ex and would be ex-gamblers support thread

themidasman

Great post cantcope,
Gives us all hope and reminds us we are not on our own.
I cant get to GA meeting and have used Allen Cars stop gambling book which has amazed me and after 6 weeks feeling great saved few quid and not living week to week. Your post is here for me to read when/if I get the dreaded urge.
Thank you and well done.

CKgeordieinlondon

I’m not sure why this thread reappeared on the first page, but I’m very glad that it did.

I’m not in debt just yet through gambling, but I’m definitely on the brink.
I’ve read the first couple of pages and I’m planning on reading it all a couple of pages a day. I’m aware that the thread goes back a couple of years, but it’s an age old problem so I’m sure it’ll all be relevant.
Well done to those who have conquered their demons and good luck to us who are just beginning the fight

cantcope

Anyone needing support is welcome to pm me. I will always respond as soon as I see the message x
Support is key to a life without gambling

paris127

Im new to this so pleae bear with me. Im 61 year old female. Started online gambling 4years ago with 5pounds. Lost our home have debt feelin very sucidal cant think straight.i have cancelled my gambling accs and blocked my pc. Today I coul not function. Have 10k of debt and im lost.im a nurse have worked hard nd blew everhing in 4years

paris127

I need help please.

cantcope

You are not alone. It is so easy to fall into a chasing what you've lost trap.
i too was an online gambler and lost everything and racked up debt.
I couldnt stop on my own, the urge was just way too strong to try and win back what i'd lost. I strongly advise getting to a GA meeting if you can. no excuses x they are on every evening, even daytimes at weekends xx
feel free to pm me if you wish. i will send you my email address too in case i'm not on the site x

cantcope

Nice post Ginger.Ice.

Throughg oignt o GA i lost the thought of those little flutters or a night at bingo when they asked....if you won big what would you do? well i'd gamble it probably as if i suddenly appeared with loads of money everyone would know there was only one way i could have got it...
i cant bear the shame again after so long and after so much help and support.
be strong, you CAN be in control of your life. Each day, when you wake, tell yourself that today you will be happy and you will NOT gamble.
you have a choice now

kendall17

Evening all,

Nice to see this thread and reading some stories - i'll share mine.

First started when my (then) 18 year old mates were going in bookies to do the odd football bet. I was 16/17 at the time and going in, no questions asked about age. Think it was around the time betting became popular amongst younger adults.

I always swore i'd never go on the FOBTs, odd football/horse bet here and there but never touch the FOBTs. I was about 6 weeks of visiting the local Coral for the odd bet that I had my dreaded first spin. Loose change, nothing massive but safe to say I lost. It slowly grew from there, odd fiver & tenner. I had an average paying job, living with parents and at the time very little responsibilities beyond my phone bill & board. It grew and grew, £30 a time then £50, I did know my limits around that time. I used to get 2 buses home from my job, I had the option of 2 routes, either way the 1st bus dropped me off bang outside 2 bookies and it would always result in going "for a spin". There were times in the evening where i'd be betting on nothing. Virtual dogs/horses. Sports I didn't know much about, killing time and boredom.

I then got my car, made getting to bookies easy. Plenty of bookies within 5minutes drive. Obviously a little more responsibility. Always a bookies where ever I was passing or on a night when I was bored.It was then I was always leaving myself short, losing money I coulnd't really afford to lose. It got to the point where I put my money in and asked for the machines to be put on demo for me to play.

I was about 20/21 when the realisation hit. I had settled down, forced (loosely) to rent a property with my OH. We were sharing the bills and I knew I had to tighten things up. The OH knew I was in the bookies a lot, but not realising how much I was losing. I did a couple of £100 loses (not much compared to some, but enough in my circs.) and came clean about it. I was told that if i lost that much again I'd be on my own. I did well for the first few weeks but I slipped. £150 loss. I owned up to my Mum and had a good cry about my situation. I owned up to my OH, who (thankfully vowed to help me). It never resulted in me being in debt but could so easily have been worse.

To this day (now 24) I haven't had a bet since, got the self exclude forms prepared but never submitted them with the price of passport photos! The temptation is still there (slightly) but I have been immensly proud of how far I have come.

I now work helping people whose situation has resulted in being in debt.

jellybaby_1969

Hi my name is John and have always enjoyed fruit machines until the local arcades stocked the £500 units and bookies with their FOBT's.....I work hard 6 days a week and would spend my midweek day off visiting these establishments....often spending up to £1000. I have now racked up 21k debt (2k on 0% cc and 19k on a personal loans @ 8%Apr) I earn between 30-40k a year mortgage free n the only other outgoings I have are the usual household bills. My debt is 450 a month which is manageable and will be cleared in 5 years and currently have 4k stashed away n my salary to be paid at end of month. I searched google to find a forum n found this !! Reading the various posts has helped me see the light and got me focused as I know that my habit is at risk of spiralling. I wish the government would ban the FOBT they are like crack cocaine...the games are hyper addictive chasing the lucrative free spins features for the possible jackpot !!
I have let myself down and my unknowing partner....haven't played this week and will now be more constructive with my day off maybe socialise more with a cpl of guys who take the same day off or spend more time with my dogs and being at home waiting on my partner finishing work.
My habit is the FOBT n £500 fruit machines...high risk. I don't bet on sports n surprisingly have no interest on the online gaming.
I hope to keep clean n manage the urge...I am off on hols in November 2 weeks away will do me some good. I am determined to quit n hope I can help n support anyone else...I may also need that too !!

Superted85

As yet I've not even told my wife of my debt issues and to make matters worse we are expecting our first child in December.


I really don't know where to go from here and I'm so scared of what the future holds.


Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.[/QUOTE]

I would suggest you be open with your other half. I have been there and know what a huge burden it is to hide such a secret. The longer you keep it from her, it will affect your relationship in a million ways because the problem just erodes at your sense of self.