Giving up betting

bobwilliams

Have tried before but to no avail.
Quick backround: My addiction started when i was about 15 when i put 3 pounds e/w on the winner of the us open @66/1.
I can still remember the buzz.
I don't gamble big it's more small frequent bets.
I don't waste my wages but i would put some aside every week and that's leaving me short when kids come and look for money etc,luckily my wife has a good job so money is tight but we're alright.
I hide all gambling from her.
I know they're are GA meetings etc but am very reluctant to go.
I'm the bloke you see backing virtuals,dogs,horse etc,up at the counter every 2 mins.
I'm going cold turkey from yesterday and i'm finding it tough as i would always have ATR on at the mo,i do work but i work weird hours so i have a fair bit of spare time.
One thing i've done is take note of how much i would have taken out to gamble and keep that log to try and incentifise me to stay away.
I'm sure some other posters on here need to think about giving up so that's why i'm posting.

byronbay2

I'm not sure that you REALLY want to stop gambling OP - it sounds like you just want to stop losing! For a compulsive gambler to stop gambling, it is about the hardest thing they will ever do. You will have to treat it with absolutely anal seriousness, if you want to have any chance of succeeding. Without help from your (blissfully unaware) wife, it will be harder again

The first thing you need to do is distance yourself from the gambling lifestyle - (do I need to tell you to forget about ATR, as a first step?) This entails self-excluding yourself from all the bookmakers and websites you do your gambling with, scheduling alternative activities at the times you're most likely to gamble and making it harder to access your money. You could ask someone you trust (ideally, your wife) to handle your money for an agreed period of time, such as 3 months.

Prepare yourself for fairly serious withdrawal symptoms (irritability, depression, palpitations etc.) and don't be despondent if you have a couple of slips along the way - this happens to virtually everyone. It is very important that you don't try to go through the whole process all by yourself. If you don't fancy a 12-step programme, you should get counselling from trained and experienced professional counsellors. This is provided free by GambleAware.ie on their National Problem Gambling Helpline 1800 753 753 and you definitely need to contact them as a first step. They can inform you much better than I can how to beat your gambling addiction. Best of luck!

PunterAssist

bobwilliams wrote: »

I'm going cold turkey from yesterday and i'm finding it tough as i would always have ATR on at the mo,i do work but i work weird hours so i have a fair bit of spare time.

Fill this time up with something productive and get your mind off what meeting is on today. How does the gym sound?

http://www.gambleaware.ie/index.php/counselling-a-support.html

bobwilliams

PunterAssist wrote: »

Fill this time up with something productive and get your mind off what meeting is on today. How does the gym sound?

http://www.gambleaware.ie/index.php/counselling-a-support.html[/QUOTE]

i'm golfing and running a lot and that's keeping me busy ta

3DataModem

Have you considered self-exclusion?

byronbay2

bobwilliams wrote: »

Have tried before but to no avail.
Quick backround: My addiction started when i was about 15 when i put 3 pounds e/w on the winner of the us open @66/1.
I can still remember the buzz.
I don't gamble big it's more small frequent bets.
I don't waste my wages but i would put some aside every week and that's leaving me short when kids come and look for money etc,luckily my wife has a good job so money is tight but we're alright.
I hide all gambling from her.
I know they're are GA meetings etc but am very reluctant to go.
I'm the bloke you see backing virtuals,dogs,horse etc,up at the counter every 2 mins.
I'm going cold turkey from yesterday and i'm finding it tough as i would always have ATR on at the mo,i do work but i work weird hours so i have a fair bit of spare time.
One thing i've done is take note of how much i would have taken out to gamble and keep that log to try and incentifise me to stay away.
I'm sure some other posters on here need to think about giving up so that's why i'm posting.

Just wondering how you've been getting on for the last 2 months? Don't forget (as previously mentioned) that virtually all compulsive gamblers have a few slips on their road to recovery - don't beat yourself up if you have gambled again in the meantime.

bobwilliams

byronbay2 wrote: »

Just wondering how you've been getting on for the last 2 months? Don't forget (as previously mentioned) that virtually all compulsive gamblers have a few slips on their road to recovery - don't beat yourself up if you have gambled again in the meantime.

ok,honest truth is i havn't had a bet at all,had a hard day today though.
Brought my son to get his hair cut today,only had a fifty,the girl had no change so i had to go into the bookies to break the 50.
I din't do a bet but couldn't help looking.
Last week got a tip from a friend,beaten into 2nd @14/1,didn't back it.

I've replaced my betting time with running and spending more time with my kids.
There were days back in the past where my whole day would be bets on the net and watching ATR for the day.
Yesterday for eg i spent 3 hours doing lego with my youngest kid.
That would NEVER have happened before.
Today i went for a 12 mile run with my other son as he cycled beside me.

