Hi all,
I've been gamble free 4 months now and paid a good lump into my debt. In 6 months I plan to be debt free and start saving. I had over 10k debt which I've cleared in the last year. I wanted to post this just to give some of you hope. You can do this, take a day at a time and just for today I will not gamble!! I used to gamble on Tennis mainly, which I think is my trigger or seems to be anyway and with it being the Australian open starting soon I wanted to post and remind myself how far I've come and that I cant relapse now. Thankfully I have some really great friends who I met through work and they have been supporting me everyday with this addiction. If you are ever in doubt please remind yourself things can and will get better but they have to start within you. Thanks for taking the time to read, stay safe everyone!
Laura
Well done Laura, keep it going you are doing Great . its posts like your that give me daily determination to reach my targets little by little. Thank you x
That's absolutely amazing, Laura. Your will power, change of habits and debt repayment is inspirational - well done!
On the subject of tennis, I remember a few months ago, when working from home, it was a Friday night and there was an exhibition tournament on where a very experienced and high-ranked player was playing a rookie.
The odds were heavily in the experienced player's favour and I remember staking £100 to win £30. It isn't the kind of bed I usually make but my stupid brain rationalised it as 'easy money'.
Anyway, the player I backed lost the first three games, only winning one point. I couldn't understand it. Then he walked off the court and the match ended.
It turned out he had an injury and conceded. I was absolutely dumbfounded and spent a good hour checking the betting rules (which ultimately stated I lost). I was on live chat and on the phone to the bookmakers trying to get my money back (as I didn't really know why the match had stopped).
Luckily for me, they refunded me...but it's an example of how there is never any 'sure thing' in betting.
Another example is a football match between France and Luxembourg a couple of years ago where £100 would return a £1 profit if France won....and it ended 0-0.
So many people were on social media angry at losing their money. It truly is a mug's game.
@paul0121 what are your targets? Maybe I can help you to push towards these more often if I'm aware of them, support goes along way! Just like me you can to do this, one step at a time! Keep positive and stay safe!
Thank you so much, i suppose when you really hit rock bottom there's only one other way to go right. Make a change or forever willow in self pity!
I sympathise with you on this but I'm glad that I placed those bets because it just goes to show no bet is ever safe! The odds are always in the bookies favour otherwise simply they wouldn't operate. Truth be told I lost over 25k within a space of a week online sports betting with the bookies not even reaching out to me once. Let's be real as if its normal to blow 25k on gambling. They don't care about you just your money. The bottom line is you risk everything, your money, your house, your familly whatever else go gamble, what does the bookies risk? Nothing. They won't be homeless if it loses ect. Gambling pretty much destroyed my life and the truth is I just won't let it anymore. I've realised there is so much more to life than sitting in a room hiding away from everyone just to gamble my finances away and get myself into a difficult position in debt. When I last posted I was suicidal and well I hope that this post inspires people that nobody is past help and that everyone can do this but it must start with them! Have you managed to stay gamble free yourself? If so how long for?
Thanks again for your kind words!
Stay safe and remember we can do this!
Laura
Thanks for your reply Laura, at the minute 1 week without a bet would b a good starter for myself since I'm 37 and been betting since I was 16. 3 days in so nearly half way there. I have installed gamban on all devices I have access to and also taken away any access to money I can get to. I'm currently off work and have been for 4 months due to getting covid but I'm determined once I'm back to get extra work and pay off my debts like urself. My aim is to try and come on here everyday even if I don't have an urge to bet it could be to help someone else or even given myself a gentle reminder of how bad gambling it. I hope your having a good bet free wkend ??
It's great how far you've come, Laura. Your story is so vivid and I'm so glad you've turned a corner.
My gambling problem (in terms of how it manifests itself emotionally and financially) is not that bad relative to some of the other people on this forum - but I admit that it could one day become that if I don't take action.
This is my day 4, and no issues so far, though I've done 4-5 months before and then eased into it because I've become complacent. I want to get to six months and then go from there.
Well done, Paul. I really admire your positive attitude. It sets a brilliant example.
