Self exclusion form? help!

Hi.. am a machine addict too... its hell that for sure.

Am not quite sure but I think that with arcades you do literally have to walk in "all of them" and self-exclude in person ( I might be wrong). The last arcade that i excluded from he got out his ipad and we excluded me straight onto that. He then let me glance at the list of excluded faces and he said that all staff are required to look at the faces regular and imprint them on there minds. Am not sure that paper exclusions actually exist anymore. Remember... we are all disappearing into the internet whether we like it or not.

Take a friend with you and of course no money. Once it is done you will feel better. All the best

Thanks for your response, I hope it isn't individual arcades not sure I have the power to go into the 30 plus local arcades and do it. I was hoping I could pre fill out a blank and attach a picture and just hand them in and move to the next. I excluded from one last night and it was a paper copy I had to fill out but I guess each one could be different making it a nightmare for problem gamblers like us. Personally I think all gambling establishments should have to sign up to a scheme where if someone had an issue they can fill out information and self exclude from all at once. Sam

I hear you... I guess your still going to have to go to each one anyway... even if its just to hand in a form. But if it means having to stand there for a few minutes and exclude then its still worth it. Do it while you feel motivated and strong about recovery... just do what you have to do. You might just be saving yourself a bunch of money down the road.

Arcades are inherently evil places in my opinion. Designed to addict and destroy lives.

All the best to you.. S.A 

Hi Sam1987,

You sound determined, keep going! This information might be useful: 

Restricting access to Arcades

To self-exclude from Adult Gaming Centres (AGC) by visiting just one AGC or by phoning one of them.

www.bacta.org.uk/self-exclusion

http://optintoselfexclude.info/home/ has the links to self exclude from all modes of gambling 

Best wishes, Forum Admin

hi Sam1987

Make it a day or several days of pride Sam1987.

My best advice is this...dont let the logistics of forms worry you or bother you. Start going in and introduce yourself that you dont want to gamble anymore.

You dont have to give them every detail. Personally I used a different address as I want no written contact with these sharks. It wont revolve on an address if someone is likely to sneak back in...thats up to you. It helped me own the process more. They dont own all my personal details and thats the way I wanted it

Own It! You put down your Name a picture and not too much else really. You may find that just going in will create a wall of shame for them and stop you feeling like its a welcoming place

Then you talk to them...they are not your friends but you dont have to be sharp or rude...if you were a regular make sure the main staff know about it. you can be blunt with them though and dont stand for any messing around...they were pushing a drug onto you but you must try and remain calm now

Its got to be done Sam1987 but its NOT the main block so dont get too stressed about what you have to do.

The main blocks are restricting your access to ready cash and the locations the gambling dens are in. I cant go into it all now but you must not be aimlessly wandering round town.. you go with a specific purpose now and come away.

Then you discuss with close family and friends whether you are likely to sneak in or find other places. This takes more than your own willpower but self exclusions are a great start and a necessary step

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

Dear Joydivider,

Many thanks for your response,  some really great tips and keeps the motivation up to continue and beat the demons. 

Ive signed & returned SENSE forms so thats casinos out, (although never really went to them much, once a year maybe). GAMSTOP in place blocking online, also just put request in for local bingo so thats another option gone. Ive also signed up to the multi operator self exclusion scheme so book makers gone!

The one major issue is arcades, there are so many arcades and laws need to change or be made to make them sign up to a similar scheme which enables you to blanket ban from them all in local area rather than individually. Half of the arcades dont have the forms and the staff have no idea what you are talking about as not trained for told about it.  Im determined but its gonna be hard to go to each one as the logistics and time of doing so is going to be a nightmare. Thats why i wanted a blank form so i could pre-fill them out stick a picture on and just mass deliver them all, in my head going into them places again and the shame of possibly getting asked to leave will keep me away.

Going to try get a blank form from an arcade and photocopy it 30 times! wish me luck!.

Cheers

Sam

Thanks for that

They probably wont let you do that but go into the main ones first and anywhere you travel past on the way to work.

Dont let the thought of 30 arcades stress you as that will take time. Concentrate on removing access to the money and the time you spent gambling. That is easier as you cant be around town with access to your bank account... a simple fact for a recovering gambler

I must stress however that these arcades wont police their operations very well so the onus is on you to be open and discuss if you are likely to try and go in or find others. Its pointless having blocks if you just go to another one in another town.

Lets face the facts that no back street arcade with temporary minimum wage staff will be closely looking at exclusion pictures...they should do but not all of them will be bothered

There is no room for any complacency which is why I must stress that self exclusions can not be your only blocks. If someone close can manage your cash for you when it could be transferred into a savings acount and transfered back into a main account when you have a need for a petrol or shirt allowance.

You are probably thinking that is far too inconvenient but its very important you have multiple blocks and you are honest about your feelings so progress can be monitored

I nearly started gambling when I lost my gold ring ages ago so you will have bad days and temptation could arise.

Best wishes

It makes me think, that however many practical barriers we put in place, if we really want to gamble we will and therefore the most important thing to do is keep the mind in healthy place and keep focussed on the reasons why we don't wan to gamble anymore.

I admire your motivation and commitment to get to grips with your gambling.

All the best... s.a

Thank you S.A & joydivider, 

SA you are 100% correct if we want to gamble there isn't anything that can really stop us as we can always find ways around it or travel to gamble.  For me its more a mental thing, knowing ive banned myself and the shame of possibly getting asked to leave and being made to look stupid will be enough to keep me away.  I need to distract myself and keep mind focused in healthy place as you mention and remember all the c**P that gambling has put me through both mentally and draining money.   

Joydivider, my bank card is in a draw at home so i cannot withdraw multiple large sums and i carry £20 cash max.  Good on your for resisting temptation, i cant really imagine the temptation ever going away and it being there constantly. Even after 100 days previously GF the temptation was always there, guess just have to admit its a long term battle and just cut all forms from scratch cards / lottery ticket along with everything else. 

Have a good day! 

Sam1987

You shouldn't have to visit 30 arcades - you should be able to self exclude from all arcades in your area by visiting just one, or even by phoning one arcade.

find out more here:

www.bacta.org.uk/self-exclusion

Best wishes

Forum Admin 

Hi, Bacta where pretty much useless... see response below: Thats not the case each one you have to go in as when i asked about exclusion from others they all had no idea. 

Dear Sam,

In order to self-exclude yourself from an adult gaming centre, you have to physically go into one of the arcades that you frequent and complete the process with a trained member of staff at the arcade.  You will need to take in proof of identity (driving licence, passport, citizen card etc) and you will have to provide a head and shoulders photograph, or be prepared to have a photograph taken by the arcade manager. This is a very easy process and is effective immediately you sign the declaration.

In normal circumstances you will be excluded from the arcade you visit and other arcades in the locality up to 1Km.  If the radius you require goes beyond the 1km radius, speak to the operator at the arcade for advice in the first instance and it may be that they get in touch with me for further assistance.  We cannot self-exclude nationally, in exceptional circumstances you may be excluded from a larger geographical area, but we would ask that you obtain help and support that can be provided by arcade staff at the point that you request self-exclusion.  

GamCare provide further information, advice, support and free treatment for anyone affected by problem gambling and please see the link below….