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Gambling addiction..

  • 31-08-2017 2:01pm
    #1
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭


    Where in life did I go wrong.

    Firstly, I think I have a gambling problem.

    About 2 year ago or so I gave it all up, done it by myself without any assistance or help from anyone(Which I think was a mistake as I've no one to turn too). I gave it up for in or around a year, the gradually started getting back into it. First it was a small soccer bet then it was wasting 20s to 100s at a time and recently I wasted about 500 in the space or 3 days. Monday was the last time I done it and I've made a conscious decision to give it all up for good again. This time I'm going to try seek some assistance. I plan to attend a meeting tomorrow night, all going well once I have the confidence to go in.

    I would like some guidance from others who have experienced this before. I don't get any enjoyment out of it. If I win 2000 I still feel the same as if I'd lost 500. I want to do this for me and my family. I have a young child and I don't want them to see nor witness any of this.

    Honestly I plan to stop drinking also, but this is not a factor in my life I just feel I'm at a stage in my life where it doesn't benefit me. I need to change the people I associate with, i.e my group of friends would be gambling or drinking buddies.

    On here I intend to keep this as my diary and plan to help and aid me through this.

    Any advice or anything at all that will help will be much appreciated. Also I would like to hear similar stories with a happy and positive outcome to them.


«13

Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I wish you the best buddy. But the very fact that you mentioned drinking makes me convinced you have an extremely addictive personality. I have no advice so to speak but I'm in the same boat as you (if you reverse alcohol with the gambling). Just know that you aren't alone brother. If you need someone to talk to at any time, send a pm and I'll chat to you. Can't promise I will help but I can promise I'll be there.


  • #3
    sellerbarry
    Closed Accounts Posts: 776 ✭✭✭sellerbarry


    Speaking from experience, and assuming your wife/partner knows
    (1) Get your wages or 90% of it lodged directly into their account so that they can pay bills etc.
    (2) Give up the drink (This is a big factor in stopping). This will in turn change your circle of friends.
    (3) Take up a hobby. (keeps your mind busy)
    (4) I wouldn't recommend ga meetings or councelling. (That's just me) If you want to give it up, you will.
    (5)Tell someone else close to you other than your partner. It's good to let it all out.
    (6)Self ban yourself from all online gambling accounts and maybe tell your local bookie . (Believe me, it works!)
    (7)I have gambled a lot more money than you have and i live to tell the story. It's a long hard road, but well worth it.
    (8) Try and think of life without your wife/child.? Not worth it.

    Good luck

    Pm me anytime for more info.............


  • #4
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    Deleted User wrote: »
    I wish you the best buddy. But the very fact that you mentioned drinking makes me convinced you have an extremely addictive personality. I have no advice so to speak but I'm in the same boat as you (if you reverse alcohol with the gambling). Just know that you aren't alone brother. If you need someone to talk to at any time, send a pm and I'll chat to you. Can't promise I will help but I can promise I'll be there.

    Thanks for having the time to help me and provide assistance. It take a true and kind person to help s stranger that way.

    In relation to drink, it's not an issue, lucky if I drink once every 2-3 weeks. But at that, I enjoy it at the time, but I feel it's not for me. It's not who I am and I don't enjoy it like others do.


  • #5
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    sellerbarry wrote: »
    Speaking from experience, and assuming your wife/partner knows
    (1) Get your wages or 90% of it lodged directly into their account so that they can pay bills etc.
    (2) Give up the drink (This is a big factor in stopping). This will in turn change your circle of friends.
    (3) Take up a hobby. (keeps your mind busy)
    (4) I wouldn't recommend ga meetings or councelling. (That's just me) If you want to give it up, you will.
    (5)Tell someone else close to you other than your partner. It's good to let it all out.
    (6)Self ban yourself from all online gambling accounts and maybe tell your local bookie . (Believe me, it works!)
    (7)I have gambled a lot more money than you have and i live to tell the story. It's a long hard road, but well worth it.
    (8) Try and think of life without your wife/child.? Not worth it.

    Good luck

    Pm me anytime for more info.............

    I am going to transfer wages as soon as they arrive. leave myself with the bare minimum to survive.

    What was your turning point in life. Personally I don't think there's anything as low as been in a bookies with a room full of people you know also have an addition and the only person making profit in the long run is the owner.

    My partner knows and her saying it to me recently really made me open my eyes and also made me see why peoples relationships breakup. But thankfully she's very understanding and I know she'll support me in beating this.

    Funny enough I was only thinking about hobbies the other day and my main hobbies and they need to change as they're gambling orientated. Running is one I have but it can be quiet lonely and gets boring at times. Any suggestions?


  • #6
    sellerbarry
    Closed Accounts Posts: 776 ✭✭✭sellerbarry


    Turning point in my life would've been seeing my kids go without just because their dad pissed all his wages up against a wall in paddy powers. You can lose a weeks wages in ten minutes in a bookies after work on a Friday. Never again.! Well, i took up karate and now stand 18 months away from getting my black belt. It takes up a lot of my time and that's exactly what i needed. I got more involved in the kids hobbies too, so that my mind is far away from gambling. Alcohol IS a main trigger to your gambling. You might not think it is, but if you didn't drink, you would not be in the pub/next door to the bookies/drinking with lads who are encouraging you to bet with them.

    I do not lodge all my wages into wifes account anymore, just enough for mortgage/bills / kids. It's nice to have your own few bob too.


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  • #7
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    There was an addiction thread here four years ago
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056854561&page=8

    It wasn't closed then.
    This might be personal issues but I'll leave it open for now.


  • #8
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    I think your point about transferring wages as soon as they arrive is sensible.

    Arrange to have your wages paid to/transferred to your partner, and have as many bills as possible paid directly out of the bank account.
    Credit unions have budget accounts.
    For years I had money deducted from my salary into a credit union budget account. They can pay your bills directly.


  • #9
    madmoose
    Registered Users Posts: 1,022 ✭✭✭madmoose


    The football is the worst to bet and chase on having experienced it myself i had to ban and limit my accounts. It is a pain though as i need some accounts for the national hunt season when it comes around and obviously football clashes with that so it's easy to get sucked back into that. Why can't bookies ban you from football but can stop you doing casino and games on your accounts?

