Hi all,
Just signed up after reading through a lot of posts and thought I'd explain whats happened to me.
I'm 28 now been gambling for 11 years, must of lost over 60k in them years, all starting from a £1 bet on a roulette wheel spin and 50p accumulators too ending up on casino sites spending 500+ a time.
The problem I have is that I can go weeks without gambling and then I fancy £10/20 on a footie bet and when that comes close to winning but loses I get carried away and ends up being 300£ + on slots.
I've done everything, had a gamblock for a year, deleted loads of sites and self excluded but I always end up finding a site I've never used before, not setting limits and wasting my hard earned money or ending up in a bookies from just a walk though town.
I fancied a boxing day bet as it was my first day off that I've had chance to do absolutely nothing for ages in which I lost and then this ended up in me spending 640£ on online betting sites, the main reason I feel so down is that I had the chance 3/4 times to withdraw all the money I deposited and never did, now I'm sat in bed majorly depressed, don't want to eat or get up and keep thinking it over, I could be having a decent life now with a couple of houses, not having to work 2 jobs to have a decent income.
I was in 10k debt at the age of 20, I left university because of anxiety and depression partly to blame on gambling. I'm fortunate to have my own home on my own and still have a decent amount in the bank but everything I think of what I could have it sends shivers down my spine. My dad is giving me 20k to invest and I feel sick knowing part of that money i have wasted and feel very embarrassed and can't speak to anyone about my problem.
I know people are in much worse places than me but I have suicidal thoughts every week, when I go without gambling I feel much happier but all I want is to have a small bet and not get carried away as I find it fun and a bit of interest.
I won 4k in September of a £50 introductory bet, I went on holiday during the week I won it and ended up blowing 2.5k on the one day when there was a never ending storm and was bored in the hotel. This then eventually led to a loss of over 2k so I ended up gambling over 6k from a bet of only £50 after not gambling for 4 months during covid. I feel if I have one more episode like this then I'm going to have to take serious action as my mental health is dwindling at a rapid pace.
@nicke261 yours is a story that's been said so many times beforehand and it will continue to be said by many like you afterwards. The fact is you are summing up the life of a compulsive gambler, which means that you do not have control of your gambling. The urge is too strong and once you place the first bet you are lost to the addiction.
You write that you can't talk to anyone but in truth you won't. Why won't you talk to your dad? Why won't you talk to a gamcare adviser? Why won't you find a GA meeting and talk about your problems there?
I guess by writing on here you have made the first step towards asking for help but do you want it bad enough? Have you finally had enough of feeling like you do when you gamble?
Please let me know because however deep the hole that you are in is, I can show you the way out of it.
Chris.
Hi mate
Thanks for sharing, my life style with gambling resonates with yours. I’m now over 9 months gamble free and despite temptation of Boxing Day football, covid and other factors, I am managing to stay clear and continue with every day life as best as I can.
Like yourself, I would have £100 to start with and then turn it into 5k, you feel great and on top of the world but the greed continues and you think about making more money whether it’s to cover your losses or simply make profit, and once you start to lose its so hard to stop until your down to the last penny.
The most important thing to remember is to own up to the problem and look at your life and ask yourself if you really need to gamble? I have a great job that pays well, house, car, partner, pets, good family / friends etc... why put all of this at risk through gambling. It takes a strong person to admit the problem and put all measures in place to stop it and personally, the best thing is to do is walk away from gambling completely, my life changed for the best.
Think about the question, do you really need to gamble?
Thanks for the reply! It's good to know you've been in the same place and managed to get out of it and have a much better life.
It's the getting carried away part that I struggle with, I know 100% I can go without it for weeks/months but all it takes is one small bet and I'm in a world of trouble. I've got no financial problems, if anything they are in very good position and I can't touch a certain amount of it so I know I won't gamble it! It's the fact I know how hard I've worked for the money I waste and practically flush it down the drain that's the killer.
Last night I kept saying I'll take it at 600 then when I got to that point I said I'll take It at 550 and then 500 until it started robbing me, I changed my stake to £4 and got the bonus...I felt relieved and thought here we go I'll get some money back, instead it gave me £10 I was livid and thought it's gots to pay in which it took every penny. I couldn't wait to go to bed.
I've just changed my bank account to not allow any gambling in which has been successful for the last 4 weeks until boxing day so here's to a new start and hoping things look up in 2021.
I've had years in the past when I'd gamble every day, this year I've lost a lot less but had bigger splurges. I don't wake up every day thinking what can I bet on today to make money like I did 4/5 years ago.
Thanks for your reply I think as you said the best thing to do is to totally remove yourself from gambling that is the only way. I'll NEVER go into a bookies again and if your accounts are restricted then there is no way I can be tempted.
I'm quite shocked to see how many people are in tricky situations once I get out of this habit I hope to inspire many others ?
Hi Chris
Been gamble free for 2 weeks now and feeling so good! I've put gamblock in place, the best thing I did and wish I did it sooner.
I've now got aims and ambition, what worked for me is writing all my finances down for the year and seeing where I can be by Christmas knowing I can't gamble. Obviously a thought will always be there but with gamblock in place and high aims I can't see myself ever doing it again.
I never want to be back to where I was, I'm 30 next January and I'm standing by "life begins at 30" with good strong finances and my dark days in 20s far behind me.
Thanks for your concern Chris, you are doing a fab job on here, I hope one day I can inspire people and help people recover from their dark days of gambling and put it past them, this site is good for people to take first steps, so many people in the same situation, gambling is evil and I wish I never ever had that €2 spin on the roulette wheel 12 years ago I'd be in a different place but that is life and we have to move on and put it in the past.
Thanks again
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.
