Hi all,
I have been gambling for years and I just can't stop. My life is a mess and I am just destroying it even. Had a major blow out and now have sweet fa why do i keep doing this to myself. It is crazy I don't like do it but have these urges to chase back money I will never get back. They just take take take with no remorse. Need help from someone and don't know where to go this horrible cycle. I need to change I have completely ruined my life. I am ashamed of who I have become. This horrible person I hate myself. So now I am come on here and give this a try I have self excluded these online gambling sites must be raking it in. This habit it become you and takes everything from you and it is legal. I must be clinically insane doing the same thing time and time again. Not this time I am stopping for good and that me now I have spent everything I have and have nothing to show for it but the online sites are laughing all the way to the bank. I have learnt my lesson why on earth do I it its sick I am a sick puppy who needs help. Any advice guys?
Hi, I have also joined today and have self excluded. I get what you mean about the feeling of being ashamed. I feel like its a dirty little secret. I have no advice but just wanted to say hello
These online sites are not just "raking it in" - they are making BILLIONS from people like us.
To put it into perspective: One well known and large bookies/casino website,(wont mention the name here but its blue and you all know it anyway) had an annual revenue in 2020 of £1.3 billion. Put that into perspective. How much of that is still in your bank account? or my bank account? - How many people have lost money to them, to make them get that much revenue...
I totally feel for you and empathise with you as I've also been in your shoes so many times. But you HAVE to stop now and stop giving them money. You won't ever win. You won't make back the money you've lost. Stop thinking about it because it's gone (that was/is also the hardest part for me) - The only way is to break it down into smaller amounts (any money owed in repayments, overdrafts, credit cards or whatever), set aside a small amount to save each month, and start paying back and rebuilding and growing like this.
Hi Needtostop,
Many thanks for sharing your story.
First of all, you start telling yourself, the gambling self the big NO.
There are several outcomes to the gambling urges:
1. You continue as you are, same outcome day after day and hoping to get your money back. That day never comes.
2. Let go of your money (regardless of amount) and learn your lessons.
3, Learning to say NO to the urges.
4. Replace those urges with healthy activities like walking in a park on a sunny day, listening to radio, take up running etc Anything that is going to boost your well being.
I hope this helps.
Stay safe, sane and take one day at a time.
Xoi
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.