    As people mentioned put most wages into the joint account straight away and if you gamble on your phone just keep it upstairs of an evening or if you are out you could buy a crap phone that doesnt have access to apps and betting just txt and calls. I find it easy to gamble online than i do in store as i value my real life money so i know when out i wont gamble big in store, online money just feels worthless half the time and easy to blow.


  • #10
    Clique
    Registered Users Posts: 162 ✭✭Clique


    Tevey08, I am the original poster from that Addiction page as I was mr.jingle, I know how you feel having gone through the same kind of thing. I honestly thought I'd never be where I am today when I posted that message first. I do read here the odd time but rarely even watch a race anymore but was on boards, came by to see a few oul names pop up, so was drawn in by your post and decided to post again.

    I havent backed a horse in well over 2yrs now i think. I stopped counting!

    First things first, bar yourself from local bookies, online accounts etc. Set up accounts in all bookmakers and then immediately request a ban. I didnt do this the first couple of times. I left some alone so I could just go back on sometime and then get sucked in again. Thats right too, a couple of times is a very apt sentence. Its gonna take time to do this and realise that you need to go cold turkey. I believed I could be disciplined but quite simply I couldnt. For your benefit, do it. Ban yourself.

    You have yourself a small family, more than I have, think of them, think of the great things you can be spending your money on with them than pissing it against the wind. Im still paying debts back, havent missed a payment yet and dont plan on doing so, still over 25k to go but its coming down each week in a slow process but thats exactly what it is, a slow process.

    Its gonna take time, time to build trust with family again (if you have told them of your addiction), they still ask me when I am in a bad mood was I backing horses! That hurts after so long but understandable too as I lost their trust.

    I didnt like G.A but thats me, some lads I know swear by it. Definitely go to some kind of counselling if you can.

    The first part is admitting it, the hardest part now is staying away from it, self belief, support from friends/family will get you through this. I got as far as standing on the edge of a bridge with a drop that would have ended me and I ended up in Pieta House which changed my whole outlook on it, If I came back from that point, such was the state I was in, I believe you and indeed anybody can.

    Wishing you the best of luck in the future


  • #11
    Itziger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭Itziger


    tevey08 wrote: »
    I am going to transfer wages as soon as they arrive. leave myself with the bare minimum to survive.

    What was your turning point in life. Personally I don't think there's anything as low as been in a bookies with a room full of people you know also have an addition and the only person making profit in the long run is the owner.

    My partner knows and her saying it to me recently really made me open my eyes and also made me see why peoples relationships breakup. But thankfully she's very understanding and I know she'll support me in beating this.

    Funny enough I was only thinking about hobbies the other day and my main hobbies and they need to change as they're gambling orientated. Running is one I have but it can be quiet lonely and gets boring at times. Any suggestions?

    Tevey, I had a problem with gambling a few years ago but I knocked it on the head myself. I was just able to let it go without help from anyone, so I was lucky there. I think you have to concentrate on the family life you have as well as a hobby or two. I took up running around the time I gave up gambling but I never thought of the connection until now, which is hard to believe I know!! I really got into the running and now I'm a 5, 6 or 7 day a week trainer. I didn't join a club for a number of reasons but I would strongly recommend it. I still enjoy a beer or a glass or two of wine almost every day but note the word 'enjoy' which you say isn't how it works for you. You have made a great decision to share this struggle here, as you can see from the responses already. Take action, small steps, like the salary/bank account thing. Although maybe that's a big step.

    Anyway, I can't speak highly enough of running as an activity and therapy. Check out a local club, or the nearest Parkrun or get yourself over to the Athletics forum of Boards. PM me if you want a few tips or anything.


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  • #12
    PistolsAtDawn
    Registered Users Posts: 335 ✭✭PistolsAtDawn


    tevey08 wrote: »
    sellerbarry wrote: »
    Speaking from experience, and assuming your wife/partner knows
    (1) Get your wages or 90% of it lodged directly into their account so that they can pay bills etc.
    (2) Give up the drink (This is a big factor in stopping). This will in turn change your circle of friends.
    (3) Take up a hobby. (keeps your mind busy)
    (4) I wouldn't recommend ga meetings or councelling. (That's just me) If you want to give it up, you will.
    (5)Tell someone else close to you other than your partner. It's good to let it all out.
    (6)Self ban yourself from all online gambling accounts and maybe tell your local bookie . (Believe me, it works!)
    (7)I have gambled a lot more money than you have and i live to tell the story. It's a long hard road, but well worth it.
    (8) Try and think of life without your wife/child.? Not worth it.

    Good luck

    Pm me anytime for more info.............

    I am going to transfer wages as soon as they arrive. leave myself with the bare minimum to survive.

    What was your turning point in life. Personally I don't think there's anything as low as been in a bookies with a room full of people you know also have an addition and the only person making profit in the long run is the owner.

    My partner knows and her saying it to me recently really made me open my eyes and also made me see why peoples relationships breakup. But thankfully she's very understanding and I know she'll support me in beating this.

    Funny enough I was only thinking about hobbies the other day and my main hobbies and they need to change as they're gambling orientated. Running is one I have but it can be quiet lonely and gets boring at times. Any suggestions?

    Join a club e.g. boxing, jujitsu something that requires a lot of focus and dedication in order to improve, but where the improvements are clearly evident. This will help


  • #13
    Francie Barrett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,773 ✭✭✭✭Francie Barrett


    tevey08 wrote: »
    Where in life did I go wrong.

    Firstly, I think I have a gambling problem.

    About 2 year ago or so I gave it all up, done it by myself without any assistance or help from anyone(Which I think was a mistake as I've no one to turn too). I gave it up for in or around a year, the gradually started getting back into it. First it was a small soccer bet then it was wasting 20s to 100s at a time and recently I wasted about 500 in the space or 3 days. Monday was the last time I done it and I've made a conscious decision to give it all up for good again. This time I'm going to try seek some assistance. I plan to attend a meeting tomorrow night, all going well once I have the confidence to go in.

    I would like some guidance from others who have experienced this before. I don't get any enjoyment out of it. If I win 2000 I still feel the same as if I'd lost 500. I want to do this for me and my family. I have a young child and I don't want them to see nor witness any of this.

    Honestly I plan to stop drinking also, but this is not a factor in my life I just feel I'm at a stage in my life where it doesn't benefit me. I need to change the people I associate with, i.e my group of friends would be gambling or drinking buddies.

