Gambling Issues

[duckandcover]

Has anyone ever had to admit that they have a problem with gambling? I got paid last Friday and like a punt needless to say I encountered the worst run of luck I've had for a good wee while and lost way more than I could afford. It was tough but I confided in people close to me that I've got a problem with gambling. Really just wondering if anyone on here have encountered the same sort of issues? For me it's just a case of I hate losing and end up chasing and before I know where I am I'm a good few hundred pound down. Obviously understand that no-one forced me to do it and it was caused by my own stupidity and lack of self control but it's still pretty tough to take

[ToadKiller Dog]

Not me , i put a spending limit on my bet365 account so i cant spend what i cant afford .

 

I do know a driver at my work ,he handed his photo into every bookie in the area and telling them not to serve him and banned him self from the drivers rest room for a few months as it had puggies in it .

Exteme measures but seems to be working for him , Have seen others put there whole take for the night into the puggy machines .

[Diane]

Well, you've taken the first step by admitting you've got a problem. That's a good thing. Now you just have to figure out what will work for you to stop the problem. I have a friend who had a massive problem, and the only way he has managed to kick it is stop completely. No cutting down, no "I'll just put a couple of quid in the puggy", no "but it's a sure thing" - just stop altogether. He also told everyone so that he would get all sorts of hell if he was caught. He'll be the first to admit it's been tough, but he's been astonished how much more money he has to spend.

 

Look at it this way - every bookies has staff, premises, rates, bills etc etc. Yet these are all paid somehow. Paddy Power, Bet 365 and all the online sites advertise very heavily, and also have not insignificant running costs. Yet these are all paid somehow. Puggies openly admit that they pay out 78% of what goes in. So ultimately, the only one that ever wins is the bookie.

 

You can fund the bookie, or you can fund your own lifestyle. Good luck. Get the help of your friends and you can do it.

[Paolo]

Has anyone ever had to admit that they have a problem with gambling? I got paid last Friday and like a punt needless to say I encountered the worst run of luck I've had for a good wee while and lost way more than I could afford. It was tough but I confided in people close to me that I've got a problem with gambling. Really just wondering if anyone on here have encountered the same sort of issues? For me it's just a case of I hate losing and end up chasing and before I know where I am I'm a good few hundred pound down. Obviously understand that no-one forced me to do it and it was caused by my own stupidity and lack of self control but it's still pretty tough to take

I have been there. I chose not to use them but Gamcare is an option.

[tommythejambo]

I used to be quite bad, I used to get paid cash weekly and would spend a big chunk of it in the bookies on my way home.

 

Cut down majorly to ?20 a week max now.

[Moriarty]

I used to be quite bad, I used to get paid cash weekly and would spend a big chunk of it in the bookies on my way home.

 

Cut down majorly to ?20 a week max now.

 

jeezo. Hate to think what you were throwing away if ?80pm is you cutting down majorly

[Mr Loverman]

There's a few on JKB that have not posted on this thread (so I won't name them)that seem to have a bit of a problem with gambling IMHO.

 

I hope you get yourself sorted though.

[Armageddon]

It's very very easy to get into a situation and then the more you chase it the worse it gets, I've gone a few times, maybe a dozen, to the casino and lost around ?300, it's a sore one. Not been for a few months now, when it goes well it's amazing but then the sick feeling of having nowt for 2 or 3 weeks isn't ideal.

 

TS

[Gerd Muller]

I chased bets today. Had money on Betis and Betis Sunderland double. Both lost. Smacked pretty much double on Arsenal and Celtic double. Today I'm ?3 in profit. I don't normally chase bets. Probably a case of boredom. I normally go back to paddypower and just bet 50p doubles. Betfair I always seem to spend more money.

[2NaFish]

www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

 

for me gambling is one of the addictions that gets overlooked and as such it seems a bit silly to admit to having a problem with it. it's not.

 

click on the link and see what you think. it seems to me you're not happy with where you are at that minute; you can change that if you really want to. good luck.

