Finished and no going back...

claramess

Non-Gambler
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Location
venus
Hello
My name is Claire and I have a gambling addiction.
A few years ago I was on bed rest after being ill. I started playing bingo online, the foxy bingo adverts made it seem harmless. Then I branched out and started to play slots. After I went back to my normal daily life I forgot all about it.

A while later I started up again, little bit older but not any wiser. I won some money (about £600) and that encouraged me to play more. I lost, a lot. I gave myself a shake and stopped gambling for about a year.

Started up again about a year and a half ago and I have messed up my entire life since then. I have about £6000 worth of debt, £2000 in mortgage arrears and I have lost most of my confidence.

A year and a half ago my family were really dependent on me, I saw gambling as an outlet. Most of the debt isn't from gambling but it hasn't helped the situation. I am a compulsive gambler, I literally feel like I can't stop myself the majority of the time.

I have closed and blocked the accounts I can remember. I want to quit completely as its not enhancing my life, it's making me miserable.

For some the best option might be support groups or support in this forum. For me, I am going to cut all ties and get my self together, while I'm still young enough to fix things financially and while I have the will to do it.

Please if you are struggling get help.

I wish everyone good luck.

Casinomeister could you please close my account, seeing other people's wins so readily is terrible for me.
 
There is a separate forum here on CM you can go to for non-gamblers.
I think you need to ask to be put in it.
 
Thank you, first things first and a positive is that I have been paid and I am making a plan to sort things out.

I know you probably dont need this advice but please the first thing on your list is the mortgage, sort them out and sod everyone else you owe money too!!, deal with this priority debt. I have volunteered for the Citizens Advice for a number of years and mortgage companies can be very understanding, I wish you the very best of Luck, stay strong, download Gamblock, confide in someone, we all need a shoulder to cry on at times
 
Thank you, the mortgage and debts were told priority.
Arrangements in place as of this morning. Going to be a tough first couple of months but I'm definitely ready for it. :thumbsup:
 
Charness You are in very good company.

You are certainly in very good company. I applaud your decision and wish you the VERY best at successfully stopping. I have been wrestling with frequent lack of control for the past two yeas at least.

I'm giving myself until year end. If I cannot prove to myself that I can play within control---I will not play online at all.

Best wishes.
 
There were times I thought I had control of my spending, like yourself said "well this is the last month I'll give myself to get it under control" it never happened for me but I wish you good luck.

There are a few games I miss because I quite liked the graphics or music but a lot if the games I was playing for the win potential and I was bored.

This month I have a little bit of money left to last til payday and then the debt repayments start.
 
Wobble...

Ok, so it's a few days after payday and this is when I would usually have a big splurge.

I'm not going to lie, I have had a look at some websites and played some games in 'fun' play. I can honestly say it was boring. I didn't find any games I wanted to play or any new games that really took my fancy, which I guess is great !

Happy to say that even though I had a little wobble and opened an account with a site, I didn't spend any money and it's now closed.
 
Ok, so it's a few days after payday and this is when I would usually have a big splurge.

I'm not going to lie, I have had a look at some websites and played some games in 'fun' play. I can honestly say it was boring. I didn't find any games I wanted to play or any new games that really took my fancy, which I guess is great !

Happy to say that even though I had a little wobble and opened an account with a site, I didn't spend any money and it's now closed.

Well done :thumbsup:

Unfortunately wobbles happen, but you were strong enough to not give in. Hopefully that'll help you continue with what you've achieved so far :notworthy
 
Stay strong Clara, what you have said sounds honest and true and for that I applaud you. Once you realise you will just give your money away long term then there is less of a compulsion. If it is about escape then there are plenty more meaningful ways to escape and be with yourself for an hour or two. Beating a gambling addiction will teach you things about yourself you never knew before, and it will make you a prouder person. I believe you will do it from what I have read and I know you can.

If I may I have picked one thing from your post I would like to highlight.

Casinomeister could you please close my account, seeing other people's wins so readily is terrible for me.

