Resources to help professionals identify problem gambling clients and respond to their needs.
Why do I gamble?
If gambling has stopped being fun for you and started to feel like a problem, you may have found yourself asking "Why do I gamble?"
Most people who have problems with gambling fall into two broad groups:
- Those that say they gamble because it gives them some excitement and is challenging, and
- Those who 'zone out' while gambling. They don't think or feel, their worries and cares disappear and their problems are forgotten.
Why you gamble
Do any of the reasons in the list below apply to you? Write your own list.
- To win money
- For entertainment
- To be sociable
- To make a big win
- To forget troubles
- To escape from problems
- For something to do
- For excitement
- To avoid talking to people
As well as all these reasons, people may gamble as a habit. The reasons they started have been forgotten and the habit just goes on. You can take steps to break the habit.
Do I need to give up gambling?
Some people who are problem gamblers can return to a controlled level of gambling. However, most people prefer to abstain, or give up gambling for good. There are no rules for determining whether you should reduce or stop your gambling. Generally if you're losing more money than you can afford, accumulating debts, suffering mentally, physically, and/or socially, giving up may be your best option.
People gamble for lots of different reasons and sometimes those reasons change. You might gamble regularly at the TAB ‘to win money' but join the Melbourne Cup sweep in your office ‘to be sociable'. You might usually play the pokies alone but share a machine when you go out with family and friends. Understanding why you gamble can help you change your behaviour.
How to cut back
Tell others about your decision
It is easier to stick to decisions if you tell other people about them. Why not start by telling someone important to you that you are going to try to cut back on your gambling? Remember, you need to choose carefully and talk to people you can trust when looking for the support of others.
Set limits and stick to a budget
You need to decide how much money you want to spend (that means ‘risk losing') on gambling each week. Think of it as entertainment money, not an investment. If you choose to spend $20 at the TAB or on the poker machines, spend only that amount. If you win, do not add the winnings to your initial stake - spend it another way. If you have debts, then include regular repayments of these as part of your budget. Set repayments as low as you can so you don't end up really short of money - that could just add pressure and make you want to gamble more.
Write your own gambling diary
A gambling diary helps you to be honest with yourself about how often you gamble and how much you lose. Keeping a diary can help you develop self-awareness and change your behaviour. Remember, you do not have to gamble everyday or lose money every session to have an issue with your gambling.
By identifying the thoughts, feelings and situations that occur before and during a gambling session, you can start to understand the causes of gambling. This knowledge is important if you are going to break your gambling habit as it will tell you exactly what triggers each episode.
You can use the information in your diary to weigh up the pros and cons of your gambling.
Get your thinking straight
Problem gamblers often end up with some pretty strange ways of thinking about how much they lose and how skilful they are at gambling. Often gamblers have no idea how much they win or lose in the long term but they believe they are in front.
The only way a gambler can be sure that he or she is thinking straight when they say ‘I'm ahead' is if their diary records actually add up to a profit. Otherwise, you must assume that you are behind and make sure your thinking fits the facts.
When you start to make changes to your gambling habits, say good things to yourself. This may seem silly but what we say to ourselves is really important. It helps you change old habits.
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I first started gambling in my early teens. I would save money as an apprentice but every month or two I would lose a 1000 on the horses. When I was 20 I opened an online bookie account and put $500 in. I continued along the cycle of winning but giving it back and putting more in that account till I was 22. Then I started putting more money on short priced favorites and winning. It started with thousand dollar bets while my bank increased into the tens of thousands. It was a brief moment of happiness but after a while it wasn't enough and I wanted to turn it into more. After that I got desensitized to the amount of money I gamble with. I soon was betting tens of thousands sometimes a years paycheck on one bet. I reached 55k after one year of this betting and although I told myself many times it's not this easy and it's only got take a couple bets lose it all I continued to gamble. I didn't realize but I was gambling on any sport whether I liked it or not. My life turned into just thinking about odds and teams and outcomes 24/7. I lost my first 10k bet and that's when it consumed me. I would wake and think how could I get that money back. It's all I thought about and although it was days it felt like an eternity. I didn't chase my losses but I started betting on outcomes that I would not bet on before. I ended up losing all of the 50k in one month. When i was losing all I could think about was how could I get it back with one bet and that's the problem with gambling. I took my last 5k out of that account and still have 25k in life savings. While I'm not as worse off as some of the stories on here I can sympathize with the physiological effects gambling has on people. It's all you think about, when I was losing I'd wake in the night and couldn't get back to sleep. I sometimes thought don't worry you have done it before you can do it again but othertimes your so filthy on yourself for losing that much money why would you want to gamble again. When i look back I think why didn't I take money out but in all honesty it wasn't about material possessions it was about that figure in my account. I was never going to make any money because I would of tried to make more. Gambling is like all other drugs, you desensitize yourself. First it's 100 bets you get a thrill off but when you make 1000 it's no good when you win 4000. It's just goes on, for me 30k was no good because I got up to 50k. so like so many people where does it stop?
Like I said I lost 50k in the last month and while I was looking for a way to make that money back I stumbled upon this page. And while I change my mind from never gambling again to put my 30k of life savings on the next bet I hope I find the right path.
I started gambling when I was 22, I would play Blackjack at the [casino] and had some pretty decent wins as well as quite a few losses. After a while it got boring and I had a purpose in my life which was a good job.
When i got with my exhusband I started to go to the local pokies with him, first i had a limit and i would stick to that, if i won i walked, if i lost i walked, I eventually fell pregnant got married but the bug had bitten, when ever my son went to my parents i would hit the pokies, even after the other 2 boys were born i kept going at every opportunity i could, i had payday loans to cover what i lost i got us kicked out of three homes and lost 4 jobs because of my habit.
I saw what i was doing but it was too late, my exhusband left me and took our sons. I cleaned up my life, met someone new and got a new job, i fought with all my might to get my sons back but my ex bought up my gambling addiction and i was left with no choice but to give him full custody, i have not seen them in 3 years and it has been six years since i gave up custody, needless to say i have gone back to gambling again.
I have a great fiance but all i have done is betray him and have lost his trust I went back to deal with loss but it doesn't work, i did this instead of letting myself grieve and work things through. I have once again destroyed my life and i will lose my fiance if i don't get help, i need it and i am ready to recieve it now
being saved and gambling
I was turned on to gambling by my boyfriend who is now my husband, He would give me money to play because I refuse to gamble with my own, well i hit big and i became addicted. my first encounter i put $10.00 in the machine and hit for 10k, then 5k , the most i hit for was 24k and only spent $50.00. I am active in the church and I love the Lord, i don't drink, smoke, use profanity or go out to clubs, my only fun time was going to a local small casino where you play bingo and pull tabs, gambling is no longer fun to me it took me from being completly responsible to unreliable. my husband no longer plays and calls me pathetic because I still go sometimes. it bothers me that he is the one who got me started and i still have never spent as much money as he did but he treats me bad because i gamble. i am not in denial that i have a gambling problem because it has put me in debt,i have payday loans,personal loans, i am in debt about 4k.
i'm taking this to the alter and leaving it there.
I am going to confess to my friends and family about what i am dealing with. i will speak with a debt consolidater to get a grip on this rather than try to gamble to get out of debt because it only get me further in debt.
i really don't care what people think about me but i know God does not want me to beg or borrow he want me to be the lender. Gambling is worse than drugs, or any other addiction, I have not got to the point where i'm stealing to gamble, but i have pawned , and even got a part time job to give it to the casino. 2012 have got to be better, i will have to replace this with something positive such as writing my book, exercising, i would love to do more with my husband but he doesn't really want to do anything.