[Pete Seeger]

I had a real problem as a teenager. I grew up In Callander and all the teenagers hung about in 'gambles' at night and weekends. It was an awful place when you think about it. They put out ashtrays for us and we were only 12-16 years old. Anyway there was a number of us who would work every night and all weekend to fund our puggy habits and it got to the point I had to smash up a couple of their machines to get them to bar me. Had previously just asked them to bar me but they made too much money from us. I got paid cash on a friday night after school and I was lucky to have anything left by Saturday morning. If there was some left I'd be queuing up to get in at opening to get on the same puggy from the night before. During this spell we went on a school trip to the French Alps. I took ?100 spending money with me and spent the entire lot on a puggy on the Ferry which made the rest of the week miserable.

 

Fair enough my history is on a small scale due to my age at the time but it showed me the damage gambling can do. I only put the occasional accumulator on now and my online accounts are limited.

[Pete Seeger]

Forgot to add, Good luck and tackle it head on. Don't put off getting help.

[gravydavie]

Has anyone ever had to admit that they have a problem with gambling? I got paid last Friday and like a punt needless to say I encountered the worst run of luck I've had for a good wee while and lost way more than I could afford. It was tough but I confided in people close to me that I've got a problem with gambling. Really just wondering if anyone on here have encountered the same sort of issues? For me it's just a case of I hate losing and end up chasing and before I know where I am I'm a good few hundred pound down. Obviously understand that no-one forced me to do it and it was caused by my own stupidity and lack of self control but it's still pretty tough to take

 

its like the bevy mate once it gets a grip your f*cked,if it`s help your after you have made a good start www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk you will be really surprised who you meet in these places

[Hansel]

The old man had a bit of a problem with the fruit machines, but I think he's ok now. I think it was a form of escape for him, and particularly when he and the old dear weren't getting along very well.

 

I remember my dad taking me to the arcades a lot when I was really young, but it didn't occur to me that he was addicted.

 

He's always warned me about gambling, and tbh it didn't really appeal to me anyway. Just the Xbox addiction for me to overcome.

[stirlo]

My feeling is that in a strange sort of way, gambling has gone the opposite way to cigarettes, booze and drugs in recent years. i.e. as all these 'vices' have been increasingly demonised socially and by governments (eg the smoking ban and ban on advertising smoking, crackdown on cheap drinks promotions etc) gambling has become more and more mainstream and almost fashionable. Look how many major sporting events are sponsored by bookmakers, the vast increase in betting markets, the rise of betting exchanges and the expansion of bookmakers shops as other shops (and pubs) are going out of business left right and centre. And yet, gambling addiction can have a devastating impact on individuals and those around them.

 

Now I'm not suggesting for a second that we ban gambling, because many people - in fact probably the majority - can control it and for those that can, there is a great amount of fun and excitement about having a bet. More to the point perhaps, if you were to ban it you would probably just drive it underground anyway. But far more must be done to highlight the dangers of gambling and to help the many people who have a problem.

 

To the OP and all those who think they might have a problem - I hope you get help and wish you all the best in dealing with it.

[Tommy Wiseau]

I've scooped a hunner and fiddy on this evening's football alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which covered my losses from earlier in the day :stare:

 

Seriously I'm not usually a big gambler but had a good few wins last weekend and withdrew a ton from the account. The hundred left was pure winnings so was a bit more frivolous with it, still not nice feeling like you're chasing though.

[lewis2006]

Bet you a tenner you cant be this terrible affliction

[Gigolo-Aunt]

Gambling is something that has never appealed to me. Now and again I will put a coupon on for Gillette Soccer Saturday, but more often than not I forget to put a bet on.

 

In the modern age where you can gamble on line and on pretty much anything, it must be bloody hard not to give in to the urge. Would imagine it would be easier to hide a problem if you don't need to leave the house to put a bet on.

 

Anyway, all the best to the OP. They say admitting a problem is the first step to overcoming it.

[Victorian]

as a short term fix to the problem, i would imagine you should take steps to make sure you can't spunk away any more cash.

 

1. never carry any sizable sums of cash.

2. never carry your cards around.

 

take control of yourself by doing this and the urge to get 'the thrill' should diminish in the longer term.

 

i hope you kick this in the bollocks chief.

