I hope you don't mind me posting this here.

Graham_Devon

Well I'd be lying if I said I didnt stop for a second and think 'could I make more' but, that was all of 3 seconds, and then couldnt wait to hit the withdraw button.

For me, gambling cost me a girlfriend who I loved dearly and honestly would have done anything for, 2 year relationship down the drain, had to sell my car, which was my hobby and passion and spent a year working for solid before the gambling (and selling the car for 6k meant I could gamble for another 3-4 months, it got that bad), lost the respect of my parents, which I now, thankfully have got back, made me ill with the money worries etc.

It's a downward spiral, gambling was a hobby, but the girlfriend had said she will leave if I don't actually spend some time with her and stop the gambling, she meant what she said and know it broke her heart too, so that, at the time, just gave me more time to gamble, she never knew how much she actually meant to me. Then money worries hit, so you think, gotta win it back, and it get's worse. Lost 3 stone (which actually wasn't such a bad thing! lol!).

One day I decided to just stop, that was my lightbulb moment.

So looking back at all that....and basically if I'm honest, thinking of the girlfriend I lost, stops me gambling every time I ever think about it, which get's less and less.

These temptation offers should be stopped for high losers really, but for others, who can handle it, as I can now, it proves very profitable, especially the 4 casino's who do it monthly (deposit, they match and you can instantly take your deposit back and play the match bonus over, lucky fi you do win though).

Theres a thin line between control and loss of control, once you've lost it, with gambling so easy to do now in a darkened room armed with a credit card, its a big downward spiral. Hard for those who have never been in it to actually see why. Same as drink, smoking, drugs though I would think.

I've also scrimped and saved about £220 this month to hit the CC's with, before the win earlier. So thats gonna take me under the 10k mark! Woohoo! 4 figures!!

Bambywamby

Well done for giving the parasites a little of their own back...however being an ex-gambler also..are you going to close down your betting account?

While it is open there is always the temptation. If i was you I would get your ill gotten gains withdrawn and then kiss the betting sites & bookies a final goodbye.

Well done again tho:T

Bams x.x

Graham_Devon

As soon as it hits the card, the account is closed!!!

jobbingmusician

Graham_Devon wrote:

I need to wait until the money has hit my credit card before closing. They have this silly rule where if I terminate my account, they will put the money you deposited back onto your card, and keep the winnings.

Does anyone else think this is really wicked? :mad: It's enough to put me off betting by itself, seeing what sharks they are!!!!!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

Imelda

Well done Graham_Devon!

It is good to see that there is a way out of a gambling addiction, it is just a shame that you have had to lose so much in order to have your light-bulb moment.

How about the ex? are you still in touch? do you think there is a chance of a reconciliation now that you have turned a corner? Could be a better reward than winning on a betting site......

Graham_Devon

Imelda wrote:

Well done Graham_Devon!

It is good to see that there is a way out of a gambling addiction, it is just a shame that you have had to lose so much in order to have your light-bulb moment.

How about the ex? are you still in touch? do you think there is a chance of a reconciliation now that you have turned a corner? Could be a better reward than winning on a betting site......

I've tried that! And no, she's changed anyway. Got in with the wrong crowd.

Epiphone

Am I missing something here? the OP got ito a lot of debt for gambling, had a light bulb moment and is now gambling again.

Why is everyone saying "well done"?

tsharp

Cos he made sh!tloads of money off them, then used that to pay off a chunk of his debt, then is closing his account down. Simple.

Graham_Devon

Epiphone wrote:

Am I missing something here? the OP got ito a lot of debt for gambling, had a light bulb moment and is now gambling again.

Why is everyone saying "well done"?

Gambled once using their 'temptation' money they deposited.

£200 they put into my account, all I had to do was play through twice, in effect, play £400 and then could take the winnings. Normally I do lose (thats how hard gambling can be, especially when I was pretty sure, you couldnt win with that temptation money...hence why I whacked it up to max to just play it and see).

I'm not gambling again with any of my own money. Every month I rip off the 4 casino's which give you a match deposit for depositing, and I take my deposit straight back again. 3 now actually as one has banned me for doing so, even though they took 7k off me in my gambling stage.

I haven't gambled with my own money since my lightbulb moment.