I started gambling with my boyfriend who is now my husband he would take me to the casino where we could dance and gamble at the time i would not use my own money, i couldn't see myself gambling, so he would give me money and tell me to play,i got lucky off $10.00 and won $10k, after that i think i became hook but still wouldn't spin more than $200 then i won $5k, and 2k, and whenever i won i never played more than $50.00, these was the good owe days then i was playing the slots for $3 a spin, I hit for 24k, took 14k and paid off my car i bought a year earlier, went to vegas to visit my sister for 2 weeks and dropped $7k, came back home played some more won 2k, from there everything started going down, i started pawning my jewery, started taking out payday loans,got a parttime job just to play the slots,then i quit my partime job,start borrowing from friends and family mostly my husband,at one time i owed him $6k which i paid him back when i got a settlement from a law suit. i then went to church with my sister and i placed it at the alter, i didn't care who heard my confession or what people thought i just wanted God to deliver me from that monster and he did, i did not go to the casino for a long time, then i believe i went with my husband and in-laws during the holiday and i was right back where i started from, my husband quit all together because of his debt but he seem to be during well the bills are always paid on time. right now i am buried with payday loans, and i have new debts to friends and family.
i owe about $3k in payday loans and $1300.00 to friend/family. I went out today and lost $400.00 after winning $300.00. I really don't want to gamble anymore in 2012 I want to focus on writing my book, and doing my standup poetry, find a way to get out of debt that is not a risk or a gamble, make goals i can keep so i will not get fraustrated and want to gamble. i only gamble maybe once or twice every two weeks but i hurt myself when I do. i know i can do this, but i can only stop if I make it known if i confess my gambling to my friends and family.
i'm going back to the altar, i am a believer and i have faith, maybe God allow us to go through things so we can be a testimony to someone else, you can't truly help someone to get through if you never been through it yourself. i'm glad i came across this website
my story as it is im 21 with 2 children one 3 one a newborn and i started out working at an internet cafe after i got out of the navy it was easy money i said sure (internet cafe is a sweepstakes room video slots on the pc for real money) and i would play my tips about 20-40 a night when i got rdy to close then i hit max 3$ a spin and i hit for 100$ sortly after i put on 30$ and won 300 then i played my free dollar ( sweepstakes have to give a free dollar) i hit for 680 off just that thats when i started betting hard 30-80 a night then i moved to a new store with the same games but more people and i started to steal money threw the promotions we offer sometimes upwards of 600 a day to play i would steal 400-600 a day working 7 days a week this# add'd up i was going no where fast i did end up getting caught since this is a under the table job they kept me on and i didnt steal any more but i started to spend my pay checks instead and i still do some weeks i get paid on saterday and im broke by sunday i hate my self for it im hurting my fam and i know i need to stop but every time i try i cant and working in one all day watching people play makes it harder and i know i should get another jo but that's easier said then done if i could find a job that pays as week as this one 10 an hour tax free at with 65 hours a week its hard to just find a new one with a baby and 3 year old son i need help
Just finished a session on the pokes,lost everything again!Same feelings,miserable,hate myself,ashamed,can't believe what i just did,never doing that again,that's it.Got to get through the fortnight,no money for petrol, lunch or cigarettes.I know,credit cards-no their all maxed out-what about another payday loan,youv'e already got two on the go what's one more gonna hurt.I can use that money to get me to payday(sweet).Or maybe if I use it at the pokies I could get lucky and get all my money back!(To see result go back to start of comment).What am I gonna do now?Mum will lend me $100 again,I'll just make up a story, tell her something unexpected came up(sweet).What if I take just $20 of the $100 and go to the pokies, you never know,could win your money back.Better put some petrol first($30) and buy 1 packet of cigarettes.(Subconsciously I know what's coming).(To see result go back to start of comment).I guess it's noodles for lunch this fortnight and rolling each cigarette into three.Got to get through each miserable hardworking day somehow.Payday's approaching again,only two days out,starting to feel happy again,suddenly more talkative(why is that?).The day's arrived(bang)back in business(forgotten all miserable feelings from last time).Three quarters of my pay back to the payday lenders(direct debit or they wouldn't get payed)pay minimum amount on credit cards.What about mum? I will go to the pokes first and I will pay her out of my winnings.(To see result go back to start of comment)What am i gonna do now?I know, I'II wait till tomorrow, then my credit card payments will go through and i will have access to that money.I can use that to get me through the fortnight(sweet).Or I could use $50 of that and go to the pokies and win my money back.(To see result go back to start of comment).Why do I gamble? If I knew the answer to that i wouldn't go through this miserable,soul destroying charade each fortnight.
Great stories and many many that I can relate too.
I am a "pokie" gambler/loser/FOOL and have been playing them for 15 yrs where its been a problem for 14 yrs 364 days!!! I started more through boredom when working away from home and earning lots of money) but once I did start I have not been able to control this demon. Yes this is a demon, and a demon that will make you lie, steel, borrow, sell, hate yourself, become dysfunctional and eventually destroy you.
I don't want to share my story as every story here is my story. But I do want to share this, its something I heard recently which stuck in my head and I thought wow that was how it started and that IS how it continues (for me anyway). It wasn't referring to gambling specifically but rather mental illness and the demon/s we battle with every second/minute/day of our lives..... "an idle mind, is the devils workshop".
Folks we need to find that something that is missing and refill our minds. Whether it be family, friends, faith or fun we need to find it. Once we do we will be closer (much closer) to defeating this demon.
why do I gamble? The answer is simple...the action. What started out as harmless fun quickly turned into a dangerous game. I knew instantly I was hooked, being a former athlete the urge for competetion lured me in. I started off playing poker with friends, which was friendly enough. When I was 21 I won a poker tournament for 3k and that's when the downward spiral started. Casino's, highstake home poker games,sports gambling,scratchoffs you name it I've gambled on it. I'm now 31 and over the years I would estimate I've lost over 20k. Sickening to think about, but that pales in comparison to the shame that I now feel. I can barely look at myself in the mirror without wanting to punch it. I've blown countless paychecks (including 4 straight), screwed over family and friends, stolen from family, stolen from work, taken out payday loans that have me up to my eyeballs in debt. I'm on the verge from being evicted from my apartment. I can say the only luck that I do have is that I do not own a gun, because I would have already ended it. My attitude is today is a new day. Tomorrow I will ban myself from the local casino, attend my first GA meeting and meet with a counselor. I pray that I never gamble again, but the future is never promised to us. My situation I would not wish on anyone, but the only bright thought is that there is nowhere to go but up.
Why do we do it who knows but my gambling is affecting my mental and physical well being. I started gambling about 15 years ago when I was introduced to the poker machines by a friend. Jeez I won $30 and kept it cause I thought it was gold. I then went on to win $3000 one night and this is how I got hooked I thought to myself how easy it was to win. I don't know how much I have lost but I am in thousands of dollars of credit debt and I have even hocked all my beautiful jewellery right down to my wedding rings to support my habit. I hate myself so much but I can't stop. After a gambling session where I usually don't win anything I drive home crying and asking myself why do I do it I have so much anger. Lately I have been lying to my family - I have no one to turn to. I have two beautiful children who don't deserve a mother like me. I am in the process of self excluding myself from most pubs that I go to. Today I put my grocery shopping money through the poker machines and whilst doing this got asked for 15 cents from the old bloke next to me. He lost his dollar and spat on the machine and I thought to myself what the hell am I doing here I am better than this. [....]
I knew very little about gambling 3 years ago. I recall I first entered a casino at that time, and I looked at people and kind of thought they were 'absolutely' crazy. They fed some machines eagerly and pressed buttons and nothing happened. By the time I realised every press of button costed a dollar or two I was sure that they have some kind of problem, may be they have got wind fall, got someone's else money, or they just are so reach that they afford doing this. I was very shy to go all over the casino building, because I thought I am not allowed because I was not betting.
Then I dropped my first coins a few weeks later on the machines. I have forgotten how much I put in, but it must definitely have been less than 10 dollars, and I got a feature (2can slot). As I remember it it became a double trigger and I won over $440 that night. So lucky, I thought I can make a lot of money this way. It did not take long that I lost all the money on bigger $5 bets the next night. Then I thought of course I have lost a lot of money and the casino and machines will somehow pay that money back to me if I gamble more. I started seriously to gamble my hard earned cash within days, and I lost and I earned back partially. I cam to a point that I lost $800 where I had to go to toilets and cry. Because I felt so stupid that I had forgotten my responsibilities toward my family.
Losing 800 bucks was a good reason for me to quit. After a couple of months I pretended that I need some entertainment and headed casino again, but I was truly trying to get back my money. I ended losing another 1000 bucks during a few days of heated gambling.
