Time to try again!

day 6 for me mate, although only just. Feel like I'm limping along. Back to work tommorow after 4 days off, so that will help take my mind off things. Keep it up.

Hi Granite,Sorry i didnt reply sooner,How are things?

Day 15 today for me,I have a dilemma (well its a dilemma for me but probably clear cut for others),I went into the arcade yesterday to self exclude,While i was waiting to speak to the manager to do the paperwork etc another member of staff put my membership number (which they aren't suppose to do until you are playing the machines) and "casually" said "you only need 5 more points and you can redeem them for 250 cash",Every day i go in they "give" me 5 points so in theory i only have to go in once more and they will hand me 250.

So my dilemma is do i go in once more and put 1 in the 10p machines to get the 5 points,redeem them and walk out with 250 in my hand or do i stay away?

The problem is that if i go in to try and SE again they will probably do my number and the temptation will be there to blow the full 250 but if i go in there with only 1 in my pocket (no cards etc) and know the point of that 1 is to get 250 (guaranteed rather than it being a gamble) then i can walk out

I thought about taking my partner in with me to make sure i don't gamble the 250 but we have a 3 year old son who obviously cant go in with us,

Any advice gratefully received (and please be honest) as i really am torn !

time4reform.

Free money??

For me there is no such thing as free money, I cant quite believe that you would get a bonus in cash? I thought they may give you any bonus in credit on a machine,that is how it worked when I played the slots,many moons ago I might add lol.

The alarm bell that rings in my mind is the fact you are finding excuses for your partner not being able to attend,surely there is someone you can trust to child mind for the two minutes it would take.I would personally go in and self exclude,tell them to poke there 250 bunts where the sun don't shine,because for me the equation is simple.

If I went to an arcade and was gifted 250 for a pound,I know the outcome would be I would gift them back that money and some,because that pound,those spins,spin,would set my addiction free again.

If you really want the wedge,why not go in place a quid in a machine,don't press a button and then collect this bonus without playing,then self exclude and be done with it.

You have a dilemma of the mind,addiction will love this,it will prey on the fact that free money is available,well in truth not free money,I am sure you have spent in excess of this??

I hope you can make a choice that does not see you go back at it,one your mind can live with.

To end whatever the outcome

My advice SELF EXCLUDE

For me today it is the best gift I can give to myself,I look for new bookies to open(my poison) and then self exclude,the same if my work takes me to a new area.

By doing this my mind stays strong,in control,I find it very empowering.

There is without doubt no shame in self exclusion.

I hope to see your gamble free time grow,is that worth risking for 250??

Only you can decide.

Duncs stepping forward never back

Good advice from Duncan there.

As soon as i read your post my heart sank, because it is definitely a hook to get you started again.

How much money have you spent over the years gambling? How much money will you spend over the next few years if you start gambling again?

I guarantee it will be a lot more than 250.

The gaming industry is one big parasite. The biggest. it prays on the weak and the vulnerable to keep us going back and back and back. Nothing is ever free from them. It's like the drug dealer who gives you the first fix for free to keep you hooked and coming back for more.

Sorry if i seem to be preaching here, but before i self excluded there was so many times i have tried to stop in the past and i would get emails or text alerts offering me "free" bonuses or bets and i would always think what's the harm. thousands of pounds later i see what the harm was.

I hope you continue on your path to freedom and stay positive and strong mate.

davie

Thanks for the advice Duncan and DGR - Yes i would have put more than 250 in but this could be seen as getting 250 of it back,It is definitely cash as they said it themselves,The idea of putting 1 in but not pressing the buttons would work in theory but its rarely busy enough to get away with it.

Hi time4reform,

I really have to echo what the others have said if you go in you will more tan likely spend, its a slippery slope and to put yourself in that position at such a vulnerable time in your recovery is a risky one. Obviously the choice is yours but you asked for honest opinions. If you go in and press that machine you will be starting from day 1 all over again all for 250 quid, is it really worth it?

I know the money may help in the here and now but in the long term it could have potentially devastating consequences, alls it takes is the seed to be planted to get our brains back onto that track of destruction and before you know it you have lost a lot more than 250 and are back here full of regret.

Good luck & stay strong

jess

Hi reform

I have to agree with the others yes you could walk away with 250 but be honest with yourself will you put it back on and then be in a vulnerable position to chase or can you walk away and put money in your pocket and forget gambling altogether

Good luck with the fight think can't win can't stop

Regards Suzanne xx

thanks for the advice

Quick update - going to SE tomorrow and write off the 250,its the arcades money not money im owed,i chose to put the money in the machine and i didnt do it to "earn" points,some things are more important than money

Well done Time4reform - you'll be walking with head held high tomorrow.....

ye dont really get why they give you cash , shows a little desperation on there part although dunc is spot on , keep strong and have it your way not theres

Day 18 today,I SE'd for 10 years

Day 24,Never thought i would get this far!