DAY ZERO.Â
Well its has been a long time since i came on here. thats great you might think, WRONG. last year i had my best ever stint away from FOBT's, over 9 months. i didnt cut out gambling alltogether, i played footie bets and even went to casino occasionally. My weakness has always been FOBT'S. I have self excluded in the past, has my partner keep all my cards etc and i convince myself i am ok again. Im not though. It could be a year without playing but i would still be addicted to these vile things. I even thought this april with the limit being reduced that i would be fine but alas no, i actually think it is even more addictive now due to how fast the result comes in on a spin now. I really cannot stand them and have no sympathy for anyone who loses their job at one of these bookies. Maybe i should move to Ireland or something. Away from gambling i also suffer from chronic anxiety and OCD. Great combo wouldnt you say. Anyhow after a 300 quid loss today i have handed over my cards once again. along with my ocd and anxiety gambling doesnt help. last year i still had anxiety and ocd even when i didnt play fobts but then again i didnt completly refrain from all forms of gambling which is what i should have done. i also didnt have a job this time last year and now i do. I am looking for something a bit more meaty so i am busier. Anyone else use events or issues in life as an excuse to gamble?
Hi no problem
I'm very much in the same boat as you with the fobts being a big weakness for me. Iv never had a problem online and have always stuck to a £10 a week football coupon with no problems but as soon as I'm in front of one of those machines something comes over me and its like I'm hypnotized or something and its usually hundreds of pounds later that I snap out of it.Â
Iv said as well that these new £2 limits the bookies have just found a loophole and it makes it even more addictive and with the green bar gamble it can still take £100's of pounds off you in minutes.Â
I first stopped about 6 weeks ago after another big loss and went 4 weeks without even thinking of gambling then 2 weeks ago I had a little slip and found myself in front of the machine again and still don't even know how I ended up in there as I hadn't had any urges at all. I managed to get out without losing and haven't been anywhere near since.Â
Have you tried self excluding yourself from from nearby bookies I have done it from shops near me and its a big help,I also find when I am having little urges that I come on this site and read a few stories and that seems to be a big help too
Good luck mate
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DAY 1. Thanks for the reply mate. Yes i have self excluded in the past but i just found it shifted it a few miles away to somewhere else. with these new 2 quid spins i only ever play the max 2 quid and dont bother with that green bar. I know some shops are closing and one near me already has and i am glad of that. I have stood by a machine for 4 hours in the past and no one has come and said if i was ok so i have no sympathy for the staff. I have given my partner my cards back yesterday and i will just have a small carry. Today is only day 1 after yesterdays idiotic 300 quid loss. when you are at day 1 it seems so far out of reach to have a good stint away from it. FOBTS are evil, pure evil and i dont want them s**m bag bookies have another penny off me. Im like you in terms of i dont do online gambling. Keep up the fight.Â
Hi guysÂ
sorry to here about your problemsÂ
I am going to join into the green bar of hell club also. after the last two visits I have been attracted to this system. ‘to the bookies’ I think if is ridiculous from certain bookmakers to implement this change of loosing very quickly.
I must have spinned a 100 plus numbers in a twenty minute sitting this weekend
gambling in bookies and casinos is my only opportunity these days. Online was  my thing however with the blocks in place I keep away from that area of our worlds these days
we are in the right place and we know what we are doing is wrong however the hardest part for me is keeping on the home straight and beating the addiction rather than loosing to that awful green bar of HopeÂ
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