[desmondo]

Most Gamblers are sober when betting in a reckless way,not all obviously, it can be 7/24 and no way out, all the individual can do IMO is fight the curse in a slow and deliberate manner, not easy as we all know the horror stories

 

All the best Bud

[Era Macaroons]

Either I'm spectacularly missing the point or your posts one of the most unsympathetic and unhelpful posts I've ever read.

 

No

 

 

Your not missing the point and your correct on your other two points

 

which suggests you simply need to read more

[Era Macaroons]

Has anyone ever had to admit that they have a problem with gambling? I got paid last Friday and like a punt needless to say I encountered the worst run of luck I've had for a good wee while and lost way more than I could afford. It was tough but I confided in people close to me that I've got a problem with gambling. Really just wondering if anyone on here have encountered the same sort of issues? For me it's just a case of I hate losing and end up chasing and before I know where I am I'm a good few hundred pound down. Obviously understand that no-one forced me to do it and it was caused by my own stupidity and lack of self control but it's still pretty tough to take

 

ever tried this?

 

STOP GAMBLING

 

or gamble less.....where youd bet 10 quid ...bet 1 quid....your still having a gamble....if your not winning with 1 quid bets why would you win with bigger bets?

 

and if your that bad at it (90% of folk are) youll soon start getting the same pleasure out of what youve not lost as opposed to what you might have won.

[trinity jambo]

worked out yesterday that from the same day last year i was ?300 down on my online accounts. Depending on what you can afford thats what really matters. Nobody wants to be down but by looking at all my deposits its just ?10 and ?20 stakes really. Best thing I try is to just bet what I can afford really. Interesting to see the periods when iv been up and then down. Still this is the year of the big win and Ill be back in the black...

[2NaFish]

worked out yesterday that from the same day last year i was ?300 down on my online accounts. Depending on what you can afford thats what really matters. Nobody wants to be down but by looking at all my deposits its just ?10 and ?20 stakes really. Best thing I try is to just bet what I can afford really. Interesting to see the periods when iv been up and then down. Still this is the year of the big win and Ill be back in the black...

 

not to be a dick, but from my experience its got nothing to do with if you can afford it. most people at gamblers anonymous have been succesful and could afford it and because they could they took it too far.

 

an addiction is an addiction whether you can afford it or not.

[Bert Le Clos]

Best of luck to the OP. Like others have said, the first step has been made by admitting the problem. I can't pretend that it's something I know a lot about having never been addicted to anything, but my advice would be to speak to people who have been addicted and have beaten it. They're the ones who will know what you're going through. And don't be afraid to lean on your family if you need to, they'll understand and want to help, even if you're a bit ashamed to ask for it.

 

Seriously though, good luck. Even with all the messages associated with gambling I think more needs to be done to counter the issues. It's so easy to bet anytime on anything that's it's no wonder more people are getting into difficulty.

[Smack]

not to be a dick, but from my experience its got nothing to do with if you can afford it. most people at gamblers anonymous have been succesful and could afford it and because they could they took it too far.

 

an addiction is an addiction whether you can afford it or not.

 

Bang on. I used to punt like crazy and it wasn't unknown for me to dispatch my months wage a matter of hours after I got it. In the days of easy credit this resulted in a swift application for a personal loan. Purpose of loan: 3.35 Beverley Your brain completely disengages when you are chasing.

 

Obviously there were some really good times and a good few holidays were a result of crazy gambling.

 

I heard of addicts talking about hitting rock bottom, and I suppose that's how it worked out for me. A horrendous night of gambling on online casino's (the worst type of gambling IMO) had me a bit desperate. I mustered up 1000 quid, mostly from credit cards, and put it on Hibs to beat Celtic at something like 5/1. That was when they were flying under Monkey Heid and they were two nil up at one point. Then that wee pr**k McGeady equalised and that was that. It would have pulled me right out the shit if it had won, but in hindsight it's better that it lost.

 

Cold turkey is the only answer. The hardest part was finding something to do with my time. You really do need to get something else to occupy your mind and time. Football Manager worked for me

[Tommy Wiseau]

Bang on. I used to punt like crazy and it wasn't unknown for me to dispatch my months wage a matter of hours after I got it. In the days of easy credit this resulted in a swift application for a personal loan. Purpose of loan: 3.35 Beverley Your brain completely disengages when you are chasing.