    On here I intend to keep this as my diary and plan to help and aid me through this.

    Any advice or anything at all that will help will be much appreciated. Also I would like to hear similar stories with a happy and positive outcome to them.
    I used to bet far too much money in my youth (20-30 years ago). I had no choice to cut back then because I was married, on a limited wage and had kids. I loved horse racing and wanted to be able to have a bet, but didn't want it getting out of control. I eventually got a jar and every Friday, I'd put £15 into it regardless. Whatever was in the jar, I could do what I wanted with it, but if the jar was empty, then no bets. If you're betting online, then all sites should have deposit limits, so you could be able to do something similar.


  • #14
    tryfix
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭tryfix


    Francie Barrett wrote: »
    I used to bet far too much money in my youth (20-30 years ago). I had no choice to cut back then because I was married, on a limited wage and had kids. I loved horse racing and wanted to be able to have a bet, but didn't want it getting out of control. I eventually got a jar and every Friday, I'd put £15 into it regardless. Whatever was in the jar, I could do what I wanted with it, but if the jar was empty, then no bets. If you're betting online, then all sites should have deposit limits, so you could be able to do something similar.

    Yup, if you don't want to end up in a bad place with gambling then you've got be disciplined in your gambling or give it up altogether.

    A bit like yourself I used to gamble a lot when I was around 20. I gave up poker because I used to see friends who'd lost all their wages by Friday night and I thought to myself that I wasn't going to be a part of that. With horseracing I found myself one day ready to put half my wages on a 4/6 shot in a 3 horse race and I just copped onto myself and stopped myself from doing the bet, the horse won but I was delighted that I hadn't given in to the urge to have that bet.

    You have to set aside a sum for your betting each week that you can afford to lose and stick within that limit. Also I found that if I limited the number of bets per week I could have to one or two decent bets then the chances of winning and the winnings were much more satisfactory.

    If you can't control it then it's controlling you.


  • #15
    HandsomeBob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,977 ✭✭✭HandsomeBob


    tryfix wrote: »
    A bit like yourself I used to gamble a lot when I was around 20. I gave up poker because I used to see friends who'd lost all their wages by Friday night and I thought to myself that I wasn't going to be a part of that. With horseracing I found myself one day ready to put half my wages on a 4/6 shot in a 3 horse race and I just copped onto myself and stopped myself from doing the bet, the horse won but I was delighted that I hadn't given in to the urge to have that bet.

    If you can't control it then it's controlling you.

    Biggest bet I've done was €400 on a 2/5 shot. Was gambling on the phone, started with 10 euro in the account. Got it up to €600. Went down to €400. Saw a 2/5 shot and said I could recoup the €200 in one go here...it lost.

    The worst thing about getting caught up in it is the all encompanassing bad mood it puts you in. Can't focus at home and can't focus in work. All you're thinking about is the guilt and how you can recoup the losses. It's unbelievably stressful.

    After that day I gained a bit of perspective. I've no debt and no one is depending on me so I'm thankful for that. When I get paid now I pay my bills, and manage to enjoy a few pints every weekend with a few small bets to keep ticking along.


  • #16
    tryfix
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,702 ✭✭✭tryfix


    HandsomeBob wrote: »
    Biggest bet I've done was €400 on a 2/5 shot. Was gambling on the phone, started with 10 euro in the account. Got it up to €600. Went down to €400. Saw a 2/5 shot and said I could recoup the €200 in one go here...it lost.

    The worst thing about getting caught up in it is the all encompanassing bad mood it puts you in. Can't focus at home and can't focus in work. All you're thinking about is the guilt and how you can recoup the losses. It's unbelievably stressful.

    After that day I gained a bit of perspective. I've no debt and no one is depending on me so I'm thankful for that. When I get paid now I pay my bills, and manage to enjoy a few pints every weekend with a few small bets to keep ticking along.
    I think the biggest choice that a punter has to make at some stage is whether they're capable of enjoying a modest bet or whether they've an inbuilt desire to recklessly go the whole hog as it were.

    If they can't enjoy a modest bet then there's only trouble ahead unless they're some kind of genius who can nearly always beat the book and who's got the discipline to not blow the kitty before they're too far behind to recover losses.

    Thinking they're in the second category is very likely to be delusional for 99.9% of punters who are operating without insider knowledge.



    The best way to understand how your punting is going is to keep a record of all your bets and to do a running profit and loss totting up at the end of every punting day. You'll soon get to see where your strengths and weaknesses are. If you are throwing an awful lot of money away for the thrill of punting then it's time to modify your behaviour.


  • #17
    HandsomeBob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,977 ✭✭✭HandsomeBob


    Drinking was a major issue for me like the OP when gambling. Throwing 20 euro on a no hope 20/1 shot because you're chasing and like the name.

    My oul fella died (who loved gambling as well, that was our Friday night, backing horses and having a few pints. He always had a better hold of it than me.) when I was at my worst so once I got over that, I could have a few quiet pints and small bets again.


  • #18
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    Thanks everyone for your support and great to hear your stories and journeys ye have had.

    Well one week down since last doing a bet and all going well. Had a small tiff with my partner over the weekend and was so close to going in and betting as a way to get away from reality. But thankfully I held strong and to be honest it hasn't really been to hard.

    To be honest I don't think doing a few small bets is going to work for me. The kinda of person I am is all or nothing.

    Funnily enough my dad is the same, like going out of a Saturday and having his pints and doing a few horses, but I won't be able to sit through that as the temptation is to much.

    Sorry for not tagging any of the posts as there's to many of them and I'm trying to type this quick as my manager is looming around the office waiting to pounce on the doser :)


  • #19
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    Currently on day 15 now and seems to be going ok. No mad urges and seems to be under control.

    Only one thing happening that I find really weird and feels like real life. I keep dreaming that I'm gambling, and winning each time. Really realistic dreams and it's disappointing when I wake up. Is this a form of withdrawal or is it my mind playing games on me. Seems to be the last 4 nights really.

    I decided not to go to any meetings as a few people have discouraged me from them and cold turkeys seems to be the popular advice.

    Anyway hopefully I will have a good update next week also :)


  • #20
    mirwillbeback
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,016 ✭✭✭mirwillbeback


    Great to hear you doing so well pal, but I think you posting in the Horse Racing forum is a mistake. Everytime you will login to post, you will see mentions of races, tips, future entries etc - all things you need to try and forget to make it a long term abstention.