I stopped because of family intervention, but I was always very eager to be in the casino again when it is busiest. It never happened and we moved to another city. After settlement and first few weeks I quickly located and headed to the casino one day after work. I was so frivolous and happy that day mostly because I am trying another casino. I pledged myself to stick to 20 bucks, and it was exactly the last dollar that hit a feature on a 1 dollar machine that earned me 2000 bucks. I was thinking this is where I had always been dreaming about. I got back all the money that I had lost...
No later than a week I went to the same machine again, and I started playing with maximum $5 bet. The machine was not nice at all, and I was half way through the 2000 bucks that I wanted to quit. But I thought, look I did not have this money few days ago.. that is casino's money... I spend it if I lose then I treat it as if I've never won it.. but if I win, then that would be a real big win. But I was wrong... I lost all the money and quitted gambling 'again'.
During the past 4 weeks I have been visiting the casino almost every evening. I have started to play hard and so far lost 10k... I have won many times 1k, 800 bucks, 600 bucks, 500 bucks, and many times below 300 bucks, but my winnings have always been much less than I spent. I have lost so far a net amount of around 13000 dollars, and I'm really tired and pissed off. I don't know what to do. I have a strong urge to continue, as I may be able to recover at least part of the money that was lost, but I am kind of sure that I will lose even more...
Let me say first that I feel great empathy for all of you who have posted here. Gambling is every bit as bad as drug abuse, and indeed any other addiction you can think of.
A gambling addiction is not apparent as, say, a drug addiction, where physical signs become apparent.
Signs of gambling can be well hidden. I know, because I've been masking my problems for 15 years.
I'm 39, a professional male, well educated, work in a great job and exciting industry, but have precious little else because of gambling.
I have no contact with my family now (not even my mother), have had dozens of relationship break-ups (including 2 failed engagements), no assets, been bankrupt 3 times, tried to commit suicide twice and spent 5 months in jail for robbery, yet I still gamble.
But why?
I've been to counselling at all levels, I'm read widely about the topic, and acknowledge I have a massive problem.
I'm at the point where this year I changed my legal name because I was so embarrassed by the one I was born with.
I have resigned from my job, which has disappointed my boss, to leave this city and state to start a new life of sorts next month.
I am firmly committed that where ever I lob, I'll start from scratch gamble-free.
Give me strength to negotiate this Melb Cup week without ending up in the gutter and stay on track for a fresh start and better, gamble-free life.
All the very best to all of you suffering from this dreaded addiction. I believe we are all good and kind of heart. I just hope and pray we all find a happy outcome.
Hi
Why did I start gambling online? I don't know, maybe the thrill of getting money for nothing, harmless fun.
I am a teacher in London. I earn a decent wage. It all started when I joined an online casino and won £250 within minutes. WOW! Money for nothing! So I thought anyway. The next day I lost all my winning and was desperate to get it back. I lost around £80 a day trying to win back £250 and all my losses. Things just spiralled out of control, I was randomly playing games and bet the maximum on every one. I lost thousands. The result, 3 maxed out credit cards and loads of interest. Today, I closed every single casino account. What got me annoyed, is how hard it is to close some of them. They ask you so many questions and reasons. Through all of this, nobody ever knew, and still doesn't. Only me and a mountain of debt. It's not worth it, ever. I now resorted to selling stuff on Ebay to try and pay of my debts and actually this is a much better way of making money. I feel free now. Anyway, I read all your stories on here and I can relate so much to everyone. I wish you all the very best.
Pain. The only thing gambling has caused me. Though there have been some good times, nearly always there's pain.
Even when I have won, within days it's all gone and more.
I've lost over $12000, and I'm only 18. I started gambling at age 16 (online poker) and there were some good wins at the start, but over the 2 years, things have just gotten worse. Bigger amounts of money have started to feel like less, and this loss of money's value is hurting me.
I don't even have a job, my mind is screwed up to the point where I don't see the point of sitting at a desk making $150 in a day, when I could do that in just minutes (even though it never stays).
What's worse is when I had a job, I blew twice the amount I earned in a day, every night.
I've dipped into my savings (that my parents have given me), and sold my shares to finance gambling.
I have had periods (usually just a few weeks to months) where I don't gamble at all (after I noticed I had a problem), but then once it's been a while, I have the urge to get back into it again. In an hour or so, I end up losing twice the amount of money I saved up in that period of not gambling, and I've dug myself deeper into the hole.
The only way out that I see is to completely stop gambling. One taste, makes me want more, and I end up going overboard.
Just recently I've started making financial plans and goals. Things like "markers" of how much I want to save up in x amount of time. It's only young days, but I hope that it helps me take my mind off the gambling, and move that eagerness to make money into a patient outlook to secure my money.
All I can say is it's good to see I'm not alone. Gambling is a sick thing, unfortunately I have an indulging personality, I get addicted to pleasures very easily. If you haven't lost as much as I have, consider yourself a "winner" and stop now. If you have lost more, there are people out there that have lost much more (the in millions), I have done the research and found it. All I can do is just learn off their mistakes and save those remaining dollars that I would lose if I kept going down this dark road.
At the end of the day we must realise it's our fault, no one elses. And we need to take control of our own actions and hold ourselves responsible. I found I lose most of my money without even thinking about it. Afterwards, everything seems like a blur because it happened so quick.
I know I can "win" more in the future by just stopping now. Good luck to you all too.
Well, I've just had the worst damn experience and would urge all those who want to try and 'win back their losses' to think again. Had a few beers last night, put £1500 on a top soccer team to win against some no hopers - lost bet. The followed a succession of bets placed on credit cards (7,500 english pounds) in 30 minutes - tennis was the game. All 4 or five bets - lost - quick.
Don't know about others, and I will read the other posts on here, but home web gambling sites could be the end of me.
I have only been doing this for 6 months, and before last night was a grand or so up in total. Woke up this morning with a hangover, and oh yes, an £11,000 debt, most of it on credit cards.
Nearly cracked up at work. Bad style.
What can I say? Others may lose more, some may lose less, but I wouldn't wish the cradle of s##t I just created myself on anyone.
I've closed and exluded myself this evening from these betting accounts, but I worry it's a token gesture as there are loads of bloody gambling websites out there. I will have to learn to stay away. I suppose the mutual support and understanding of others could be the best way. I may attend a GA meeting. No-one knows about the habit I built up (£50K deposited in 5 months) - and it all started with a 'harmless' £50 bet on a football game.
Geez I hate the adverts on TV. I wanna punch Ray Winstone's lights out.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL IN CONQUERING THIS AFFLICTION - MY BATTLE STARTS HERE.
I started gambling at a young age. My dad took me to the track and I was fixed. It was the only thing that made me feel whole as a person. I didn't have a lot of friends and when I was at the track I felt smart. At the age of 14 I was picking 3 or 4 winners a day in a 9 race program. I could read the racing form like it was my bible. By the time I could start going to the track myself I thought this was the perfect life for me. It didn't help that I love horses and I got to bet on them and also see them. It was the perfect fix I needed to make me feel smart less lonely. Over the years I have lost a marriage probably over 250k and years of my life. Still I go back to the track, now it just is easier to lose. With online wagering I can bet multiple tracks and lose more money then I know how to keep track. Stopping has been something I could never do for long periods of time. I wish I had a friend to help me through this my family has rejected me at this point. My best friend was my dad and he passed away 7 years ago, Now I'm all alone I keep my addiction from my girl f I have no job anymore and I feel helpless. I feel like it is nothing left for me to do but lose what little money I don't owe.
Where do I begin. I started gambling at 16. My friend's uncle took me to the local horsetrack in 1980 and I won $60
Thought I would never have to work again. Over the years I have easily lost over $300,000. Mostly from horse racing and sports gambling. Have lost friends and family due to my pathetic habit which has included stealing and borrowing cash in anyway to fund my habit. Don't get me wrong I have had some nice wins but like every other gambler I have given it all back and so much more. I also know for a fact that all this is so FIXED. Horse racing is a joke-jockeys just going for a leisure ride with no intention of winning let alone getting in the money. And sports gambling is even worse. Pro Football, Soccer, etc have their outcomes predeterminded. And it all stems back to the Vegas line.
Believe me when I say this, all Pro Sports are a joke. If you are into this type of gambling you will never win-you will instead lose everything. Dont be naive to think these sports matches are on the level. Its exactly the opposite.