 

Obviously there were some really good times and a good few holidays were a result of crazy gambling.

 

I heard of addicts talking about hitting rock bottom, and I suppose that's how it worked out for me. A horrendous night of gambling on online casino's (the worst type of gambling IMO) had me a bit desperate. I mustered up 1000 quid, mostly from credit cards, and put it on Hibs to beat Celtic at something like 5/1. That was when they were flying under Monkey Heid and they were two nil up at one point. Then that wee pr**k McGeady equalised and that was that. It would have pulled me right out the shit if it had won, but in hindsight it's better that it lost.

 

Cold turkey is the only answer. The hardest part was finding something to do with my time. You really do need to get something else to occupy your mind and time. Football Manager worked for me

 

 

Blimey. :stare:

 

Moral of the story though - never, ever bet on the vermin. They love to **** over a good Hearts man at the bookies. Love it.

[Smack]

Was just waiting on someone making that point

[tian447]

It's good that you have admitted it.

 

I work in Hills, and the amount of people that come in, and put their wages into those bar steward machines is disgraceful.

 

If you want, you can go into any of the stores and ask about the Self Exclusion policy. We handle it very discretely, and there should be nothing to feel bad about, or embarrassed about either. We're not all smug gits who just want to take your money, and I still get paid regardless of wither people win or lose.

 

Basically, you ban yourself from the store for 12 months, and then you can have a review, but if you last 12 months, you'll probably be alright and won't need to renew it. You can do yourself from 6 other stores as well, so do the ones around you, or ones you visit. Ladbrokes and the other ones do similar things. All you need is a passport photo and some willpower.

 

I wish more people would approach us behind the counter and talk to us about it. It's not really my place to be asking people about their gambling habits, and I'm not comfortable with doing it, no matter how much some people seem to be screaming out for us to do so.

 

Delete your online accounts as well. It's not a hard thing to stop. Instead of thinking about how much you could win, think instead of what it is costing you. Nothing is a winner until it runs, and no result is certain, no matter how slim or appealing the odds look. Think of what you stand to loose, instead of what you stand to gain.

 

Good luck!

[oh ah grantona]

Good luck mate seems you know the first rule of gambling

 

1) only gamble what you can afford to lose

 

But you cant follow it, 2 options cut down (only way you can do this is find something in life that makes u forget about bookies) or just do your best to stop like you say people now know they can help you.

 

I used to be bad with online machines i won a grand and the next morning i lost 200 of that in 5 mins waiting for my lift to work, I now have a job were i really dont have the time to nip to a bookies, i dont buy papers and i only really have a coupon on and big jump meetings. The IT boxes are a major problem for most gambler i rarely walk past one if in the shop for my coupon but i never ever leave myself short on cash, i see it as buying very expensive entertainment but i can afford what i spend.

 

 

all the best its a tough road your going to take

[jack D and coke]

The only addiction I can't get my head round.

 

Addicted to losing all your money??? Nobody ever wins from the bookies. Ever.

[H J Simpson]

I pretty much put on one football coupon a week for ?3. Not so much for the winning (as my track record shows) but just for a bit of interest if I'm watching Gillett Soccer Saturday. So it's faitr to say I don't have a problem.

 

Sadly, with things like online-bingo / puggies etc, I don't think you will be alone in your situation.

 

I recon in 5-10 years time there could be a lot of what should be fairly well-off , respectiable middle-class sorts, very skint having devloped an on-line habit.

 

Playing with ?100 form your debit card on-line imo doesn't feel the same as handing over ?100 cash and I thin people forget that it's still hard cash that they are using and that money can evaporate very quickly.

 

That said - all the best & I hope you get your life sorted.

