Just won 300k online gambling- AMA!

[1inamillionodds]

(name change as no one knows I gamble irl)

I have been playing online gambling for last 2 years. Usual win is 2k but rarely and usually I’d lose it all again anyway.

have managed to win 300000 euros (it’s a non uk website as I’d previously signed up to Gamstop)… anyway they have slow withdrawal limits which mean
2k/day - max 15k a month

I am so scared I will play through it all again
but this is a life changing amount of money and I hope I can wait it out to withdraw albeit very slowly

To the poster who asked what I love.. at the moment, everything about me has been being a mum. I used to love music, movies, cocktails, holidays, gym- but after my relationship broke down and I had to look after my child on my own, I realised all I can focus on is building his future.

this feels like a lucky gift thrown at just the right time.
I will not lose it-

I am actually considering giving the account details to a friend so they can withdraw regularly but that would mean telling them I gamble and giving them access to a lot of money!! I don’t know if I trust anyone that much in real life.

maybe I need to show myself that I can trust myself

Home truth time:
You gamble 10k a year while living in rented accomdoation with a toddler.

You do have a problem with gambling...

You shpuld give the money to an IFA independent financial advisor - tgey wont steal it (your mate might) they will invest and grow it

If you want a reputable ifa feel free to dm me.

Everyone has their own cross to bare.

God that's enough to buy a house outright. Please get some financial advise ASAP. Don't give access to a friend, don't gamble again. Go and buy a house and get some therapy.

Sadly the site doesn’t allow blocking any further bets - they only have deposit limits (I did ask). And if I close my account, I will lose 50% of the balance.

so it’s the biggest test of will here and I’m intent on not touching it- only withdrawing the amounts regularly. Going to treat it like winning 10k a month on the set for life lottery

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/

Refer yourself for help.

The site clearly know that you are likely to gamble the money away, hence them insisting you keep the account open and only drip feeding you your money.... they are so sure that you'll give in to temptation and give them their money back! Please prove them wrong!

I'm also an online gambler, congratulations on actually winning! Take it and run! What do you actually play and what's your stake? I mainly play slots but very low stakes and never gamble what I can't afford. Just a bit of fun for me.

I earn 70-80k annually (went part time after child) and the renting is after I had to sell family home. Plan was always to buy again but waiting to decide where we will be based for school etc and trying to deal with his dad.

I always thought I was comfortable and gambling was ‘for fun’
i know that’s me lying to myself but it really is hard and I do feel like I would be judged openly if I was to tell anyone (possibly more so that alcohol or drug addictions?) still feels taboo

but I also know it would have taken me years to save this amount and I appreciate how lucky I have been.

I played roulette and started with a £25 bet initially but to win the big amount I got lucky with right number, right time with a £250 bet (my child’s birthday!)

Don’t give bank access to a friend. You’d be absolutely mad to do that. Go and buy a property as fast as possible with the whole £300k , new build/ something without a chain before you’re tempted. Secure your child’s future by buying somewhere to live asap.

God OP please get some support. If you can't trust yourself to withdraw the money straight into a savings account, you have a problem.

Blimey - I hope the site is the real deal and you get all of your winnings.

Have you made a withdrawl yet?

@1inamillionodds £250 on a single bet means you definitely have a problem. I know from my family history that I am also susceptible to a gambling addiction. I have blocks on all my bank accounts, cards, internet provider and done all the usual limitations. But I still feel the itch! Go to gamblers anonymous, it will be life changing in a good way.

please read trust pilot reviews of the site you have been playing on.
If they are non uk they are notorious for not paying (fingers crossed for you as that’s a great win)

Please contact these people they really helped my husband, the support is amazing https://gordonmoody.org.uk/how-to-apply/

I have withdrawn successfully from the site in the past and have withdrawn 6k from the win so far.

for those who don’t know these online sites off uk, they limit withdrawal amounts so it is 15k per month withdrawal. It will take 20months to withdraw whole amount.

it’s not a simple case of not trusting myself to take the money and close the account/ it’s leaving it there for almost 2 years and not touching it!

Tell someone in RL immediately so you have accountability otherwise you will spunk it all

Put it in a fixed Isa or something. If you're earning £70/80K you shouldn't need to touch it.

I have blocks on my card too 😔

I stopped uk gambling after a win 2 years ago but the non uk sites have ways of bypassing them.

i know i have a problem and i will get help to stop (residential not currently a problem). But it’s nice to hopefully end with a big win.

A gamblers anonymous sponsor would be invaluable to you OP.

The amount you’ve won could set your child up for life.

If you don’t get one to one support from somewhere like gamblers anonymous, there is zero chance of you being able to control yourself with this amount of money at your fingertips.

If you want to prioritise your child, you need support asap. This could literally set them up for life.

Don’t take that away from them, it would be so selfish and you’ll hate yourself afterwards.

This is a one in a million chance to exit financially ‘up’. Hoping for the best (you already sound like you know you won’t be able to resist, from your tone, I’m sorry to say 😔) isn’t going to cut it.

Do it for them ❤️

This is what I’m scared to do but think it’s the only way to ensure it all comes out

No support from me I’m afraid. What a stupid decision To make

Good luck getting that money out OP. As an ex slot gambler (can’t tell you how much better my life is since I kicked it to the can for good and how much more money I have, it’s insane) those European sites are notorious for being dodgy and not paying out.

I hope you get all of your money and use it to set yourself and your son up with it. You could buy a house outright, no renting and mortgagee free! DO NOT fuck this up. DO NOT let the addiction win/ take this from you and yes, you’re addicted.

ETA- out of interest, which slot was it? Or was it roulette/ BJ?

they limit withdrawal amounts so it is 15k per month withdrawal. It will take 20months to withdraw whole amount

They are banking on you not being able to do it.

Do whatever you can, including cutting up your bank cards and handing over your account login to a trusted relative, to avoid being in a position where you can gamble again. What if you go for therapy and find out you aren’t really an addict? Then you’ve wasted a small amout of your winnings on therapy, no big deal. The other way round it’s a disaster.