I say maybe 10 per cent are legit and the rest are crooked as they come. I challenge any avid sports fan to watch a professional sports match and tell me if you dont spot more than 5 phony plays in a game leading to the other teams win or loss. Just keep track and you will understand what I am talking about. This is very important people I am not just wasting my time here. Dont get sucked into giving the bookies your hard earned cash.
dont know where to start.. but I was in adiction of Gambling, was never happy.
lost money... not happy
won money... but still not happy...
lost again... win , loss, loss, loss, win, loss, loss, loss and loss... i still rember the drive back to home with empty pockets... its was so painful... everynight.
its worst than any other addiction.. it runs in my blood.. i nearly runied my married life and i still remember my wife used to beg me to not to leave home in the evening but all i wanted was to leave home and reach the heaven (casino)... all the casino staff used to welcome me with open arms.. free drinks etc.... very heavy bets.... once i was inside casino i felt my life was complete with happiness and no worries for outside world AT ALL... from 2pm till 4am... this was casino closing time.
i used to tell my wife that i am not a gambler but i only go back to try to cover my losses.
it started in 2002 till 2004. lost everything, left pennyless.. and my wife was always there to support me even after all the sufferings. i promised myself not to make her suffer anymore... worked really hard and paid all the loans ( wife went bankrupt bacause of me)
March 2006 i went back in casino I dont know why but went for a fun.. but got hooked back in habbit nicely till Mar 2007...most of the nights of that year were spent in casino... Again lost everything... painful days of my life.
i knew that money belonged to my wife and 5 year old son... i should have spent the money for holidays and shopping and fun for my family but instead what i did was absolutely discusting.
march 2007 i swore of my sons life that i will not gamble in my country.. but only on holidays (out of country).
2008 went without gambling... i paid all my loans.
2009 went without gambling... paid all cards.
2010 went out of country and i enjoyed casino and costed me huge loss in casino...
2011 went out of country..again gambled and lost.
so this way i only gamble 2 to 3 days in one year...and rest of the year I don't think of gambling at all.
my son is 9 and i have a daughter 1 year old.. we are living a happy life... i am a gambler and always will..but i have restricted myself to not to gamble in home country.
its not easy to quit gambling habbit but restrictions really helps. please take care of yourselves and don't punish yourselves with torture 24x7x365.
i have choosen to torture my self for 24x7x2 instead...
love to all of you,
Well what can i say, i am 28.. and ive been gambling since i was 18, although i have never really gone overboard i have in the recent years, after winning a considerable amount about R400 000 which is about $50 000 dollars, i sat and gave it all back in a few short months, after winning a car, i sold it and have spent alot of that money, all in hopes of making that big win again, but it just never happens. i have now realized its up to me to stop all this nonsense, i could save up money much quicker than i could win it. lets not make those rich [people] any more richer :)
Well I don't even know where to start. i too tried ga years ago. Now today I'm sitting here after i just googled stop gambling tips thinking how/when i can get this $1000 rent up because today is the third, and this just poped up.. Feeling like a faiure and wondering why i continue to allow gambling to continue to control my life. I left a job that i was great at, and paid well all because of this problem. I put my own family through different stuff like borrowing money etc. I left my job at a major casino in (you know where town) all in the thoughts that if i didn't make enough money for one year i can find something that paid just as well in another industry after losing my whole paycheck. yet again 8 years later in my middle thrities i'm sitting hear in my kitchen broke while my wife is asleep and asking me what's wrong all day. i had to borrow money from my teen stepdaughter just so i can have gas tommorrow to drive my wife to an interview. i was doing good all year long then late in june,july,august,september, and my landlord just told me that the rent has got to be paid on time this month. 13 yrs in this town and a couple of relationships, credit,bank accounts,payday loans, being sued, all messed up because of these stupid poker tables that i have to sit at even though i know that people lose money. i was the dealer for christ's sake.. im just plain sick of it!!!
My heart is very sad:-( Gambling is ruining my life. I have been married for 25 years and now my husband and I are living apart. Our finances are a mess and I don't have any way to fix them anymore. He wants to help me but he doesnt know how. He deserves better and I think it's time for me to let him go. My friends and family know I have a gambling problerm and their advice to me is just don't go. I wish they could understand it's not easy. If only it were. I've been in counseling for years and it helps for awhile but never more than 6 months. GA was horrible experience for me and I won't ever go back. Not sure where to turn accept to myself and make the decision to get it together, grow up and stop being so selfish and stop hurting the people I care about. I know i'm a good person, I guess it's time I started acting like one:-) Thanks for sharing your stories.
That same question.."why do I gamble?" its always after losing a lot of money, if only I ask myself before I'm about to gamble then maybe I'd see the light and refrain from doing it, but I don't. I feel stupid, gutted and ashamed that I've just lost £500 in under 5 minutes, "I'll just gamble a little bit, just for a bit of fun" oh how I wish that was true, that 'little bit' doesn't stay little for long! Minutes pass and I've lost nearly £2000 and I'm only 19 years old. That same question enters my mind "why the hell did I just do that!?" money that could have been used for so much better than things in life, gone into the wealthy hands of Mr.Casino, how I hate him! But there's no point in blaming anyone, I'm the one placing the bets. So its up to me to stop myself from placing those bets. I keep telling myself that i don't want to quit on a low, but now I think about it, the amount I've lost would take me over a year to earn it back in a regular job. The more I chase my losses the more I lose and the bigger my losses become. You can't change the past, (as much as I wish you could) so change your future! Stop the gambling completely and who knows maybe I'll have some of my wages left at the end of this month. I've said it many a time that I'll stop as I'm sure most of you have too, I'm going to be strong this time, its time for change, I have my whole life ahead of me, I want it to be a good life, raise a family and settle down, be happy. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, a new me, a new chapter and a new gamble free life.
I have great respect for everyone who has written on this page, reading these comments has made me understand that I'm not alone and that my problem is shared among millions of other people. Writing this has really helped realize a great deal about myself, I shall be strong and determined and prove to myself that I can do this and stop wasting my life away to gambling.
I wish everyone the up most support in beating your addiction. Good luck to you all, and thank you.
Another sleepless night. 5 k gone again. Anxiety and stress levels through the roof. How am I going to cover it up this time. Don't volunteer information, somebody told me that a long time ago. Stupid, she deserves better. This was never part of the plan.
Fourteen years now I've been drawn in to the spinning reels. A hundred promises to my self and loved ones that I'd quit. But I always no in the back of my head what's really going to happen. A couple of months will go by and the urge will come back. Sane thinking gone to the wind and again I will open the door. Sad truly sad. How could one be so weak?
Keep fighting the fight good luck to all.
Why do I gamble? why do I have almost daily cravings to gamble? Those cravings are so very familiar. A build up of anticipation, anxiety, a straightforward viscereal need to get on the punt. Any excuse to justify getting out of the house or the office to get on that pursuit. Always the same, the same wad of cash and ATM's in the wallet, the same high and unrealistic expectations before the session begins (despite the myriad instances of previous failure with this pursuit, which are now of course conveniently pushed into the back of the mind). That quick walk up to the venue, that singular focus on the gambling pursuit, all other thoughts of doing other chores put away and any possible interruptions to the punt dealt with quickly or deceiptfully or otherwise. The relief on entering the venue, a few superstitious thoughts on this or that, some false logic about how you might be able to win on the machines today, carefully looking around to see who is in the venue (oh I definitely want to be anonymous in here and un-interupted during the coming 'session'..). Then placing the first note into the selected machine, you logging onto it in this way, you committed to it, it waiting for you to press those special buttons, you totally absorbed in this now. And then it goes as it goes, a few minor wins, some apparent 'near misses', you cursing your luck but not able to leave, going thorugh the wad in your wallet steadily, then angrily, then onto the ATM's, then the end. Thats it, enough for today, a feeling of despair, of loss, of idiocy. You creep away from the venue sullenly, no way in amy mood to talk to people, just need to walk away in silence, try and come to terms with the latest loss, the continual sequence of losses. And it all started from that hopeful craving that you couldnt suppress 1 hour ago....