    Now of course you don't need to click in and read the threads, but would you go into a betting shop and not feel tempted.

    I wish you all the best, but as GA say it's " people, places, things " and you need to stay away from all gambling talk and temptation.

    Best of luck.


  • #21
    GypsyByName
    Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭GypsyByName


    tevey08 wrote: »
    Where in life did I go wrong.

    Firstly, I think I have a gambling problem.

    About 2 year ago or so I gave it all up, done it by myself without any assistance or help from anyone(Which I think was a mistake as I've no one to turn too). I gave it up for in or around a year, the gradually started getting back into it. First it was a small soccer bet then it was wasting 20s to 100s at a time and recently I wasted about 500 in the space or 3 days. Monday was the last time I done it and I've made a conscious decision to give it all up for good again. This time I'm going to try seek some assistance. I plan to attend a meeting tomorrow night, all going well once I have the confidence to go in.

    I would like some guidance from others who have experienced this before. I don't get any enjoyment out of it. If I win 2000 I still feel the same as if I'd lost 500. I want to do this for me and my family. I have a young child and I don't want them to see nor witness any of this.

    Honestly I plan to stop drinking also, but this is not a factor in my life I just feel I'm at a stage in my life where it doesn't benefit me. I need to change the people I associate with, i.e my group of friends would be gambling or drinking buddies.

    On here I intend to keep this as my diary and plan to help and aid me through this.

    Any advice or anything at all that will help will be much appreciated. Also I would like to hear similar stories with a happy and positive outcome to them.

    First and foremost, I am a compulsive gambler. I have not had a bet since December 16th 2015.
    I admire your honesty and really wish you well. Please feel free to drop me a PM if you feel the need. Alot of the advice you have received I agree with but others I most certainly dont!!

    If it were not for GA i would not be alive today never mind being gamble free. Gambling brought me to some very dark places and its only through GA that I can see some sort of hope.

    If you look up the AMA section I'm the ex prisoner! Just to give you an idea where I went in life due to gambling.

    Get to a meeting, try it, Any man/woman who tries to stay bet free on their own is gambling with their life if you ask me.


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  • #22
    ger664
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,402 ✭✭✭ger664


    tevey08 wrote: »

    Only one thing happening that I find really weird and feels like real life. I keep dreaming that I'm gambling, and winning each time. Really realistic dreams and it's disappointing when I wake up. Is this a form of withdrawal or is it my mind playing games on me. Seems to be the last 4 nights really.

    First time I gave up the fags I had the same would dream of having a smoke and wake the next day as if it really happened.

    I went back on the fags for 2 years shortly afterwards but did eventually (15 years now) jack them in.


  • #23
    GoneHome
    Registered Users Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭GoneHome


    tryfix wrote: »
    Yup, if you don't want to end up in a bad place with gambling then you've got be disciplined in your gambling or give it up altogether.
    I found that if I limited the number of bets per week I could have to one or two decent bets then the chances of winning and the winnings were much more satisfactory.

    If you can't control it then it's controlling you.

    This is exactly my way of doing it too, I'm so frugal (tight!) about money that it would kill me to put more than €5 or €10 on a bet, I enjoy a few bets on the horses and GAA matches, messing around with Lucky 15's/Accumalators/Doubles etc, a great passtime and the majority of times I'll end up a few bob up at the end of the week (even if that's only €20 up I'm happy with that), and my rule of thumb is to put the winnings aside and not be tempted to reinvest!


  • #24
    GypsyByName
    Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭GypsyByName


    Lads/Lassies,

    I cant help but feel you are hindering this man in his recovery. You either stop or you dont! This man has made it clear that he wants to stop. Not control his betting but stop it altogether.

    Its like an alcoholic just having a shandy!


  • #25
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    GypsyByName wrote: »
    First and foremost, I am a compulsive gambler. I have not had a bet since December 16th 2015.
    I admire your honesty and really wish you well. Please feel free to drop me a PM if you feel the need. Alot of the advice you have received I agree with but others I most certainly dont!!

    If it were not for GA i would not be alive today never mind being gamble free. Gambling brought me to some very dark places and its only through GA that I can see some sort of hope.

    If you look up the AMA section I'm the ex prisoner! Just to give you an idea where I went in life due to gambling.

    Get to a meeting, try it, Any man/woman who tries to stay bet free on their own is gambling with their life if you ask me.

    I was actually following all your comments on the AMA. Brilliant to read and entertaining, Also a very hard time you went through and well done for being so positive and getting through all life difficulties.

    Thanks for the advice. I think it's shame more so than anything that's holding me back from going to a GA meeting. Feel like a failure and fear what people will think.

    You're most certainly right about not wanting to do anything at all. The temptation only rises when you get a small taste of it.

    On a more positive note, day 21 today I think, going strong and the funky dreams seem to have stopped :)


  • #26
    Koolhanger
    Registered Users Posts: 334 ✭✭Koolhanger


    Great stuff, tevey08.

    That's no mean feat in itself, 21 days.

    I'd also agree with GypsyByName that you're better off staying away from all betting. You know yourself better than anyone here so you know what you can cope with, what will work for you etc.

    Best of luck :)


  • #27
    GypsyByName
    Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭GypsyByName


    tevey08 wrote: »
    I was actually following all your comments on the AMA. Brilliant to read and entertaining, Also a very hard time you went through and well done for being so positive and getting through all life difficulties.

    Thanks for the advice. I think it's shame more so than anything that's holding me back from going to a GA meeting. Feel like a failure and fear what people will think.

    You're most certainly right about not wanting to do anything at all. The temptation only rises when you get a small taste of it.

    On a more positive note, day 21 today I think, going strong and the funky dreams seem to have stopped :)


    Everyone at a meeting is in the same **** as you! Even me!

    Ps the dreams never stop :) the trick is to laugh at them. Ive woken up some mornings and the first thing I do is check my pockets. Not even sure if I want there to be a ball of money in them either :)


  • #28
    tevey08
    Registered Users Posts: 72 ✭✭tevey08


    Thank you Koolhanger. Everyone must have will power if I can do this :) I can't seem to quote two comments for some reason :d

    GypsyByName wrote: »
    Everyone at a meeting is in the same **** as you! Even me!