[chester copperpot]

A good few years ago, I was pretty big on online gambling. So much so, that I ran up a huge credit card bill. Because I was on fantastic money work wise, the minimum monthly payment was irrelevent. My Mrs then found out about it when she mistakenly opened my credit card bill and saw the massive amounts I'd spent. She went bezerk (rightly so) and we almost split because of it. What worked for me was putting her on my bank account, and she monitors what I spend now, so I have a bit of an angel on my shoulder when I want to go for a big bet. I now spend less than ?50PM and the amount this has saved me has been incredible. I paid for a 3K holiday last year because I gambled that much less. I've spent approx ?200 since the football season started, and have won about ?300.

 

I no longer get the urge to lay big bets and will only bet more than a fiver if I have won the previous week.

[tommythejambo]

jeezo. Hate to think what you were throwing away if ?80pm is you cutting down majorly

 

I was only working part time then so my income was a lot lower, plus I only spend ?20 on very rare occasions.

[heartsfc_fan]

About 3-4 years ago I used to be terrible. Still a student at the time and I would go to the online roulette and try and make up a "system" that would make me win bet red, if it goes to black double red and vice versa and so on.

 

I remember winning ?50 in about 15 minutes (got very lucky!). Also a time when I was ?190 up after only putting in ?20. Lost it all after another 3 spins. I also remember digging into a savings account to try and get cash to use to win back what I lost.

Since I was a student, money was tight. I had a car to pay for. I basically sat myself down and promised myself I would never bet on these online casinos again. It worked.

 

Apart from the odd few quid on a five team accumulator, I have not gambled at all in the last 2 or 3 years.

[Sarah O]

Jeeze, crazy bonkers gambling all that cash.

 

I have a job. I work long hard and often unsociable hours and get paid shit. I put ?5 coupons on maybe once a month unless we have a game at tynie where i'll spunk said fiver at the Scotbet in the Wheatfield.

 

I maybe go to the Casino with mates 1 or 2 times a year and will only ever take ?20-30 to gamble with. Once it's lost - it's lost. There's no sodding way I'd spunk ?100's catching up. I work too hard to see it dissapear that fast..

[robbodog]

Wishing someone with a gambling problem 'good luck' doesn't quite seem right.

[oh ah grantona]

The only addiction I can't get my head round.

 

Addicted to losing all your money??? Nobody ever wins from the bookies. Ever.

 

Not true very easy to be ahead with a bookie yeah you wont win much but easy to get ahead, The average gambler will lose more than they win but take your average coupon 10-20 a week if you can keep to that only 1 win a year could in effect pay for your gambling in a year. Problem comes when u spend all day there chasing its all about self control and being able to walk away accept defeat and live to fight another day

[jack D and coke]

Not true very easy to be ahead with a bookie yeah you wont win much but easy to get ahead, The average gambler will lose more than they win but take your average coupon 10-20 a week if you can keep to that only 1 win a year could in effect pay for your gambling in a year. Problem comes when u spend all day there chasing its all about self control and being able to walk away accept defeat and live to fight another day

All i ever hear from all my mates who bet is that they break about even. Honestly No you don't, you don't ever break even and you don't ever, ever get ahead. I'm not belittling addicted gamblers btw, ive got a couple of mates who blow their brains out as soon as they get paid every single month of their lives. **** that carry on. Always telling me when they win but are quiet as the rest of the time they're losing everything they've got. There's a bookie everywhere you look these days. I think that speaks for itself.

[Locky]

I've just stuck a tenner on Hibs to win the Scottish cup so probably. Only kidding I'm not that delusional I'd rather give a tenner to charity.

[duckandcover]

Thanks for the messages regarding this. I completely agree with Stevietits that your brain completely dis-engages from your usual way of thinking when you are chasing losses, it's almost as if you go into a zone where nothing else other than betting seems to matter, no matter what the potential consequences may be.

 

Personally speaking I've known myself for a while now that there are occasions when I don't really have much control over how much I am gambling and like a lot of us I work hard full time and find it emotionally demorolising and soul destroying when after working hard all week I proceed to lose my full wage in the space of less than half an hour!

 

Thanks again for the messages that have been posted and now that the dust has settled I am more determined than ever to get myself back on an even keel and give it up for good.

[Niko]

I love gambling.

 

I used to work for an online gambling company so I know all of the good/bad stories.

 

Never gamble what you can't afford to lose.