Why do I gamble and what might I substitute for the gambling experience? That, I have found is really a hard one. Although gambling is all about the pursuit of money (i.e. for nothing), in many ways any monies won is just a temporary cash figure or just paper 'borrowed' from the gambling industry that will soon be returned. To me its not what I might use the temporary won monies for, it is really just money that can eventually be re-used again for gambling. Although in the material world there are many enticements for ones cash, a compulsive gambler rarely indulges in these, the 'thrill' of materialism or shopping is by no means an appropriate substitute for gambling. Or for many other indulgences - it really is hard to substitue the unique feelings of gambling with anything else and this is in itself a big part of the problem.
My life is so much better now that I dont gamble. I used to think about how I might win a few extra hundred, or maybe a jackpot, the allure of jackpots gets you in. But in reality I had been loosing hundreds every week, $100 does not last long, and when thats gone you think just 20, 40 etc etc until before you know it 300 has gone. Then totally devasted I leave, cursing myself and thinking of all the things i could have bought with that money. The worst point was a while ago I had drained every last cent into the pokies and then had to go for days with no money. After that I began to think differently, simply "My life is so much better when im not playing pokies" Im happier, I buy myself nice things instead of giving my money to the local pub or club, And im gradually paying of my credit card debt of 6000. your life will be so much better if you dont play them. Dont wish you had never gone or could start your day again...just dont go today at all and think how great it will be to have money to last you through till next week. I feel like a winner now...knowing that im not going to give them my money today....and Its safe in my bank account.... be strong xox
I have wasted nearly 2 decades of my life gambling on poker machines. It all started with a win of $650 when I was out with my husband one night. It was so exciting and exhilerating to win that money and then I started to go on my own. I would never use money that was there to pay the mortgage or the bills, I would use the "disposable" income and tell myself that was okay. I wasnt really addicted, because I could control what I took. But I was being deceitful, we could have had so much more, our mortgage paid off, more holidays, whatever, but I kept control of the accounts and bills and kept feeding the machines. At first I would play smaller amounts but over the years I do not get the same buzz unless I played big bets, sometimes $5.00 at a time. Even if I won a lot, sometimes $10,000 in a week, I would feed it all back in. Eventually he found out about it, by this stage I had hit rock bottom. I was depressed, didnt want to live, but worst of all as I grew up my girls, I was always moody and yelling at them because of my addiction. If I wasnt addicted, I would have been a better mother. They are now adults and have turned out okay, but I cant help thinking how different my life would have been without these poker machines. I ended up seeing a psychologist who referred me to a gambling treatment clinic. I finally picked myself up, started saving money, was calmer and happier and finally felt like I was in control. I dont remember why I walked into the club that day... what makes me think that I could just play a little bit. Back on that horrible spiral I have been for the past year... Although I was so embarresed, I contacted the gambling clinic again and I hope this is the last time. I hate myself for wasting so much of my life on poker machines. My husband found the bank statement and clear as day withdrawals at different clubs. I thought he was going to leave me that day, but he is sticking by me, but he doesnt know the extent of how much money I have lost over the past 20 years, I dont even really know for sure, $50 or $60 thousand who knows maybe more. I dont want this to be my life anymore, I want to get excitement and thrills from other things. Please God, help me this time. I read all your posts with tears streaming down my face, I know how you feel. All you young people who have got such a chance to make something of your life, get away from those machines, dont ruin your life the way I have, I am sobbing now as I write, if I can help someone to stop from my post I will be happy. Trust me you WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE. If you want to make money, study or get a job you really love, travel, go out with friends, do anything but gamble. You will just end up depressed, lonely, no husband or wife, no friends, no money and no job. I SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE, NO GOOD CAN COME FROM PLAYING THE POKER MACHINES. I wish they had never been invented, my life would be so different now. God help me and help all of you too. All the best
Why do I gamble? Why did I become a compulsive gambler might be my first question. It all started some nearly thirty years ago in a European seaside amusement arcade. I just pulled the handle on the fruit machine at that relatively young age and in those first moments of waiting for the outcome I was dazzled and in thrall to this new medium. Whatever result appeared on those reels did not seem to matter as I just went ahead and placed another coin in the thing and pulled the handle again. And so on – maybe the defining moment in my life. Horseracing, cards and other stuff soon followed and I was well in truly in the mix and commencing my lifetime career of gambling.
I’m guessing it was the way it scrambled my mind that first spin of the reels that really hooked me in. The anticipation, the speed, the waiting for the result – and then the excellent opportunity to just go for it again in the next few seconds. If I’m honest (and this is always the case with my gambling), the winning/losing didn’t matter - it was just the action that mattered, and sadly I was quickly overstepping the mark of common sense and losing far too much for what I could afford. My gambling career was to be by no means ‘recreational’; I had crossed the line to compulsive (although I wouldn’t fully acknowledge this until years later). I would abuse gambling like an alcoholic abuses alcohol - like a true alcoholic cannot really have a social drink, I would not be able to just be able to play with a limited amount of cash or finish after a certain length of time.
And so it goes on into my forties, this ‘player existence’ as I call it. Everything I do and think revolves around gambling (even when not playing). I have my awareness, diary and some self trickery to keep it from bankrupting me (although its been very close) but it will always bite me on the backside again. The short term bubbles of self delusion will be shattered once again and I will be properly put in my place for ever having the incredibly stupid thought that I could actually make some money from this pursuit. I guess one day in later life I may look back on the hours, days, months of play with a large sense of regret at how it haunted my life. It will feel cheap, nasty, pointless and empty – quite purely and simply a complete waste of time and energy. I will be hollow, will hide my habit, carry on being deceitful, covering up - punting to the end…
This comment was posted on behalf of 'G'
My opinion, There is No controlling gambling once you are an addict. there is no turning back to become a normal gambler, and anyone reading here now that thinks they
can, i urge you to reconsider your thoughts.Literally, listen to your THOUGHT PROCESS! is it truly you? or more like the devil talking!? All good intentions die when the compulsion takes over.
So I disagree with the article saying " control' . Nope, cannot be done by most gambling addicts. 15+ million in the world, 3+ million of them are pathological! that includes me. Proven , this is a Pathological disease, and
also considered a Mental Illness,. again, I agree! So, screw that right! who wants to go thru life labeled like that! Grrr. so we try over and over, and we fail Over and Over. NO THANK YOU! I choose LIFE!
i am done trying to be a 'normal' gambler simply because i know the odds are against me!I HAD a big win, back in my deepest sick days, I won Ten Thousand ! it was
awesome,and all given back to the devil machine in less than 2 weeks! ! OUCH! Do you know what a normal person says to that ! Ha, I soon was embarrassed to even tell anyone of that win. I never talked about it again.
It was the work of the devil in my mind. And that was when i went off the deep end years back and lost my home and business. Okay, so I AM NOT HEALED, yet, and even when I am healed, my thinking is healed, I will not even want
to gamble! The thought will not even cross my mind because my thinker will be fixed! - Gambling is NOT my Friend!
God Bless you all, there IS hope from this insidious disease, just don't try to control it! Quit, change your thought and views on it, and be a TRUE WINNER! Win your life back, and make Gambling the loser!
G
p.s. someone else mentioned this and they are correct > .... How many people
do you know that live comfortably on slot machine/poker machine income?
seriously! I always dreamt of being that person! Each time i won, I felt invincible when i was winning, you know what i mean!but the loss, now that was a reality check huh!
We are truly good people, with good intentions, .... we just need our thinker fixed ;)
G
I have found an easy way to abstain from gambling. I will not gamble today. I repeat this a few times to myself and have messages on my mobile. Saying I will never gamble again is quite difficult. So set an easy one DON'T GAMBLE TODAY. How long has this worked for?
I suppose this is a step program one day at a time. But just treat it today. Don't think about tomorrow just today. We cannot control yesterday or tomorrow but today is the day. Don't think of it I will stop gambling today, just I won't gamble today.
Some friends asked how long has this worked for, answering quite simply TODAY. Achieving a goal daily feels great. After a year that will account for 365 feelings of greatness.
Gambling will never deliver a great feeling every day of the year.
Not gambling is easy JUST DO NOTHING.
To gamble you have to dress up, make up excuses, lie thru your teeth, drive to the club, go to the atm, take your hard earned money then gamble. What is easier?