Thank you @greville
As hard as it is I have to be positive, I still have my fiancée and 2 boys so I look at that as a huge positive. I have to do this as not being able to put them to bed at night or wake up with them etc will be more heart breaking than anything and all because of gambling...no thanks. We can ALL DO THIS ????
@paul0121 - thats great news that you are 3 days in, what an achievement! You have 4 days until your at that week target and you should be as proud as I am when I read that! Are you excluded using gamstop? Or have you not taken that step yet? This step has helped me alot as all my gambling is online, it doesn't feel real and I wouldn't even bet a 5er in the bookie shop im that tight lol! It took away my main option to bet really! If you are active each day on this then I can certainly support you and push you to stay gamble free (not sure how it works exchanging phone numbers ect on this forum but again I'd be open to sharing mine to support you both)
Good that you've taken away any money you can gamble with, you most certainly can do this!
How would you describe your gambling problem? Do you believe you have control of your gambling? Are you using gamble or gamstop? Do you have support at home/close people to you that are aware of your addiction?
Hope you both enjoy a gamble free weekend ?
@greyville I meant to add 4 days is also amazing, you've got this!!
Thanks for your kind words Laura, I do have gamban that I have installed on all my devices. I have self excluded and closed down all accounts I had access to. Yes I'd be OK with sharing number so we can help other along this journey to a better living. I do get that days will b harder than other and would be great to check in ??thank you
How would you describe your gambling problem? Do you believe you have control of your gambling? Are you using gamble or gamstop? Do you have support at home/close people to you that are aware of your addiction?
Hope you both enjoy a gamble free weekend ?
Essentially, my problem is football betting. I'll routinely place a £35 bet on most days of the week. I win as much as I lose but every now and then I'll swallow a 'bad loss' (like a last-minute goal or something) and so my irrational brain believes an injustive has been done and so I must win my stake back. So I'll place another £35 bet.
Some days I may be in profit, some I may break even, some days I may lose £105.
What's worried me lately is there were two days when I spent £200 in a day. That for me is a massive red line. Fortunately for me, it hasn't had a financial impact, but I see the potential for it to do if things were too get even more out of control.
I don't use Gamstop because I'm registered with about 90 bookies (simply because I used to matched betting and I know that wouldn't work for me.
If I was inclined to bet, I'd find a way...I actually think it would make the problem worse as my irrational brain would see it as a challenge to get round it and placing a bet would seem like a victory. (However, I want to say as a disclaimer that I'm not saying that is the same for everybody. Others should 100% look into Gamstop and consider blocking access).
What is working for me is instructing my bank to block bookmaker-account deposits and also reading - and contributing to - this forum daily.
It's helping me take it much more seriously and, I'm not gonna lie, reading the stories of people who have been affected by compulsive gambling to a much greater extent than myself has put things into perspective. I don't want to go down that same path. I've learned more in the last four days than I have in years.
I haven't told friends or family and perhaps that's not a good thing, but I feel more secure with the help of the forum.
Thank you for asking, Laura, and I hope your weekend is going well.
@paul0121 - really good to hear you've self excluded - how long for may i ask?
Does your partner have access to your finances so can tell when you gamble?
Thats great, without posting private info on this forum you could email xxxxxx with your number and I can get intouch. Maybe me you and Greyville can do a 3 way support group?
@)Greyville
Il be honest that is pretty much how I started, done matched betting and lay betting to exploit promo signals of bookies too!
Truth is it only ever got deeper for me and in the end got in a hole, I cant control my impulse, its good you can walk away in a loss but agree things can spiral for you if not careful!
If your happy maybe you can share your number.ber too and we can get some sort of support going on.
Only you know if and when you want to tell friends and familly, this forum has saved my life genuinely!
Out of curiosity, how do you know enough is enough when your gambling?
Thanks again to both of you! X
Hi
Dont know if your aware but anyone has access to the forum posts even if there not signed up. I would delete your email and ask gamcare to swap the details its a lot safer
Lou
Hi Laura, I have emailed you. I hope all is well with you both ??
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