Hi I am new here, I have added myself to Gamcare after a recent relapse after not gambling since October 2018.
My problem was betting large amounts on small odds and the more I won the more I believed I could not lose but I have since realised that anything I win goes back to the bookies at least fivefold.
I also have a big problem losing so when I do lose a bet I chase my loses and always dig a bigger hole for myself.
I did try complaining to A named high street bookies after placing £75k worth of cash bets and no one questioning me, whether I had a problem, where the money came from, etc regarding there social responsibility but got no where and then the gambling commission but I was again fogged of.
The start of my downward spiral started in September 2018 where I placed a large £11,500 bet with a debit card on a football match, (due to difficulty withdrawing large amounts of cash from my bank)so I had proof at the same high street bookies, I spoke to someone that one time from head office on the phone but they placed the bet no problem then I chased my loses and placed other debit card bets of £28’000 and lost all my families savings.
I realise that I have to take responsibility for this but I feel that the so called social responsibility in high street shops are non existent and they are making millions from problem gamblers and the watchdog has no teeth to make sure they follow the rules.
Has anyone had any luck with complaints regarding social responsibility? The reason I ended up using cash at high street bookies was due to self excluding from online bookies.
Sorry for the long winded first post.
Hi Scorpio,
Thank you for posting on the Forum today. I can see how frustrating your experiences have been so i am glad you have been able to reach out here for some support.
Well done for self excluding from online gambling, this is a great first step. It sounds like you may benefit from self excluding from the betting shops too. You can do this by looking at the website below.
It looks like you have taken some time to be able to reflect on your own gambling recently and the harm that it has caused you. You talked of a downward spiral in your post and i wanted to let you know that there is support available to you. You might want to talk more about this to one of our advisers. They can explain ways to block your access to gambling more and refer you for one to one support. This can really help you come to terms with the money that has been lost and help you move forward in a positive way.
To speak to one of our advisers you can call the helpline on 0808 8020 133 or you could use out Livechat. Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Take care,
Rebecca.
Forum Admin.
Hi Scorpio,
Thank you for posting on the Forum today. I can see how frustrating your experiences have been so i am glad you have been able to reach out here for some support.
Well done for self excluding from online gambling, this is a great first step. It sounds like you may benefit from self excluding from the betting shops too. You can do this by looking at the website below.
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It looks like you have taken some time to be able to reflect on your own gambling recently and the harm that it has caused you. You talked of a downward spiral in your post and i wanted to let you know that there is support available to you. You might want to talk more about this to one of our advisers. They can explain ways to block your access to gambling more and refer you for one to one support. This can really help you come to terms with the money that has been lost and help you move forward in a positive way.
To speak to one of our advisers you can call the helpline on 0808 8020 133 or you could use out Livechat. Both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Take care,
Rebecca.
Forum Admin.
Hi
Thanks for the reply, I am sure my local betting shops are closed just now but I will call as they will be opening after the shutdown and it makes sense to self exclude from them as well.
Hi Scorpio55,
Thanks for sharing. The shops should have certainly have done their due diligence but from my experience I have found that the shops have staff who are on bonuses for how much they take but also the main reason is it is untraceable for the gambing commission. My experience online, much to my frustration at times, is because there is a paper trail with deposits and bets. They have to be seen to be doing the right thing so automated emails are sent when stakes and deposits go in at large volumes. The shops certainly need to be clamped down on. How Can I have a £500 monthly limit with Coral yet go in to coral and put thousands on? I understand that its almost impossible as there are so many shops and you could just move towns but large bets should be questioned.
We have come a long way over the last 2 years with protection for gamblers and I do think that this will now kick on. I see shops closing rapidly as they were a dying breed before Covid and now Covid would have pretty much finished them off.
Stay strong.
James
Hi Scorpio55 and welcome.
I will jump straight in by saying those are massive bets. Who is offering you life changing odds on Man U vs the Grannies 11....the answer is nobody and thats why its called gambling.
The gambling dens are no angels so what sort of social responsibility would you expect from them? Why do you have it in your head that they would be socially responsible when a gambling drug is what they are offering.
All the risk is with you. Its all in your head about small odds. they dont offer a trickle earnings scheme or they would be out of business. You are up against huge mitigated risk funds staffed by teams of people who calculate the odds on spreadsheets. They arent risking their family savings or even their housekeeping money which is why you have this all wrong under the influence of an addiction.
You have been seeking drug highs fueled by the notion that you are going to be mr big overnight.
If you have put casual blocks on that just means you withdraw cash to gamble then they are not blocks.
You have to take responsibility and start again with the strongest of foundations. Those are mind boggling amounts of money but I know this addiction affects millionaires so Im not surprised it gets a hold on people from all walks of life.
Your focus is on blaming the gambling dens. Although its not all your fault they arent going away anytime soon with the government backing they have. Again what social responsibility do you think they have ever shown when big money and big earnings are at stake...The staff in the shops just want their monthly wage and the fund owners want to upgrade their superyachts
You need to bring this closer to home and tell people so you can be monitored with proper blocks. You need reality checks that its a mugs game and they are not actually offering an income scheme.
You have left the door wide open to gamble. You are clearly an addict. The gaps are no sign of control unless you have the strongest foundations of realising you need a lifetime of abstention.
When you start healing and after a long while you can try an help others or ask your local mp whats going on. For now you need to focus on stopping gambling. This surely must be a rock bottom moment for you and it only gets worse if you gamble again.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
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