To say I’ve just taken the first step to beating my gambling addiction

32 replies

Cowparsley1 · 21/07/2025 00:30

Well, second as I guess the first is admitting it to yourself in the first place.

I just registered with GamBan so cannot play on any UK casinos.

My addiction started back in 2017. Online slots. Gosh I’ve wasted so much money.

Tonight, I’ve just gambled £600 away, lost every single penny and just reloaded and reloaded £100 after £100 and I’ve had it.

I hate how it affects my moods, I hate how it always makes me want to reach for my phone and then im not ‘present’ for my DC.

I hate how insular and anti social I’ve become because quite honestly, a lot of the time, I just want to sit and gamble.

I just want to be free of this awful addiction.

OP posts:

Laura95167 · 22/07/2025 16:29

Cowparsley1 · 22/07/2025 13:11

Well, another day done!

Today I worked out how much spare money I will have each month if I’m not gambling. I mean it’ll vary as my gambling varied each month but I think, on average I’ll be about £500 a month better off! I’m actually excited to have this ‘spare’ money and to be able to put a lot of it into savings each month (I have something that I would love to save up for and if I manage that, it’ll be amazing and that alone will make giving up gambling worth it)

I’m mortified that I have been essentially paying off a mortgage every month with the amount I’ve gambled! I’ve been constantly ‘broke’ for the last 8 years, because pretty much ALL my money (apart from what I needed to pay mortgage, bills etc, I’ve always been ‘good’ in that respect and managed to not gamble that away each month!) has been put into online slots each month! I get paid Friday and I’m £500 richer than I have been in years!!!

@Lizzbear, I hope today is another successful day for you! X

Congratulations! Best of luck for tomorrow

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 22/07/2025 16:32

This is huge news, well done OP, you can do it!

Boomer55 · 22/07/2025 16:34

The only winners in gambling are those who run it.

There used to be a saying that “you’ll never see a bookie on a bike” which was true then, and still is.

Well done on taking the first step. 👍

Menopausalmum43 · 22/07/2025 16:36

A powerful step in the right direction!

Barbaraaaa · 22/07/2025 17:29

I could have written this post. It's only been an issue since March for me but I ended up with 5 accounts across two apps with different email addresses. That depositing more and more, playing ridiculous amounts to chase back that loss- well I ended up blowing thousands. I tried self exclusion but could unblock it, blocked my cards for online gambling but the company used bypassed that- and when deleting the accounts you have to wait 15 days. I managed 2 weeks without depositing anything but carried on playing (and winning a bit) with bonus cash- that was my undoing when I got bored on Sunday night and decided to just play £50. Put it this way, the £59 I withdrew wasn't worth the self-loathing it brought me. As of 10am yesterday all accounts are 14 days away from permanent deletion and I've blocked the domains on my WiFi router. We can do this. We are stronger than any app that is geared to screw us over

WhatMe123 · 22/07/2025 17:38

Well done op

Lizzbear · 30/07/2025 07:49

Hi Cowparsley
ive been in France for a few days, so haven’t been gambling.
I’m still a bit drawn to it, we’ll see how I get in when home.
How are you doing with the not gambling?
Hope your doing well
Liz

Flip

1 2