Wow....while reading these posts I have been able to prolong the burning desire to race down the road and throw all my cash in the pokies, and now that I’m writing a post, it pains me that I’m missing my valuable pokie time. I feel I exist purely to cause myself as much harm as humanly possible. The stress, the lies, the scams, the pain, the mental anguish are just too much! I’m 37 and have spent the last 20 years reinventing myself, who I am, what I do, and I hate the person I have become. I use to actually care about myself and enjoy life but that was before I become obsessed with pressing those stupid buttons. I have lost everything.
I left my wonderful wife of 11 years to her absolute 'horror' because I knew I couldn’t stop gambling, and I had started to change who she was through my lies and deceit. She will never know that [company name] gave me an 18k credit card, and [company name] was kind enough to give me a 22k card and the other 2 cards just had 5k each (thanks [company name] and [company name]). I couldn’t tell my wife that I had those cards as it would have possibly killed her. She would awake in the night and say "babe' you’re not gambling are you? 'There are no surprises out there are there'? as she had picked up the pieces before. I spent my 80k settlement cash in a few WEEKS, (God forbid I pay my credit cards out) my 45k car repossessed, my wife gone, I have finally exchanged all my friends for pokies which frees up that extra time I needed. I have never been more lonely :(
Yep we all have seen the train wreck created by gambling but for me the hardest part is yet to come. 8 weeks after I decided to leave my wife whilst the real estate agent was in our house to appraise it, my ex told me she was pregnant. After 4 years of trying to conceive we had done it. I have a beautiful 3.5 yr old girl who thinks daddy is superman. Sadly she is mistaken and daddy borders on pure evil. I have her every weekend and I dont even think of pokies when I am with her, but the financial scars impact harshly. She is my hero and has actually saved me from physical harm. [....] I really need to fight and for the first time and loosing is not an option. Good to get it out!
Feel free to [post a comment back to me]as its great to feel less alone.
What one has to consider as well as 'why do I gamble' is 'what I might become when I have a gambling problem'. Once you cross that line you will change as a person. You now have a new role in life which will involve you being deceiptful, hiding your true self and the potential to engage in a range of activities to perpetuate the gambling. Literally anything is possible when you enter this world, and my advice is if you realise that you have just entered this situation, do everything now to stop this going any further if you can. For many it might be too late...
Deception is the root of it all once you are a problem gambler I think. An instant ability to cover up ones gambling behaviour, even to the nearest and dearest. An ability to quickly make excuses at home, in the workplace etc. An ability to somehow always make time to gamble amidst the needs of family, work, friends and also the ability to always get ones hand on cash to be able to gamble. An ability to face the family after losing 3000 $ in an afternoon pokies session and then talk with the kids as though nothing had happened (smiling on while feeling the empty pain and stupidity at having just done that). An ability to seek out loans to further fund the gambling. An ability to consider criminal schemes to further fund the gambling. An ability to consider ones own death as a way to ultimately escape the gambling problem. And so on into the abyss. Scary and possibly extreme is it may sound, this is what the world of problem gambling offers to its members - people who were once quite stable and strong.
Hi . i dont know from where to start..i lost like 5 k in gambling since 7 months..i lost my gf..i am moody..each time i have money in my pocket..i go to the online poker ..thinking that i will win..my life suck..my parents dont know that i gamble..I am afraid of their reaction when they ll discover that i am a gambler..I am studying mechanical engineering..I dt kw why i like gambling..I decide two month ago that i am gona go and play..reach 100 dol a day and stop..do it for one month so i can get back a small part of my losses..I went one day..I won 500 dolars..I played in the same day in another casino..i reached 1000 dolars and then lost everything including the 500 dol.. Its horrible to be a gambler.. I hope i can find a treatement..I want to live my life like any normal person.. I m only 21 years old..Its nt too late..But how can we stop !!! My pocket is always empty.. what s the solution?!
One honest answer to the question ‘why do I gamble’ is the admission that the ‘short term wins are worth the longer term inevitable losses’. What I think this means is that, although I fully realize the probabilistic long term outcomes of gambling, I’m still willing to enter the fray in the short term to attempt to enjoy the possibility of winning something on that particular day. And of course by then doing this I will inevitably have to pay back and more for this. So its about the joy/thrill of winning for me – that overrides the sober evidence and however much I’ve tried to stop for periods over the years, I will sooner or later cross back over the line into the gambling world. Boredom, frustration and other stimuli can take me back into it so very easily, it’s a very thin line for me and even though I keep a spreadsheet of lifetime accumulated losses, I will be ‘back on the punt’ sooner or later. I guess the only way I could completely stop is if there was zero access, maybe living in Bhutan or somewhere with no internet could achieve this, but in reality there will always be gambling supply on hand and I have to continue to live with the problem as best I can.
So what is this thing about winning? this manna from heaven that perpetuates the punt? Well winning is a special electrifying, personal feeling for me, that can (seemingly) settle problems in an instant. It certainly hits all the right pleasure spots for me. Its all about being correct for once, getting it right on ones own and then being rewarded. Hours of irrational play are punctuated by the occasional win which will then perpuate the play onwardly into the future, a repeat win is always necessary. But that winning feeling runs very deep and is sure to keep me involved in gambling for a lifetime because I will need to hit it again and again.
Why do I gamble? I think the main word is 'indeterminancy'. Before I gamble I have a heightened anticipation of what will happen during the session. This involves usually being optimistic at the outset (i.e. the skys the limit) and then the moods change as the results of each gamble comes in. Its all about this mood journey through the particular session, both conciously and subconciously. This gambling problem is all rather artificial of course, I guess its something I was pre-disposed to and started at a fairly young age. I think the key problem is that once the gambling gets entwined with your real life and its responsibilities its incredibly hard to shakeoff or purge. 'Quitting' isnt straightforward by any means, once you've problem gambled repeatedly it becomes part of your makeup unfortunately. The regrettable thing is that the very nuanced ups, downs, twists and turns of gambling exist somewhere else beyond all day to day responsibility and 'normality'. Once one enters and experiences that world one is in for some real trouble, and getting back to what feels like a humdrum existence is incredibly hard. Any opportunity to re-enter the gambling world is hard to resist and the mind conveniently forgets all previous painful experiences to help pave the way back to the play. It is and feels logigally like utter stupidity the inevitable repetition of gambling, but the subtleties of the addiction are incredibly difficult to fathom. Awareness is all I have, the cure is somewhere out there in the galaxy..Good luck and stay away if you can.
Those 5 spinning reels that scramble the mind for a few mili-seconds. The anticipation, the waiting for the outcome. The mind suspended in some abstract state awaiting the potential for excitement and reward. Never mind the clear probability and logic of losing with the pokies - 92%, 87&, xx% payout, whatever - I got my science degree, I know all of that, but that doesnt matter to me now. I'm here alone in the cool darkened venue, reality is put away for a while, the next spin is all that matters, I'm totally absorbed, maybe today I will hit the feature or a major jackpot. Also, I could be doing many things beside this, I could be drinking fine wine, shopping, whatever - but nothing can substitute for these machines, nothing is as compelling. Even if I win a large amount I would quickly tire of retail options for the stash of cash and I'd soon be back in one of these venues seeking more personal glory. Get a run going for a while, live a dream existence, before it all turns devastatingly round to a major loss, caution thrown to the wind as I cram notes into machines unaware of my bank balance, debts or responsibilities. The benign of the punt turns into the malign, Im kicked down again into personal despair, regretful, vowing to quit, begging that I actually could - lost, losing, gone...
Once gambling becomes your chosen or unchosen way of life then everything changes. I cant remember the number of times I had a few hundred dollars in my pocket with the intention of buying some new clothes or something necessary only to mix up these normal and typical needs with the visit to the pokies venue en-route to the shops. 'Maybe if I have some spins I can get the clothes free' runs through my mind in a flash. 'Just a few spins, go on, you might as well'. And then if I didn't hit the pokies den I'd get some strange unscratched feeling on the way home, some kind of regret that I didn't get my daily action. Never mind though, as this is a 24/7 pursuit theres always another venue close at hand to get your kicks, you can always quickly play again somewhere on this new life continuum. The emptiness, despair, stupidity and futility of then losing. Banging my fists against walls, screaming at myself to stop this idiocy and insanity, filling in forms to self exclude, considering leaving the country, anything to get away from those 5 reels. Then a day later with the pain receding, and some logic returning (and also being burned enough not to go to the venue today) I reflect on how this could have happened to me, this stupidity in my life in a life with so many good things going for it now sullied by this involvement.