    Ps the dreams never stop :) the trick is to laugh at them. Ive woken up some mornings and the first thing I do is check my pockets. Not even sure if I want there to be a ball of money in them either :)

    The dream never stops is right. I have recently decided that it's time to be happy with what I have and not want the unrealistic things in life like fancy cars and big mansions and so on. Personally I think this is a big downfall as it can depress you not having all these things. At least I got the hot girlfriend which is enough for me :)


  • #29
    Itziger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭Itziger


    GypsyByName wrote: »
    Everyone at a meeting is in the same **** as you! Even me!

    Ps the dreams never stop :) the trick is to laugh at them. Ive woken up some mornings and the first thing I do is check my pockets. Not even sure if I want there to be a ball of money in them either :)

    I agree fully that some of the 'stories' here were potentially counter productive. As you say, everyone at the meeting will be similar, so no worries about what they're thinking.

    I find it interesting that you say 'a ball of money' above. It used to strike me about gamblers on the rare occasion that I was in a betting shop and the even rarer occasion where you'd see a fella collecting winnings. They'd take the dosh in a fistful and stuff it into a pocket. I thought it said a lot about their attitude, to money/life/themselves. The other type of person who does that is the alcoholic with change from a pint. Shoved unceremoniously into a pocket.


  • #30
    GypsyByName
    Registered Users Posts: 308 ✭✭GypsyByName


    Itziger wrote: »
    I agree fully that some of the 'stories' here were potentially counter productive. As you say, everyone at the meeting will be similar, so no worries about what they're thinking.

    I find it interesting that you say 'a ball of money' above. It used to strike me about gamblers on the rare occasion that I was in a betting shop and the even rarer occasion where you'd see a fella collecting winnings. They'd take the dosh in a fistful and stuff it into a pocket. I thought it said a lot about their attitude, to money/life/themselves. The other type of person who does that is the alcoholic with change from a pint. Shoved unceremoniously into a pocket.


    This might seem weird but I really struggle with owning a wallet, I can never get to grips with one. Never had money stay in one long enough to justify owning one when I was gambling. Bank cards and money in my pocket now. Ah il grow up some day!


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  • #31
    Itziger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,017 ✭✭✭Itziger


    Jeez, now that I think of it I don't like or own a wallet either. I had one a while back and it got stolen out of me jacket in a pub. Prefer to keep the dosh and cards in front trouser pocket. Just not in a ball!!


  • #32
    stretchaq
    Registered Users Posts: 567 ✭✭✭stretchaq


    tevey08 wrote: »
    Thank you Koolhanger. Everyone must have will power if I can do this :) I can't seem to quote two comments for some reason :d




    The dream never stops is right. I have recently decided that it's time to be happy with what I have and not want the unrealistic things in life like fancy cars and big mansions and so on. Personally I think this is a big downfall as it can depress you not having all these things. At least I got the hot girlfriend which is enough for me :)



    Pics or I don't believe you 😂😂😂😂
    In all serious though FairPlay it's a powerful addiction, I gave up fags and couldn't imagine giving up gambling but thank god I only have about 20 bets a year all small scale


  • #33
    posturingpat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,722 ✭✭✭posturingpat


    https://vimeo.com/265604468

    Baz Ashmawy hosts this Documentary on Rte tonight.
    He divides opinion but hopefully his presence doesn't stop people taking this seriously as i think this could finally be the chance for people to open their eyes and realise the gambling problem we have in this country and put the squeeze on the Government to tighten up on bookmakers.

    I'm all for people making their own choices at the end of the day but the lack of restrictions on how bookmakers promote their products and operate their business(show any competence on betting horse racing for example and get limited on your account but still informed you can still bet on their casino games to any stake) can't be good for the country in the long run both in terms of wellbeing and the racing industry.

    I rarely bet in shops these days as a bookmakers is more like an Arcade these days to my eye, roulette on the t.v, Virtual horse racing&car races and one day i even seen a virtual coin toss game :confused: I'm not a master in psychology or anything like that but surely betting events like that are purely aimed at problem gamblers.

    In a pub if someone is drunk out of their minds, the barperson is not allowed serve them anymore by law. In a bookies if a member of staff refused to take a bet off a customer because they had lost too much they'd be looking for a new job i suspect.


  • #34
    Mysterypunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,861 ✭✭✭Mysterypunter


    posturingpat wrote: »
    https://vimeo.com/265604468

    Baz Ashmawy hosts this Documentary on Rte tonight.
    He divides opinion but hopefully his presence doesn't stop people taking this seriously as i think this could finally be the chance for people to open their eyes and realise the gambling problem we have in this country and put the squeeze on the Government to tighten up on bookmakers.

    I'm all for people making their own choices at the end of the day but the lack of restrictions on how bookmakers promote their products and operate their business(show any competence on betting horse racing for example and get limited on your account but still informed you can still bet on their casino games to any stake) can't be good for the country in the long run both in terms of wellbeing and the racing industry.

    I rarely bet in shops these days as a bookmakers is more like an Arcade these days to my eye, roulette on the t.v, Virtual horse racing&car races and one day i even seen a virtual coin toss game :confused: I'm not a master in psychology or anything like that but surely betting events like that are purely aimed at problem gamblers.

    In a pub if someone is drunk out of their minds, the barperson is not allowed serve them anymore by law. In a bookies if a member of staff refused to take a bet off a customer because they had lost too much they'd be looking for a new job i suspect.

    Baz is a bit of an addict himself, hypocrites never look in the mirror. Leave punters alone Baz, and I won't tell you to pack in what you like. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing.


  • #35
    HandsomeBob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,977 ✭✭✭HandsomeBob


    posturingpat wrote: »
    In a pub if someone is drunk out of their minds, the barperson is not allowed serve them anymore by law. In a bookies if a member of staff refused to take a bet off a customer because they had lost too much they'd be looking for a new job i suspect.

    I've been told in Australia they can tell someone to **** off if they feel a punter is too drunk or when their stakes become erratic if they're a regular.

    Not that they should have to though. Most of the time the people behind the counter are just kids. I don't think they should have to get involved like that with a punter who may react in any number of ways.

    It's sh1t when you're in the height of it and I'm speaking from experience in saying that, but at the end of day we need to take responsibility for ourselves.


