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[mattywest11 WANTED $30 Outlaw]

Reading the forum today I’ve seen a couple of posts about problem gambling and needing help so wanted to waffle on and share my story, hopefully it could help…

Around 18 months ago at only 21 I found myself betting daily. All student loans gone within a week of recieving them and an overdraft maxed out I was in a bad way. I was always aware my gambling was wreckless but never spoke out or asked for help. One day after a heavy loss I spoke to my partner about the extent of my gambling, as she had never had a bet it was hard for her to comprehend at first bu when talking to her back then I never thought I’d be as thankful as I am now.

Together we created a MOSES account and excluded from all betting shops as the fobts were my downfall. For a little while this worked.. but about a month later I soon turned to online. I found this even harder to control, loans taken out on top of my maxed OD staking multiple hundred pound blackjack hands. The money never felt real but the pain after definitely was. I hated myself and was at rock bottom.

I would always put myself on a 5 year self exclusion after a big loss, this proved pointless as I would simply open an account elsewhere. Over time this started to get harder and I found certain sites automatically banning me due to self exclusions at sister sites. But no matter how awful the quality of casino there was always a way. My missus always stuck by me but I could see her pain as I’d go to her numb having to state the same words ‘ its happened again’

About 14 months ago now I signed up to gamban after watching a video with the bandit offering out codes. For months I kept my gambling under control but YET AGAIN I worked around it by using my brother’s unprotected laptop.

As soon as Gamstop came out I was on it. I registered and it prevented any slip up (yes occasionally I tried it) but thankfully to no success. My year with Moses ended and the very next day I renewed it. so currently still unable to gamble online or in a bookies.

In this time I cleared all debts and overdrafts through working overtime at my job. I’m now in a much healthier position financially and mentally saving with my partner for a house to move in to. I am now proud to receive bank statements with my savings building, rather than dreading them and disposing of them before my parents could see.

<span style=”font-size: 1rem;”>I give my partner £20 to stick on my football bet on a Saturday morning so that I am completely satisfied to remain excluded from the bookies myself. </span>

On Friday night after a night out we ended up at the casino, this could have been catastrophic but I found was a good learning curve. I found myself staking up to £240 spins on roulette and £5 spins on book of ra. Fortunately i walked out £300 in profit but it shown me that after all this time I still had the wreckless mindset. Therefore first thing Saturday morning I went back into the casino and complete a self exclusion for 5 years. This means I have absolutely 0 chance of gambling and I am so relieved.

After that one blip I can now continue my progress! Writing this I feel somewhat embarrassed by how bad things were, at 21 years old hitting rock bottom in a massive hole… But not even 2 years later and I have a joint savings account with my missus totalling 20k, soon to be used on growing up and moving out which I never thought would have been possible in the dark days

Remember no matter how bad things may seem they can get better and the blocking softwares are a godsend! If you feel like you are a problem gambler find someone you can talk to because they will give you the realisation rather than looking at it from the gambling naive outlook.

[Dc Dc39 WANTED $74 Outlaw]

Has this been posted  before?? It all seems to ring a bell?!

[mattywest11 WANTED $30 Outlaw]

No mate. First post on here with my story.. I’d imagine it’s relatively common though, fobty trouble then turning to online!

Just glad it’s all in the past and after my silly win in the casino the other day I can feel rather content saying I’m £300 up for the year and keep it that way??

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