Once you step over the recreational line with gambling, and the pokies are probably the most easy and slippery method to do this - expect BIG trouble in all areas of your life. It really doesnt take long, and initially you may not realise it has happened, but once it has the dynamics of your life will change, and the gambling force can rip through your life and those around you. Conciously at times you may think you have re-gained control, or that its no longer a problem, or you managed to cover up your play and/or losses to those around you, but sooner or later it will bite back with avengence - the need to gamble remains supreme and it will go down all devious paths to make sure you return to the play and always for whatever crumbs you thought you won or regained it will exact a heavy toll and the next set of losses will be steeper and more dangerous. Non recreational (i.e. compulsive) gambling is the road to personal extinction. BEWARE!
Hi Everyone,
Unlike a lot of you I am quite young (early 20s) and have just finished a well-renowned university degree and have a part time job which pays well. Everything in my life is fantastic on paper but for some reason i let gambling undermine what would otherwise be an extremely enjoyable life. Tonight i lost several hundred dollars and blamed it on my girlfriend for not coming to collect me from the pub earlier. Upon reflection (only 2 hours after) i feel profoundly sickened at what came upon me to come to such a conclusion. It has happened one too many times where i make my gambling addiction either directly or indirectly someone elses problem and i feel ashamed for this.
I have came to the conclusion that there are three levels of gambling. 1. You gamble for fun. 2. You gamble to win. and 3. You gamble out of habit (and don't really know why). I cannot quite comprehend my addiction. It seems whenever i get paid my intitial temptation is to immediately head to the pub to gamble and win money (when i have it in most abundance). And i use specious logic to justify this to myself such as myself finding this 'relaxing' or a means of 'winding down' when of course i know deep down that 95% of the time i will probably end up losing. It also makes matters a lot worse when you contextualise the gambling and realise that you have often worked 2 or 3 days just to spend 2 or 3 hours at what becomes the most expensiove pub in the universe.
To make matters (EVEN MORE) worse, things which i previously loved just for pleasure have became a sickening means of potentially winning money. I refer specifically to AFL where now i find myself often hoping a team player will not score a goal (or get a possession) on the basis that i have a bet on somebody else to win in that category. It is so pathetic it is actually a disgrace.
Tonight i hereby WILL stop because it has gone too far. It will be particularly hard for me because i have many friends (and family members) who gamble and who will constantly lure me into playing more. I will have to be strong and openly tell them i will not be doing so anymore. I am often a heavy drinker so this will make matters even harder, but i am very glad i have strong willpower.
I was so depressed earlier tonight but as soon as i have decided to stop gambling i feel i have had a huge win which is much more genuine than any jackpot or multi bet and the feeling is not accompanied with any guilt. I hope more people can join me. And i will keep all updated on my progress.
My problem is no matter how much I win it all goes back into the machine. Yesterday I had probably the biggest win streak of my life. Thought there was no way I was leaving a loser. Well guess what, a few hours passed and guess how much I went home with. $0. I am not greedy like this anywhere else in life. These machines are more addictive than any drug or anything in this world. I swear to God they are.
Hi Guys,
I thought i might post my story in an attempt to cure my bad gambling habit. I am 23 years old, a carpenter by trade. I live with my grandparents because i cannot afford to live on my own. I have been gambling since i was 19, first it started at the tab, then the casino (crown). I stole close to $100,000 and blew it on sports betting, i ended up going to prison for 1 year. Even after i was released i started gambling heavily again on the sports (afl,baseball,nba,tennis). I spend every cent i have and i only leave myself each week with enough to scrape by. Every payday i CANNOT resist going to the tab on the way home i just see the signs on the way home then i cannot resist. Every time i gamble and lose i keep telling myself thats it, no more gambling buy it doesnt happen. From now i am going to try my very best to not gamble anymore. GAMBLING IS A SIN. GAMBLING IN ALL FORMS IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU LOSE! DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE THAT MAKES A LIVING OFF GAMBLING? IF YOU DO THEY ARE LIEING TO YOU. THIS IS A FACT- YOU WILL NEVER BE IN FRONT GAMBLING. GAMBLING WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE,TAKE YOUR FRIENDS,MAKE YOU MOODY,ETC. GAMBLING IS THE MOST EVIL AND SEDUCTIVE ADDICTION THERE IS! GOOD LUCK PEOPLE I HOPE WE CAN ALL STOP MAKING THESE BOOKIES RICH.
hi everybody i won over 15,000 at the casino but have lost over 1,000,000,000 DOLLARS yes the casinos fun yes you love to see that blackjack win u have a 5,000 dollar bet but WHY everybody on here has a money hungry addictive personality best bet for u and i is get away now [....]!!!!
Hi there, I am 24 years old and have only been gambling for close to a year i feel sorry for a lot of these people when they lose their families , homes , kids , wives and husbands cars ect because some of these stories are alot worse then mine. in the past 6 - 8 months ive spent every last dollar ive earnt gambling at either the online casinos, the casino here in melbourne and any pokie venue that was close by at the time. just trying too chase that big win and get my partner a new car she so well deserves i feel so horrible because my partner really needs a new car and has so for quite some time but it just has been one thing after another that keeps stopping her ..... ME. it started with my drug and alcohol addiction then transitioned into alcohol and gambling. i dont know what to do with myself im already in so much debt around 50 k i dont even know how many financial companies and debt collectors chase me on a day by day basis i just dont even answer my mobile phone anymore , ive changed the number and my address that many times and they still keep finding me. i dont have the means or the will to pay these debts off it gets me so depressed. not to mention the thousands or dollars i owe my family friends and my partner i dont know why i have such an addictive personality but i just cant stop myself from going all i want is that grand jackpot get the missus her car and be done with it. but it never happens when i think about it i probably have spent enough money gambling alone to almost buy her the car she wants if only i had saved it in the bank i feel so ashamed right now i just want it all to end. im feeling so sick to the stomuch as ive only recently come home after skipping work going to the pokies and spending over $400 cash. now i dont have any dinner tonight nor for the rest of the week till next pay day the missus is furious at me and if he dad gives up on me for letting him down today she will aswell. [....] i dont know what to do with myself i just keep thinking if i had more money somehow i could go back and get it all back. i really wish all forms of gambling were banned in this country because they just ruin our lives yeah sure you get some good stories but mostly bad ones.
when i think of all the things ive done for gambling and my addictions i have gotten nothing back at all , i have lied , cheated and stolen for gambling and have got nothing back. i hope to report back here sometime in the future to give progress on how my recovery is going. i really think this is the end of gambling for me .
I am a gambler..translates into a self destructive,lonely
depressed creature that hates himself and therefore
can love no one!!!.I am that gambler!!!
In short I have gambled for 22yrs .I have destoyed
one marriage,2 luxury homes ,and over $360,000
in cash!!!but that's not all I now have a beautiful wife
and 2 children that are true angels that love me!-I have
brought happiness to my home only after some wins
the rest of the time just lies,broken promises and finacial
hardships!!!,on occassions I have thought
about doing permenant harm to myself,but
I know that it's a cowards solution-the little pride
and self respect I have left tells me to stop!Stop!
Stop! It took a lot for me too come clean with
my wife but I told her all about my sordid gambling
addictionTab,pokies,casino,poker the works!For 2 weeks I have been clean and now when I tell them I love them I know I am not lying again!
