day at a time and see where it takes me

Hi John

You are exactly like me. Only problem gambling comes from FOTB's and roulette. I too am not a probkem gambler on anything other than roulette. It honestly can be done (cutting only the problem area of gambling out of your life but still gambling in certain things that have never beeen a hugh problem)

Maybe have a read of my diary?

Mark [not played roulette since 1 May 14]

Im slowly building the days on the fobt , well it's now weeks but each day without the fobt is a victory.

I like to watch the horses , football and lottery and bet on them all within my means and can control exactly what I spend without issue.

My recovery this time is to focus first on cutting the fobt completely from my life , I will keep posting but seriously think a lot of peoples downfall who try to cut out gambling try to stop too much too soon.

John

fella well done on gifting yourself the recovery which works for you.

That is without doubt one of the greatest lessons recovery has gifted me,the fact that this journey is bespoke.

each individual has to find a way that works for them,commit to it fully and reap the rewards.

I myself have to follow the route of total abstinence because that is what works for me,the bottom line is if you choose to gamble it won't affect my life,gambling will always exist,the industry is far greater than the number of folk who's lives are devastated by it,that is a statement of fact.

I believe I have learnt to live in harmony with my addiction and that has been gifted to me through in part this amazing forum.

I understand today in some regards what a former author,Captain46 used to write regarding his choice to continue gambling,I also fully understand the reaction of many,myself included regarding the interpretation that there to talk about actively gambling on a forum for gambling addiction will cause emotive responses from time to time,because for no other reason than it is a very emotive subject.

The bottom line is I accept nothing personal is meant through your thread,as was the same for captain46's

It is up to us the reader whether we choose to read it.

Again well done on finding a way that works for you

]regards duncan

I guess many are affected by slots and fixed odds machine myself included , to me they are the main cause of problem gambling , whilst I understand problem gambling exists with horses and football I firmly believe the problems are far greater in this area.

I am a complete and utter maniac with fobt yet completely the opposite with horses and football.

The fobts are designed to mess with your head and will be a huge cause of mental health issues , the clever design and mind games turns people into nasty people.

I think slowly various authorities are slowly becoming wise to the fobt and the destruction they cause , I watch the TV when the subject is raised and have to say it will only be a matter of time before something more serious is done to combat the fobt machines.

Sadly for a huge part of this country the fobt is and already will be ruining normal peoples lives.

Still playing the lottery but my biggest vise the FOBT it is now 2 weeks which is huge for me.

I know if I stay off the FOBT I can recover in my own way , there are various types of gambling and the one which is hooking us in is the FOBT.

Im just building the days , reading the stories and trying to get on with my life , ive realised I can still play the lottery and for it not to be a problem , its only when the fobt is in front of me I press self destruct.

Hi John, If you can maintain playing the lottery betting on horses etc without FOBT's then fair play to you.

However in my experience its either all or nothing.

Its like saying to an alcholic, well you can drink beer, but no whiskey!

All compuslive gambers crave higher stakes bigger wins , more risks. We might control matters for days wks, months or even yrs in exceptional circumstances, but it always ends up with same S*t hitting the fan.

I get the impression that maybe ur not at a stage to wanting to give up fully?

Im not trying to be cheeky but I've walked your road, 21 yrs plus of gambling , trying to moderate it , no online , just arcades only. no slots , just horses. Poker just, no other gambling. The list is endless but it always ended up the same way. We complusive gamblers cannot win as we cannot stop.

Take care.

Each recovery is different , the reason I am here is the FOBT everything else is within my means.

I personally think the FOBT does something to your brain mentally and consistent with the fact these machines are developed by people with a science degree it is no wonder more and more people are going cookoo because of them.

I know one thing leads to another with gambling and things need to calm down , for me my mind is set on beating the fobt , that is the only thing which takes 100s out of me in a matter of minutes , my 1 stakes on the horses are fun and within my limits and can honestly say ive never chased on the horses.

The fobt makes balls land purposely next to your number and play serious mind games with your head , I have been a foll for letting myself become addicted to such a stupid game.

All I will do is build the days , weeks , months , years and see where it takes me , nobody will ever be cured but if I can come on here for the next year knowing ive not been on the roulette that will be a huge victory in itself.