[Rob0410]

This is my first post on here so hello.

I’ve been a problem gambler for the past five years now, I gamble almost entirely on horses despite being very bad at it!

Tonight was probably my lowest point ever but I am praying it is the start of the new way forward..

My girlfriend discovered multiple gambling apps on my phone and I flat out lied to her face about it before breaking down and confessing to being a gambling addict, I am completely disgusted and ashamed in my own behaviour and see this has to stop!!!!

I will use this diary to review my progress and come to if I’m having a tough day trying not to gamble.

Thanks for reading my entry, Rob

[Rob0410]

So I’m coming up to the end of the first day with no bets, it’s gone really well, mainly because I’ve been so busy all day that I haven’t had any time to do any gambling.

I’m feeling really optimistic this time as I have an actual structure to recovery.

Fingers crossed 🙂

[jansdad]

Fingers crossed Rob. Coming here helps a great deal, you will see.

[janey1]

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Hello and thanks for starting a thread in the Gambling Therapy forums

Here at Gambling Therapy we pride ourselves on being a caring and diverse online community who can help and support you with the difficulties you’re currently facing. We understand that this might be a tough time for you, particularly if you’re new to recovery, so come here as often as you need to and participate in the forums, access online groups and connect to the live advice helpline if you need one to one support. We’re in this together!

Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and accepting environment. The beauty of writing it all down is that you can take your time and you will be creating a record of your progress that you can look back on if it ever feels like you’re not moving forward. So, share as much or as little as you like but do try to stick to keeping just one thread in this forum so people know where to find you if they want to be updated on your progress or share something with you.

And on that note….

I’m going to hand you over to our community because I’m sure they will have some words of wisdom for you 🙂

Take care

The Gambling Therapy Team

PS: Let me just remind you to take a look at our
privacy policy and terms and conditions so you know how it all works!

[charles]

Hi Robo and welcome to the forum.

Keep posting and tell us about the positive steps you are taking. have you deleted those apps from your phone? Got yourself banned from those sites?

[simon77]

Hi Rob,

Read your post. I too am a gambling addict, I have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds on the horses. Always managed to kid myself there’s an edge to be had, whether that be a bit of inside information, an angle into a race or some tipster providing a race breakdown. Of course it sometimes falls into place- this just feeds the delusion for bigger and worse future losses.

I am in big trouble at the moment but have had periods of my life when I’ve not gambled. The pain does heal but you need to take some measures to support your recovery.

I have done this in the past and have found doing the following is a great help.

Banned myself from all the online bookies, pretty easy to do.
Stop watching , listening to or reading about racing. Let’s not kid ourselves but that cheeky 15 min watch of channel 4 racing or AtR is the start of us going back to having a bet.

I treat myself and my girlfriend now and again without having to gamble first. I know it can be tough, pretty much every penny I’ve spent on most things in the last few years has been money I’ve won gambling. It doesn’t have to be that way and I find something small to reward myself not gambling can help.

Don’t go into any bookies unless it’s to self exclude. I am excluded from every bookies near where I work and feel much safer this way.

From one ex punter to another- there is no way of winning betting on horses long term. Anyone that claims this to be the case is lying or is deluded by the fact they are having a good day. I have landed some large horse bets in my time- very satisfying but ultimately self defeating as like night follows day the losing runs return and the stakes go up.

Betting on horse racing takes brains- use them for something else- you’d probably be surprised at what you can achieve without having all your time and energy sapped by gambling.

[Rob0410]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and advice, I handed over the passwords to the account I have and no longer have access to these. I have not been in any bookies since Boxing Day.

I’m currently 11 days without a single bet and it feels amazing I have so much more time and don’t have to cover anything up anymore!

Thanks Simon I agree completely with all that you said!

It feels different to the other times I’ve attempted to stop.

Thanks
Rob

[Mred321]

I am also an ex horse player. I have wasted many days at the track.I started in the days before you could bet on your laptop or phone . I had to actually go to the track to blow all of my money.I live in the states but we are all the same . I was able to control myself pretty much when the only thing you could wager on was the live races at the track you were currently attending. But then the powers that be figured out they could take more of your money if sent in the signal from other race race tracks. Oh at first it was only a few tracks from my home state. Then they started going nationwide. We had the chance to lose money at 25 or 30 different tracks at a time. well my friend I dont have to tell you what happened next . I lost every thing my house my car my job…Hopefully you have not reach this point and figured out for yourself that it has to stop now. I have stopped for a few years at a time and thought it was ok to go back to the bet. But this disease is never cured it can only be arrested. What works best for me is to stay out of places where you can gamble. yes I got hooked on ruboffs even though I thought it was ok because I only had a problem with horses. So i try to go to stores that do not sell them.I also put money on a gas card that way i dont have to go inside to pay and be tempted by the lottery tickets. I also dont carry much cash only what I need to buy lunch and maybe a coffee.Also if you have someone you can trust to give your finances over to so you dont have access to any money also would help. And find something to do with your new found free time. Dont become bored that is the worse thing that can happen being bored.talk to you later

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