Lol to all you can beat it,I know I have and
I am betting everything on that!-Its my only
sure thing
I am lazy. I always want simple and easy things for myself. I wanted to work short hours and get a big pay. It was when I started gambling. At casinoes, you do not do anything except sitting down and checking your cards. Therefore, gambling was the career I picked for myself because I was so naive that I was smart and lucky enough to win the money. However, things did not go as I had expected. I was compulsive and hot tempered. I wanted everything quick and hate waiting. This was where I failed and lost money. I did not work but used all my financial aid money to gamble. When I ran out of money, I took cash advance from credit card. 5K, then 10K. Before I turned 24, I owed 23K debt, not counting what I had lost in cash. I was desperate and wanted to kill myself, but I did not have the courage. I persuaded myself that it was not the end of the world and I could start a new life if I stop gambling. I talked to my sisters and they helped me out. I started to pay off my debt and still had 5K to finish. In reality, I still went to casino once in a while and everytime I only stopped after losing 5K and up. I could say that I have lost total of 70K in nearly 10 years. I don't like shopping, but spending thousands for gambling. I stopped and started again. After winning 1K playing slot machine, I again thought that I could gamble to win money back and even make it as a job. For 2 weeks straight, I was so lucky that wherever I gambled, I won. I won 1K, but lost 3K later. Nevertheless, I got back all. I should stop at the time, but thinking that I could win back the money I lost before kept pushing me going back to casino. I still won. For a week, I won 14K and with my own 6K, I had 20K. I planned to buy my dad a used minivan, so he could have a job himself driving others to casino for 20 bucks. I even laughed at others why made so little why I could win 5K in a day. I started to win $100, $500, 1K, 2K, 3K, and 5K each day. I went three days a week and then every day. I wanted more and more and forgot what I told myself before (Win and run). I started to have expectation of winning 5K a day until one day. I still remember that day clearly. I started the game and already won more than 4K, but still short some hundreds from 5K. I used to run after winning like the other days, but that day I wanted 5K. Then I lost 1 game of $1200. I was mad and could not think clear. I wanted my money back. Good, got back $900 after 2 games. Okay, it would work for me, just be patient. The next game, I lost $1800 and that's where I lost control and thinking. At that time, I still won $800 but it seemed not enough to me. In my opinion, I brought 5K and must win more than $800. It was just not my goal. I lost my 5K. That night, I could not sleep and wanted to go back to the casino with my remaining 15K to win back my 5K. When I got home, my dad told me that he wanted to borrow his sister's money so we could buy a house, but that was no longer matter to me. In my mind, I only wanted to get back my money. I thought about giving 15K to my parents because I knew I might lose it all, but I did not do that. I had work the next day, but asked my boss for coming late 1 hour, and I LOST 15K only in that one hour. I knew I only stop gambling if I lost. I hid and lied to my family. I knew it not right to gamble but I liked the money. Now I decide to stop, but I regretted about the money. I keep thinking about what I can do with that amount which I should think before but did ignore it.
I have a family and a nice boyfriend who I do not want to lose. I used to ignore this when I gambled.
I still have the urge to go back to the casino, but too afraid to lose because I cannot afford to lose anymore. I have to tell myself that "NO GAMBLE, NO LOSE, NO NEED TO WIN BACK".
Gambling has possessed my life for ten years. It is time that I get back the control for everybody's sake.
I still have parents to take care of and a boyfriend who loves me. I do not want them to get hurt.
I cannot guarantee but I will do my best to make it work this time.
My tip is that you will want to gamble to win money because you are greedy. If we can care less about money and greed, then there will be no need to gamble.
I need to be more active. Laziness makes gambling attempted, but will not take us anywhere. Work and enjoy life is what we should life for.
Thank you for sharing your stories. It will help others to realize that they are not alone and where gambling may lead them to (poverty, loneliness, lying, depression, etc).
gambling ruined my family life - my unemployed father beat and abused my mum for money to take to the pokies - & of course he always said it was for something else. the ironic thing is, he was an educated man, who coudln't admitt his addiction and still close to 30 years on, cannot.
if i could part any advise to gambling addicts, is, to get help now. 1st. admitt you have a problem to yourself, 2nd. admitt it to your friends and family and 3rd. begin moving on - you will never win back your losses but you may save yourself and loved ones many more years of grief, pain and lonliness.
For me it started off as learning how to play - then DING DING DING! I won the jackpot %650 :) .. 2 weeks later I went back for more and now 7 months later I HAVE to go at least once a week. I'm 18??? .. This is ridiculous, I'm was at the point where I'd skip classes to go to pokies? .. OMG! help? . I have started to write down my diary entries and I try to think about what other things I can spend the money on. I now only go when going for dinner or on special occasions. All I need to do now is maintain my good progress and thrive through my bright future I have ahead :) :) :) :)
Well this is my first time writing on this,and I am in the same boat as all of u.it actually makes me feel I'm not alone but in fact I am.I have blown alot of money away in da past 7 years.I cOuldnt even tell you how much.I'm too scared to count.I just wish I could stop goin to the Pokies.it keeps drawing me in,and I tink I'm gOin to win but I know I won't.but I'm a loser and always will be if I keep goin.I owe alot of Money to many people.by me writing this and reading comments has made me realize they are crap and does give a little bit of hope I can change.for now.i know I can stop but I'm scared of the outcome once ive stoped.I k ow that what will be on my mind will be how much money I owe,that's why I go so I don't think but I'm making my problems worse.I have taken the first step in saying I have a gambling problem!!!!!!and everytime I think of goin to the Pokies I am just going to write o. This forum,it's like my diary and I will read the comments,it actually helps in some way to read these comments.good luck to myself and also good luck to all of you trying to stop.
I am exhausted, mentally and physically. Because it's not just the financial hardship and stress that gets sucked out of me, its the late nights and lack of sleep that put a strain on my body as well. This is the first time I have ever been on this website, and why now?, because I've hit rock bottom. Another late night of spending everything we had, just waiting, hoping for that win that will get me back to even, but we all know it rarely comes. My main poison is Poker, live, online, venues, home games wherever their is a card game, that's were I'll be. It is so easy to convince myself that this time I'll win, because I have more control over the game then pokies. When in reality I don't. But what is reality when your a gambler? I play at the felt for 10mins or 10hours, I'll have a little win, then a big lose, re buy and repeat. Then comes the time of the night I finally give up on the cards, convinced the poker gods aren't on my side so I hit the mechanical machines upstairs trying to "win" back my losses. The people I lie to, cheat from and deceive all for this sick, cruel decease. Today is the day I admitted, "I have a gambling problem" Let's hope tomorrow looks brighter.
Ok, I've been off the pokies for a few weeks now - feel quite good about that and am actually working somewhere where this no access to the things so good all round. This is a good situation, but it wont last. What is actually happening now is that my brain is being numbed and 'prepared' for the next big losing session which is somewhere down the road. It might be a week, a month, a year, but that pathetic promise that the pokies offer will lure me back into a venue to play them again. Its hardwired now, part and parcel of all things and my makeup. I will walk up to the venue with good intentions, try and only go for a while, maybe win 20 bucks to make it a more of a pleasant day etc. Well that would be the plan anyway, just treat them as benign fun things that I can control. The first few spins would be like this, then it would start going wrong - 20$ down, 50, 100, 1000!!!. Time for maximum spin chasing! oh the hell of it all, back in the zone, the true maligness of the things kicking in now! If only I had gone straight to the shop to start with and bought those new clothes I liked, if only. I'm deep in now, and I cant face leaving this venue until I got some of this back. Im openly cursing the machines now, oblivious to those around me! This is scary, adrenilin flows - how will I get away with this again with my wife and kids, I'm 45 years old for gods sake - a good job, mortgage, friends - I shouldnt be involved with this nonsense, oh why oh why oh why I bleat to myself. Truly pathetic! I pull out my 3rd ATM card of the day, will pull another 400 out of the machine, a few more maximum spins, some hope to get me out of this. It goes, its gone, despair kicks in, I smash my fist against the wall in the toilet, mutter loudly expletives, what a mess, what a mess....
im a loser. its a simple as that. pokies are the most evil, malign force in the world. they are slowly destroying who i am and who i once was. i am 23 and have been gambling for a while now. living off paycheck to paycheck. losing it all the time. today i spent $400 of my mothers money. i wouldnt have a clue how much i have wasted of my oen money. id hate to imagine. now i owe mum over $2,000. i left the pokies in tears. i felt liking throwing up, running away and even thought about hurting myself. i have never been so miserable in all my life. and know i have i have to face up to what im doing. today was a massive reality check. i am an idiot for ever doing this. but i swear right know that i will never gamble again on anything. i hate money but id rather have it than the feelings i have right know.
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