  • #36
    posturingpat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,722 ✭✭✭posturingpat


    As i say lads i'm very much in the we're all grown ups camp but it's how some of the business is conducted that irks me.
    Basically to my eye their target customer isn't us guys who like a bet and can take it or leave it but rather the people that will continually compulsive gamble and never have a chance of turning a profit.
    On a selfish note if there was legislation in place to limit some of these "products" offered to compulsive gamblers it'd surely mean bookmakers having to try perform their initial job and take bets on horse racing without looking for clearance:rolleyes:.


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  • #37
    kiers47
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,564 ✭✭✭kiers47


    I was in a bookies on Friday evening to place a bet on the Scottish champion hurdle. Was a decent sized bet each way on a horse to win about a grand if it won. I had to wait for about 5-10mins while the staff faffed about on the phone calling head office doing the usual ****e.
    Meanwhile there was a guy in there drunk out of his mind dropping 20s and 50s on dogs/virtual dogs/american racing/virtual racing anything he could get his hands on.
    Not a bother to them taking his bets. He dropped at least 250 while I was there and I'm not sure if he had a winner.

    Absolutely sickening stuff really.
    They eventually took the bet and I said to them when I was leaving that if it was that guy I wouldn't have had to wait to long. The staff looked a bit embarrassed but I doubt they gave a **** really.


  • #38
    posturingpat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,722 ✭✭✭posturingpat


    kiers47 wrote: »
    I was in a bookies on Friday evening to place a bet on the Scottish champion hurdle. Was a decent sized bet each way on a horse to win about a grand if it won. I had to wait for about 5-10mins while the staff faffed about on the phone calling head office doing the usual ****e.
    Meanwhile there was a guy in there drunk out of his mind dropping 20s and 50s on dogs/virtual dogs/american racing/virtual racing anything he could get his hands on.
    Not a bother to them taking his bets. He dropped at least 250 while I was there and I'm not sure if he had a winner.

    Absolutely sickening stuff really.
    They eventually took the bet and I said to them when I was leaving that if it was that guy I wouldn't have had to wait to long. The staff looked a bit embarrassed but I doubt they gave a **** really.

    This is the kind of thing that is ridiculous. A market that they should have full faith in their traders on and liability of a Grand they're ringing it in.
    Embarassing for the bookmaker concerned whoever it was.


  • #39
    Mysterypunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,861 ✭✭✭Mysterypunter


    posturingpat wrote: »
    This is the kind of thing that is ridiculous. A market that they should have full faith in their traders on and liability of a Grand they're ringing it in.
    Embarassing for the bookmaker concerned whoever it was.

    Agree 100%, happens lots and lots. What if you went shopping and the bill came to 25 quid, and the person at the checkout said to hang on, comes back and says its 30 quid. Lay the price or don't put it up. If its cut in that's grand. If not lay the bet. Virtual and dog punters are rarely refused a bet


  • #40
    kiers47
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,564 ✭✭✭kiers47


    Yep definitely. I don't want the thread to drag to much off topic.
    I have no problem waiting for a bet or being refused if there are similar restrictions put in place to help the problem gamblers also. If i get on or not is not going to make or break my day/week there will always be more opportunities to get on.

    This guy i mentioned above had no business in a bookies never mind dropping a weeks wages in a couple of hours(a presumption on the rate he was betting) and the staff didn't even question it. (maybe they did but not in the 10 mins i was there)

    The staff should be better educated to be able to either refuse people or something. Im not really sure what to do in that sense and am not singling them out. But their employers should be providing them with training and resources to help.


  • #41
    Mysterypunter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,861 ✭✭✭Mysterypunter


    kiers47 wrote: »
    Yep definitely. I don't want the thread to drag to much off topic.
    I have no problem waiting for a bet or being refused if there are similar restrictions put in place to help the problem gamblers also. If i get on or not is not going to make or break my day/week there will always be more opportunities to get on.

    This guy i mentioned above had no business in a bookies never mind dropping a weeks wages in a couple of hours(a presumption on the rate he was betting) and the staff didn't even question it. (maybe they did but not in the 10 mins i was there)

    The staff should be better educated to be able to either refuse people or something. Im not really sure what to do in that sense and am not singling them out. But their employers should be providing them with training and resources to help.

    You do see a lot more even within the last 2-3 years. Coffee machines and biscuits are a curse in a bookies, some of the local characters only come in for Tea/Coffee, which is OK, but a lot of people who never punted came in for it, and it turned into an expensive cup. You get genuine loop the loops in there as well. A chap kept asking me did I win anything at Cheltenham, and this was last year 10 or 12 weeks after the meeting. I was a few quid behind at Sandown that day, and a fancied horse won the Military Gold Cup. The jockey was a chap called Captain Guy Disley, and he lost a leg in Afghanistan. When he passed the post some fruitcake said its an advantage to have only one leg, as he would carry less weight. I didn't bother answering, how could you. Addiction is terrible in any form, but the Wexford postman and Baz with his self promoting documentary are not the best people to highlight it. The Wexford man said tony10, his betting account was his alter ego, a different person. That is an astonishing cop out


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  • #42
    trixiebust
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,104 ✭✭✭trixiebust


    As someone who never bets, I still find it amazing that driving through our small local town at 9pm, the four major bookies are still open & quite busy. Half the shops are still unoccupied, but the bookies are thriving.


    The bombardment of mobile & TV ads would be very tempting to an addict too, I presume.


  • #43
    kiers47
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,564 ✭✭✭kiers47


    I watched this one day on a youtube TED talk binge i was having. If anyone has 20 minutes its well worth a watch.

    The Rise and Fall of a gambling addict. Fairly frightening what this guy was doing to have a bet. Hard to relate to but its certainly interesting.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AN3VLLlkdI


  • #44
    Johner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,625 ✭✭✭✭Johner


    Mysterypunter wrote: »
    You do see a lot more even within the last 2-3 years. Coffee machines and biscuits are a curse in a bookies, some of the local characters only come in for Tea/Coffee, which is OK, but a lot of people who never punted came in for it, and it turned into an expensive cup. You get genuine loop the loops in there as well. A chap kept asking me did I win anything at Cheltenham, and this was last year 10 or 12 weeks after the meeting. I was a few quid behind at Sandown that day, and a fancied horse won the Military Gold Cup. The jockey was a chap called Captain Guy Disley, and he lost a leg in Afghanistan. When he passed the post some fruitcake said its an advantage to have only one leg, as he would carry less weight. I didn't bother answering, how could you. Addiction is terrible in any form, but the Wexford postman and Baz with his self promoting documentary are not the best people to highlight it. The Wexford man said tony10, his betting account was his alter ego, a different person. That is an astonishing cop out

    I've ordered that book, has anyone read it? I'm also currently reading Cathal McCarron's book. I've struggled for around 10 years myself now with addiction. I've stolen from family members, lost girlfriends and fallen out with nearly everybody I know over it.

