Lottery Addiction

Flow

Dormant account
Joined
Nov 13, 2016
Location
Florida
Hello,

I am new on here and not so experienced in the world of gambling so please cut me some slack. I am 22 years old and have saved around $20K since 2009, little by little doing side jobs but mostly I was buying and selling computers. My first scratch-off was a $1 ticket and I won $20, filled up my gas tank and never played another one for about a year. Never had any issues with the lottery. A year passes by and after my lunch break one day I purchase two $2 tickets and win $200, this is what got me hooked. I left with my winnings but gambled it all away within a few days.

I've been playing for a solid year and have lost all of my savings, hours of my time and not sure what I should do moving foward. I did visit the casino once with my brother and played the slots but I could control myself and left after spending $20-40. The main scratch-offs I played were $20/25 cards, some days I would spend over $1500 on them and be playing in these gas stations for hours on end. Even if I won $500 on one, I'd go buy more and eventually loose it all...

I'm struggling with OCD at the same time and my mind is in so many places. Today I think my bottom has come after loosing $470 that my dad loaned me on more tickets, he is a very hard worker and it makes me sick in my stomach.

Any advice will be appreciated.
 
Welcome to CM Flow!

Sorry to hear about your troubles....battling addiction is never easy, taking OCD on top makes it even more difficult. But it can be done!

You made already the first steps in the right direction --> admitting to yourself you have a gambling problem and starting to seek help.

However, you should seek professional help and the best in Florida are Gamblers Anonymous. Here is the link to their meeting locations:
You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.


Don't feel embarrassed to show up because there are literally millions other addicted gamblers in similar or even much worse situations. I can also recommend that you talk to your dad to agree with him on a plan how you can manage your available money and of course that he will not borrow you more money which currently you would gamble and drift further into problems.

You are very young, DO NOT WASTE your life on gambling. All the best on your journey to recovery. :thumbsup: :)
 
I'm pretty sure you have heard "AA" for alcoholics. There is a similar organization to help people with gambling problem. I think it is called Gamblers Anonymous.
Google Gamblers Anonymous, and I'm sure they have a branch near where you are, call them, go to the meeting etc.

Find another thing you want to and you can do when you feel urges to play lotto. Playing online game like LOL is very popular among young people and I can see they spend hours for playing that game. Or you can go shopping or go out for eating, go some place where there is no lotto shop near you.

Watch some documents on youtube etc to what happened to Gambling addicts when they didn't try to stop. You are young. You don't want that kind of future for yourself.

Don't think about the money you lost any more.

Every morning when you wake up, talk to yourself. "I'm not going to play gamble.", Talk to yourself every hour if you need.
Put the picture of homeless person from movie on your wallet, and write this
"This is my future if I don't stop."

Don't give up.
 
Thanks for both of your responses. I can enjoy a casino without losing a lot but scratch-offs are hard because they are sold in most grocery stores, gas stations and malls. I just watched a documentary about state lotteries and it's exactly how I thought it would be, 10-15% of players make up 80% of all lottery revenue, players like myself.
 
I guess it is really hard to control yourself, when "lotto" shop is everywhere.

My suggestion will be, when you go out, take a cash-the amount you think you need for that outing- with you, and leave all the card and extra cash at home.

I don't recommend to go to a casino to replace your lotto playing, if you have fallen to excessive lotto play, it is more likely you will fall to excessive gambling in a casino.

Try to stay home-I know it's not a good suggestion for 22 year old, but it is very important to cure your addiction.

Stay home and find something you can do at home other than gambling-online game like LOL, warcraft, binge watching some TV shows on netflix, or joining some online forum-at the moment probably talking about the politics will make you busy.

The most important thing, please contact GA ASAP.
 
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Day One

Before I went to bed I checked my last two tickets, one was for lotto and the other for powerball. They were both losers so I flushed them down my toilet but before I let them disappear I actually tried reaching for them but I was too slow. :) I will be at home because I don't have any more money to loose and my interest right now is to learn programming, primarily PHP and MySQL which can take some time.

I am on my way to the tire shop this morning because last night I found a nail in my tire, luckily this shop does not charge for flat repair.
 
So far so good

I have not placed a bet since I started this thread, today I had an urge but just decided to use that cash for a full tank of gas. ;)
 
Good for you. Keep going, and it is a good plan to spend money for something else when you feel urge to play. Stacking up chocolate is really a good idea:D
 
I have not placed a bet since I started this thread, today I had an urge but just decided to use that cash for a full tank of gas. ;)

Well done Flow :thumbsup: ..... keep going like this and you will feel how you get the control over your life back again. Not buying tickets will empower and motivate you every time you succeed.

We'll be here to listen and help at any time. :thumbsup:
 
Just as a side note, in my country at least, scratch tickets have amongst the worst odds of winning out of all types gambling, making you bound to lose a lot of money real fast. Most people don't know this however, so don't feel bad about it.

My advice would be to cut it "cold turkey". Whenever you get the urge, just say NO with large voice inside yourself. It will be hard the first few times, but it gets much easier after a short while.

I also find myself to gamble when I am bored, so a great tip would be to start an activity whenever you get the urge. Could be as simple as taking the car out for a drive, take a walk, whatever.

Good luck!
 
I failed myself

Since I started this thread I had no more money left to gamble until today (payday), after cashing my check and paying a few bills I had $600 left in my pocket. I tried to tell myself no and even drove away when I pulled into a gas station but I failed just a few hours ago. All of that is now gone and not sure what I will do now because my next check isn't due for another two weeks.

Being 22 years old with acne, OCD compulsion + being a compulsive gambler, is life even worth living? I feel like shit, the lottery was my only option in having a chance out of my current situation. Lord help me... :(
 
Since I started this thread I had no more money left to gamble until today (payday), after cashing my check and paying a few bills I had $600 left in my pocket. I tried to tell myself no and even drove away when I pulled into a gas station but I failed just a few hours ago. All of that is now gone and not sure what I will do now because my next check isn't due for another two weeks.

Being 22 years old with acne, OCD compulsion + being a compulsive gambler, is life even worth living? I feel like shit, the lottery was my only option in having a chance out of my current situation. Lord help me... :(

Sorry to hear of your relapse.

Please contact GA for help: Link Outdated / Removed .....as otherwise you will have a déjà vu in 2 weeks.

OCD and acne can be treated with medication - please see your GP, it will change your life.
 

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