Hi All
I'm 112 days GF today and I can't tell you how much happier and calmer I feel. I've got so much more time and I am no longer worried about my future, Yes, I still have debts that I need to pay off but I have already made quite a dent in them and hope to be debt free by July this year.
For me I have had a gambling problem from being a very young child spending my wages from my summer job in slot machines at the age of 13. This progressed to going to the bingo at 18 and finally I found poker and went to the casino. Over the past 50 years I've managed my gambling to a certain degree as I was restricted by the distance to the bingo hall and casino. But then I started playing online poker and had some small successes and thought that I was managing my gambling, after all I was playing a game of skill!!
But about 3 1/2 years ago my son had a win online at the slot machines and I started to play these online and also at the casino. My gambling increased to such an extent that I was gambling much more money than I could afford and eventually confessed to my OH who was very angry but helped me to deal with my debts at the time but I never fully addressed the problem and suffice to say a few months later I was in debt again.
Fast forward 18ms and I was more in debt than I was when I first confessed to my OH. I think the thing with slots is that you start to gamble more and more hoping to recoup the money you've lost only to lose more and more. I was going to the casino before and after work and lying to my OH about where I was saying that I was working late etc.
I decided that I really need to address this problem but the problem was I still wanted to play poker online as I thought that was different. I had banned myself from the online casino but not poker. However, I then posted on here and someone said that I really needed to quit poker as well which I did in the next week or so. I was given advice about blocks to put in place and this helped me immensely.
I completed the registration for gamstop and also went with a friend to a local casino and self excluded myself from there also. I can no longer go into any casino in England and nor can I access any online slots. I must say that these last 3 to 4 months have been made possible because of these blocks and also because I think that I have come to the final realisation that there is only one winner and it is not the gambler.
I have now booked a holiday to go with my family later in the year. I have much more spare time to relax and do things with my OH and family. I am now looking forward to my retirement in four years time something that I didn't think would be possible 4 months ago safe in the knowledge that I will be able to afford to retire early.
A huge well done to you.
I have a huge smile on my face reading you're post, I hope you are proud of yourself as much as I am. Very similar story with me and I'm only one day GF but I'm aiming for a full year as I have a child on the way and need to be the man who can provide for his family.
Good luck my friend and keep up the good work
Ricky
I play slots. Managed to install gamban on iPad and phone which is great, unfortunately still go into the shop to play. I am 61 and nver did this till around 5 year ago.
Just set up an account with MONZO
Well a lot has happened this last 4 weeks my daughter had a beautiful baby boy but sadly my mum died. But I still haven’t gambled and that is so important to me. 138 days gf !! I’ve been reading a few threads and you were in one of them maryp.
You can do this if you put the blocks in place. I haven’t been able to go to ga due to my job and work hours but I have a very good friend who I can talk to and who is very supportive and that helps immensely. So good luck maryp xx
It’s about 12months since I gambled on ALL sites slots....I excluded myself via gamcare and quickly discovered I could no longer access the sites. It’s GREAT...can’t believe how much my life has improved from spending thousands of pounds over  the years - being heavily in debt due to my addiction and now - money in bank and can spend when/what I want. Can’t thank GAMCARE enough!! I will never put myself in that situation again...I IMPLORE YOU PLEASE EXCLUDE YOURSELF VIA GAMCARE!!! You will never look back!
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