    I've found GA meetings haven't helped me at all. I'm self excluded from every bookie there is now apart from one. I haven't been able to bring myself to close the final one and I know nothing will start to change until I do. Online is the real killer for me, I find it harder to part with say €50 in a shop but online I have done multiple bet's on the football/horses of €1,000 without blinking which is just crazy considering I wouldn't dream of that in a shop. I put €1,000 on a horse called Kandinski a few years ago in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe. :rolleyes: Needless to say it came second and it was the most horrible feeling I've ever experienced.

    I only back the odd horse now but I'm still backing far too much football. My problem used to be if I watched a horse race and a horse I fancied won and I hadn't backed in the race I would get pissed off that I didn't have anything on it.


  • #45
    BoroMan32
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 617 ✭✭✭BoroMan32


    Very honest post there, Johner. I think a lot of people have potential addiction issues with gambling; but they're just unwilling to admit it to themselves. For me personally I treat it as a bit of entertainment, in so far as I don't expect to make money in the long term from it as I simply don't put in the effort/study as I don't have enough time outside of work/family life.

    On the whole Tony10 thing, for him to only serve 18 months inside was laughable. He should still be banged up now in my eyes. However, for Paddy Power to allow him lodge bundles of cash (according to the Racing Post article by Richie Forristal yesterday he was lodging up to 25k a week in cash to his account through a Powers shop next door to where he worked), without asking a single question or making any attempt to intervene just proves what utter vermin the big bookmaking companies are now.

    All they want in the UK are zombies shovelling cash into the FOBT's.


  • #46
    kiers47
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,564 ✭✭✭kiers47


    Johner wrote: »
    I've ordered that book, has anyone read it? I'm also currently reading Cathal McCarron's book. I've struggled for around 10 years myself now with addiction. I've stolen from family members, lost girlfriends and fallen out with nearly everybody I know over it.

    I've found GA meetings haven't helped me at all. I'm self excluded from every bookie there is now apart from one. I haven't been able to bring myself to close the final one and I know nothing will start to change until I do. Online is the real killer for me, I find it harder to part with say €50 in a shop but online I have done multiple bet's on the football/horses of €1,000 without blinking which is just crazy considering I wouldn't dream of that in a shop. I put €1,000 on a horse called Kandinski a few years ago in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe. :rolleyes: Needless to say it came second and it was the most horrible feeling I've ever experienced.

    I only back the odd horse now but I'm still backing far too much football. My problem used to be if I watched a horse race and a horse I fancied won and I hadn't backed in the race I would get pissed off that I didn't have anything on it.

    Fair play Johner.
    There is a serious problem with how gambling is presented to the consumer in this country. It is biased and all pure marketing trash.
    Cigarette manufacturers have had to attach pictures and plain packaging to their products and i would argue (and im not saying your on this level.) but gambling has the same if not a worse destructive power than smoking has. It ruins lives of people and also in extreme cases their families and is presented as this fluffy nice product. Green and blue and fantastic. All you need to do is add a small disclaimer or two and your sorted.

    I mean it could be worse as it is in the UK but that's another story. But there needs to be better legislation in place i feel.


    Sorry for the ramble.
    Enjoy the racing and the sport again. Money is just paper and numbers. Sport brings another sort of emotion all encompassing, spine tingling, utter despair and also infinite joy!
    Easy for me to say but best of luck with your fight!


  • #47
    HandsomeBob
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,977 ✭✭✭HandsomeBob


    Johner wrote: »
    I've ordered that book, has anyone read it? I'm also currently reading Cathal McCarron's book. I've struggled for around 10 years myself now with addiction. I've stolen from family members, lost girlfriends and fallen out with nearly everybody I know over it.

    I've found GA meetings haven't helped me at all. I'm self excluded from every bookie there is now apart from one. I haven't been able to bring myself to close the final one and I know nothing will start to change until I do. Online is the real killer for me, I find it harder to part with say €50 in a shop but online I have done multiple bet's on the football/horses of €1,000 without blinking which is just crazy considering I wouldn't dream of that in a shop. I put €1,000 on a horse called Kandinski a few years ago in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe. :rolleyes: Needless to say it came second and it was the most horrible feeling I've ever experienced.

    I only back the odd horse now but I'm still backing far too much football. My problem used to be if I watched a horse race and a horse I fancied won and I hadn't backed in the race I would get pissed off that I didn't have anything on it.
    Fair play Johner for being so honest. TBH I'm still in the throes of it more than I've cared to admit. Only 31 and no debt thankfully but still, I've very little to show for my age and I put that down to my gambling and drinking. I'm not in any way deluded about it; I am a sh1t gambler. Still hasn't got me to the stage though that I'm going to change the away I do things.


  • #48
    deathtocaptcha
    Registered Users Posts: 349 ✭✭deathtocaptcha


    In my view, gambling is something nobody can shake off, people just manage it in different ways or replace it with something that involves the same buzz but perhaps without the financial element e.g. multi-player gaming.

    How about turning to stock markets or cryptocurrencies or any sort of trading where you don't lose everything you 'bet' after a fixed amount of time?

    Provided you don't use leverage, it's extremely difficult to lose €1000 for example just trading shares but you may get the same 'kick'. Over a year you might end up with €500 if you're particularly unlucky but in general you're never going to lose big because it's not an 'all or nothing' type of bet.

    You could even focus on a specific niche like gambling companies and start trading their shares, monitoring company news, regulation news, new technologies etc... it's the same buzz only you're being more productive and not losing big money.


