Hi, I've been on this site before and have had great support. A little about me, my names Rich I'm 25 and been a gambling addict since the age of 9. First time I put a pound in a fruit machine was at the age of 9 and it all went from there. I guess I didn't start gambling heavily until the age of 18-19 when i started going to bingo. It got so bad then I was spending well over 250 a week: all of my wages on bingo and bandits. Anyways cut a long story short I sought help and I kicked it for 3 years.
In the last year it's gotten bad again. Over hundred pound a week spent in bingo and fruit machines. I do frequent fruit machine arcades but I have strict limits so that's not too bad but is it healthy? In my opinion no because I'm still gambling even if it is a small amount. I'm struggling to break away from bingo and fruit machines to the point I feel sick with tears and emotion because every penny I have is going on that. I so want to be like other people who don't gamble at all, Lord knows I'm sick of loosing money!
I'd love someone to reply who is maybe an ex gambler whose relapsed or somebody who is experiencing an addiction also as I feel lonely and don't know who to turn to 🙁
Hi Rich,
You'll find plenty of people on here who have had relapses, trying to kick gambling isn't always as simple as taking a decision to never gamble again. God knows, if it was I wouldn't be here.
Beating gambling has to be the right choice for you, even if you are only spending a small amount into the fruit machines, does it trigger you to want to go back and win it back? I always used to start off on small bets, 2 or 3 quid on a two or three game accumulator. However many times I've promised myself to stick to those kind of bets, it has always led to video poker and online slots that see my money disappear.
For me, gambling is only partially about losing money, but the addiction strips away so many other aspects of life. Maybe with bingo its different, but I've always sacrificed socialising, holidays, new cars and even the idea of buying a house fell by the wayside as I wouldn't be able to do that while gambling. Kicking the gambling for three years shows you are tough enough to give up. You can do it again.
All the best
Ryan
its hard pal , but it can be done , we all have relapses , well i have in the past , leedso is soooo right its not as easy as making a decision to not gamble anymore, stay strong , if you really want to stop you will get there , yes you may have slips but does not mean you wont beat it, athough dont think its ok to slip all the time as then we are maybe being too complaicent , all the best simon [ put all the blocks in place you can self exclude ect ...]
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