Hello all.. I signed up to gamstop a couple of weeks ago after a realisation that enough is enough. I have been gambling for roughly 4 years. It all started after I had my little girl and my Partner would work nights. Bored and alone I always wondered about online bingo. It was fun and in control for a short while but I soon spiralled out of control moving on to playing slots etc. At first a couple of hundred was a mega win for me and I would withdraw but always end up small amounts back in which blew the winnings. Fast forward to last year when i discovered payday loans. This is where the real problem began for me. I would spend my wage gambling, then loans. You get the jist now. I had a steady income but never any money spare and I knew deep down what the problem was and how to stop but always thought I could win! long story short I racked up about 6 payday loans and 3 credit cards equalling to short of £5000. I was way out of control and my only option left was to come clean to my partner and ask for help. He was so angry and upset with me but agreed to help and I was so grateful! But even this I could never actually admit that gambling was the sole problem. Within a couple of weeks I managed to get another 4 payday loans and was still gambling. At one point I won £2000 and promised I'd withdraw and pay the loans and start afresh... (hallelujah!!) but no within half hour the money was gone. I couldn't even cry I was that annoyed with myself. So I decided to self exclude through here!
It's been about 2/3 weeks now and I feel so in control and happier! Don't get me wrong I have urges every day but I just occupy myself by cleaning or having a browse on eBay lol! I've read a couple of stories on here of people just like me. I litteraly felt so alone and ashamed with my addiction but reading on here has made me feel loads better. I have planned my finances right up until Christmas and plan to pay my loans off by then meaning I can start saving in the new year and build my credit score. Fingers crossed I continue to be strong and don't let this horrible addiction bear me again!
Don’t feel ashamed - i like you started on online bingo years ago and was enjoying just that and then i started on online slots - my downfall!! I am too embarrassed to say how much i have lost! I have eventually owned up to my friend who was very understanding and actually told me a big secret about herself that no one else knows!! She has put a passcode on my iphone so i cannot access ‘safari’ or any apps and installed ‘betfilter’ at a cost of £63.99 a year. I have also installed ‘gamban’ on my imac at a cost of £9.99 a year!! It has benn a life saviour. It is very hard and urges are strong however the means of gambling are not there now so hopefully i can get over this and get on with my life. I hope you can too . It will be hard and may take some time to pay off the loans BUT it will be worth it and you can your life back. I feel i am like jekyll and hyde - during the day i’m fine and then at night I’m totally different and these urges are strong.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