  • #49
    Sprinter Sacre
    Closed Accounts Posts: 610 ✭✭✭Sprinter Sacre


    I'd probably put myself down as a gambling addict too although I controlled it myself without ever having to tell anyone. Never stole or was never in debt thank God but definitely felt the emptiness of it all and the ridiculous betting patterns of an addict. Lied to family and friends over it mad. I'd be a bottler about things in general, you'd never know what was going on in my mind although I realise it is an awful way to be. Every weekend someone would say "any luck today" and I'd say "no only had the one bet" when in reality I'd have thirty of forty. You could never really tell if I won or lost money. One Saturday at work I won 4000 and didn't tell a soul, I probably didn't even smile. I probably had to re-deposit into that account a few days later.

    Punting hundreds on South American third division football late at night, betting on things like cricket without having the foggiest of ideas of the rules. Betting hundreds @1.1 for a tennis player to hold their serve. Never went down the virtual betting route besides maybe throwing a fiver on it on a very boring day but that was once in the blue moon. I feel so sorry for people who actually bet on those regularly.

    I'd spend hours in work picking bets out instead of working. My analysis was good, still is mind you but it wasn't until I copped on many thousands lost later that I realised the game is rigged from the get go more often than not. I always knew about value betting and bank roll management but it wasn't until I learned about overround and the mighty uphill battle that you face versus the bookies that cooled by gambling down a little.

    But yeah it definitely affected me hard. Getting angry at others for no reason, simply because my mind was so frazzled by gambling losses and thinking how I'd get it back. Social life turns to ****, even the times you were out it was filled with thoughts of betting. "Jesus I forgot to put a bet on the Aussie soccer in the morning" at 4am. I'd definitely be one of those people that would get angry for not betting on something when you felt like it would win. I'd easily place 100 bets a day back in the peak degen days and I'd have more picks shortlisted that I wouldn't follow through on...and if they won they'd hurt the most that I didn't follow through on my gut and that would just lead me to betting more and more.

    Wins felt like nothing, not even relief, just more to add to the balance in the top right corner to punt away. I hated betting shops, hated the sight of seeing old lads shaking with the stress of years and years of gambling away their wages and pensions and thought "I'm not one of them". Yet I'd be there at lunch time casually placing hundreds on an in play game on who'd get the next corner whilst pretending to have a laugh with the lads over work chatter. Lads would be talking about not being able to afford something worth 100 hundred quid for their kid whereas I'm placing 500 on some random lad in a Tennis youth tournament. Insanity. The money just isn't real on that screen.

    I worked in an office where lots of others bet which didn't help. The rare day you wouldn't feel like betting on something, someone at work would have got a tip, you'd tail and while you were at it you'd spot another ten bets you'd like. I lost count of times the lads would say "did you bet on that as well?" and I'd just nod and smile, trying to hide the anger and sadness inside me for losing another one. Thinking back on it I was probably one of the better bettors, only that I was using much bigger stakes so I was the one who was crippled. Often I'd have the weeks wages punted off by Monday afternoon. Imagine having to work a whole week only to be still down money for the week because you punted it off on some stupid Chinese friendly game on a Monday morning. I still shake my head thinking back to the days of myself telling my brain "sure its fine your wages will cover that loss".

    I'd say the thing that woke me up from my daze was one Christmas. I had just over 8k in my account at the start of the month that would do nicely for a lovely Christmas, presents, going out, general life expenses etc. with plenty left to start the new year nicely and still have enough to bet. A week before Christmas I'd less than 100 pound...no presents bought and no rent paid as it was due on the last week on the month. I can still feel the heat of the redness from my face when the error message came up on the deposit screen and then checking Open24 and seeing I was skint. In a way it would be better that I'd go broke as it would have saved me some hassle down the line but somehow I managed to spin up 100 into 4 grand and cover my arse. Once Christmas and rent was covered I blew the rest of course. Its a story I have since told many people and the mixture of reactions, both from utter disgust and shock to respect is amazing. I am both ashamed to death and proud of that month, but it is something I hope I never have to do again.

    But yeah that was a thorn in the side of my gambling. I slowly started to fall out of love with it, couldn't catch a break in the footie and I didn't have enough money to punt big on things like Boxing and Tennis. Studying about odds and over round and the exchanges definitely helped me, I went from using Paddy Power as my main bookie to barely using them at all now unless a special comes up. Since January I've placed less then 20 bets with a bookie I'd say, a flutter at Cheltenham or on a Boxing fight, things the normal lad does with his tenner on a weekend after a hard week's work. Fine and healthy sort of betting really. How I got to that stage is a bit fuzzy tbh, but I went cold turkey for a long time, just by uninstalling the apps and emptying the accounts seemed to work for me. I was murder for having my paypal topped up as it meant easy deposits and nothing on the bank statement so I had to even stop using that for buying worthwhile things online as temptation would have been too great.

    It is a huge problem in the country and in the world. I'd still follow a lot of betting forums and the like, more so because I have grown to love how odds are made and I am studying about Betfair trading so learning about the market's feelings and that is enlightening and I see anger and depression and gambling problems everywhere. Reddit's betting forums are especially humbling as you'd see a username very active for a month or two before he disappears only to resurface again saying he was broke and had to quit. In reality he's stopped until he gets more money to start again.

    I must grab a hold of that Cathal McCarron book, I really enjoyed the interviews he gave when it came out.


  • #50
    ANDREWMUFC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 484 ✭✭ANDREWMUFC


    Unfortunately gambling addiction is in my dad’s side of the family and I know I’m one myself but I do my upmost to control it, similar to somebody with alcoholism in their family.

    Like Sprinter Sacre said above, I’ve no debt or never stole ect thankfully, but I do sometimes be worried if things could spiral out of control.

    There’s been a few times where i’d go out for a few pints with mates and would be in an hour early to the pub and would back a horse, that would lose and i’d start chasing and eventually be left without a penny for the evening to enjoy myself.

    Imo it’s all about the way you approach it and whether you can control yourself ect


  • #51
    diomed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,744 ✭✭✭diomed


    Johner wrote: »
    I've ordered that book, has anyone read it?
    Yes. I read the Tony O'Reilly book.
    In my opinion he knew nothing about sport, and spent no time assessing odds.
    At one stage O'Reilly ran €5k up to €462k over about two days. He got a call at work from his bookmaker saying that as the website was down he could phone in his bets. A day later he had lost the €462k in about 30 bets.
    His typical bet was ~ €10k on a five event accumulator, perhaps a couple of soccer matches in Malaysia or Turkey, a tennis match, a horse race, and a basketball game. All his selections appeared to be on heavy odds on chances.


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