My life has improved 10 fold,do i have more cash,maybe just a little but i miss that big win i would have now and then but i have accepted i was not making money at betting so i have convinced myself it's not for me.
Thanks for asking btw.

byronbay2

bobwilliams wrote: »

ok,honest truth is i havn't had a bet at all,had a hard day today though.
Brought my son to get his hair cut today,only had a fifty,the girl had no change so i had to go into the bookies to break the 50.
I din't do a bet but couldn't help looking.
Last week got a tip from a friend,beaten into 2nd @14/1,didn't back it.

I've replaced my betting time with running and spending more time with my kids.
There were days back in the past where my whole day would be bets on the net and watching ATR for the day.
Yesterday for eg i spent 3 hours doing lego with my youngest kid.
That would NEVER have happened before.
Today i went for a 12 mile run with my other son as he cycled beside me.

My life has improved 10 fold,do i have more cash,maybe just a little but i miss that big win i would have now and then but i have accepted i was not making money at betting so i have convinced myself it's not for me.
Thanks for asking btw.

Jesus, you were taking a chance there!

It's brilliant that you haven't had a bet in 2 months, even though you were given a tip AND have been in a bookies. I admire your determination and (now that you can see all the benefits of this lifestyle) hopefully you will be able to continue the non-gambling life indefinitely. Best Of Luck Wishes!

luckystrike23

the problem with gambling and addiction is that it is just too tempting. Many years past I used to take bonuses in online casinos in hopes of cashing out. But I also liked gambling in sizable stakes like $50 a hand in blackjack - in time I realised this wasn't working and that when I lose my deposit I used to end up chasing my losses by depositing more. In the end I stopped. I can't say I'm addicted as I can easily stop and resist from gambling for years even if I'm on a computer all the time but I've realised that I'm prone to chasing losses (say you lose a $400 deposit, I then try depositing $800 with the aim of recovering) which is a dangerous quality to have when gambling. Thing is that desire to gambling and chase losses never really leaves you.

bobwilliams

never was a chaser myself tbh,just compulsive in terms of backing on pretty much everything.
Havn't had a bet since I started this thread.....big problem tonight though,i'm going into the Derby final on a stag.:eek::mad::(

SIX PACK

I have an Addictive personality myself. About 8 years ago i had a job working nights & i was living in middle of a town so used to get up every day around 12. Then i would have to hang around bored stiff until work at 7. One of the lads i worked with used to spend his free time in Ladbrokes which was just up the road from my apartment. So went in there nearly everyday to put in the time wasn't long before i was backing Dogs Horses Football Virtual racing ( Anything that moved basically ) This went on for bout a year. I found the only way i could get away from this sad life was Get a different Job & move away from that town, which i did do. & its the best thing i ever done, Never set foot in a Bookies since 2006. The temptation is always there especially with online Gambling i wouldn't trust myself to open up online ac.

clickerquicklic

bobwilliams wrote: »

ok,honest truth is i havn't had a bet at all,had a hard day today though.
Brought my son to get his hair cut today,only had a fifty,the girl had no change so i had to go into the bookies to break the 50.
I din't do a bet but couldn't help looking.
Last week got a tip from a friend,beaten into 2nd @14/1,didn't back it.

I've replaced my betting time with running and spending more time with my kids.
There were days back in the past where my whole day would be bets on the net and watching ATR for the day.
Yesterday for eg i spent 3 hours doing lego with my youngest kid.
That would NEVER have happened before.
Today i went for a 12 mile run with my other son as he cycled beside me.

My life has improved 10 fold,do i have more cash,maybe just a little but i miss that big win i would have now and then but i have accepted i was not making money at betting so i have convinced myself it's not for me.
Thanks for asking btw.

Nice to see you have turned away from gambling , i'm a professional gambler and hate betting but it pays the bills , its impossible to sit at home and bet and make money or go the bookies shop and bet and make money, forget about all the tips you ever hear , I can tell you for certain if you are betting day in day out and have no edge or bookmakers are still taking your bets online after a few weeks or months you are a customer they want because you take poor bets and you will be out of pocket, anyone online that is allowed bet is for a prolonged amount of time without been limited or closed down is going to end up well down over time.

Best decision you ever made , i discourage all family and friends from gambling its a total mug game and quick way to the poor house. I'd say do it for fun alright but keep stakes low and realise you are paying 10% tax on your wagers for a hobbie.

Hope you can stay away , if you are tempted back then think of self exclusion from online accounts.

JONJO THE MISER

Id be interested to know what you bet on where you have a edge.

chubnut

I've gambled all my life and was in bookmaking 35 years. Very few people get over gambling addiction and very little attention is paid to the masses who fail. Gambling is part of human nature (ask the Chinese) and the best way forward in my opinion is to accept it and then use your mind to control it. I mentioned the Chinese but they accept its part of their culture and never question losses but you can be different, its only a mindset.

If I gave you €2000 to invest on the stock market you would be a lot more responsible than K2 on sports betting and thats the mindset you need. Put some of it aside for silly carefree bets but be deadly serious about the majority of the fund and run it like a port folio. Most people given these ploys can feel responsible and achieve a positive situation. Remember, chaos is king for the bookmaker.