This is a very good point and a lesson to all. The huge winning screenshots are like crack cocaine and induce people to gamble. To be honest I think some affiliates know this and are guilty of pushing them for that reason :rolleyes:. The truth about them, the rarity and what it costs to hit them, is what is hidden.
 
Stay strong Clara, what you have said sounds honest and true and for that I applaud you. Once you realise you will just give your money away long term then there is less of a compulsion. If it is about escape then there are plenty more meaningful ways to escape and be with yourself for an hour or two. Beating a gambling addiction will teach you things about yourself you never knew before, and it will make you a prouder person. I believe you will do it from what I have read and I know you can.

If I may I have picked one thing from your post I would like to highlight.



This is a very good point and a lesson to all. The huge winning screenshots are like crack cocaine and induce people to gamble. To be honest I think some affiliates know this and are guilty of pushing them for that reason :rolleyes:. The truth about them, the rarity and what it costs to hit them, is what is hidden.

I see your point but that's like telling a supermarket to put a false wall around their wine and spirits aisle in case any alcoholics happen to walk in.
Secondly, the big screenshots aren't the cause of somebody being urged to gamble. If the problem player won one similar, they'd simply have won nothing; all they'd have is the means to stake their next session.

The majority whom are responsible players shouldn't be deprived of the right to see them. Clara can simply ask CM to move her account to the 'non-gambling' status and then she won't be able to see them anyway. This problem is already catered for.
 
Hey dunover no problem look I agree that everyone has the right to see screenshots. We all should live in a free world after all. Like you (I think) I enjoy seeing mammoth wins - especially on games I have never seen hit big before. Also you are correct in that there is a solution on here to this problem in being placed in "quit gambling" if you so desired.

However lets be fair here, you cant say this

the big screenshots aren't the cause of somebody being urged to gamble.

You just don't know that. Looking at what the op said "seeing other people's wins so readily is terrible for me" I would strongly suggest you are in fact completely incorrect on that part. They definitely work as a trigger for some people.

Anyway we can't hijack the OP's thread. I accept the rest of what you said and accept there is a solution on here. I also agree people do enjoy seeing the screenshots, myself included and I do not want anyone "deprived" of seeing them who wants to see them, like you said. Don't want to argue with you.
 
It's logical to think screenshots of big wins will give ex-gamblers the urge to gamble.
 
It's logical to think screenshots of big wins will give ex-gamblers the urge to gamble.

Maybe, maybe not. Explain then why people shovel thousands into FOBT's in one session when they can only win £500 in one go? The addiction is mainly centred round the act of gambling/playing, the zoning out whilst doing it than the potential winning combinations that can be gained.
Therefore the use of the word 'logical' in reference to gamblers is probably incorrect. In fact, to a non-gambler or controlled gambler the actions of a compulsive gambler and the games they play, the odds/prizes and the amount they spend in relation to them are totally illogical, nay irrational.
 
It's complicated to explain. But the definition of logic as I understand it is; a small piece of evidence.
In some cases where you have to make a decision, it makes more sense to go on the small pieces of evidence.
I can offer an example; In court it's an ordinary person's word against a policeman's word. It's logical to go with the policeman's word because they are generally known for their honesty.

I can offer some authoritative evidence as well. Here in Australia there is government legislation saying that businesses that sell smokes must cover the smokes up so that the packages are not seen by the public. It's the same idea behind hiding pictures of big wins from problem gamblers.
 
It's complicated to explain. But the definition of logic as I understand it is; a small piece of evidence.
In some cases where you have to make a decision, it makes more sense to go on the small pieces of evidence.
I can offer an example; In court it's an ordinary person's word against a policeman's word. It's logical to go with the policeman's word because they are generally known for their honesty.

I can offer some authoritative evidence as well. Here in Australia there is government legislation saying that businesses that sell smokes must cover the smokes up so that the packages are not seen by the public. It's the same idea behind hiding pictures of big wins from problem gamblers.

Not really. It is to discourage new smokers, especially the young and limit their exposure to the brands/habit. Existing smokers know exactly where the tobacco is hidden, and will buy it to feed their habit. Same as existing gamblers.
 

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