[nflfan44]

Hi All. Hope you are all doing okay in these troubled times. Really will be great to hear and learn about other peoples stories on this website. Would be great if I could just get some advice from people who understand this insidious addiction.

I am 30 years old and have gambled since I was 17 this has mostly been on sports betting greyhounds and horses but occasional visits to casinos and online etc many opportunities to gamble in Leeds where I live. From the ages of 18-23 I regularly gambled away 90 percent of my wages within a day or 2 and scraped by off family and friend after this. This addiction has continued to effect me badly but whenever I gamble I always think to myself it will be different oh this horse this jockey this day etc when all I really do is just want to gamble as much as possible till my money is gone. It always ends the same way after a decade of doing this but I always end up back in the same position. Obviously Cheltenham’s coming up in the racing calendar and I after all these years I just don’t seem to be able to get the hint that I am just ruining my life year after year. My family have wiped my ass for 30 years I still live at home and I’m in about 7000 worth of credit card debt. It really has crippled me and when I think of my life I really just want to cry. I have had periods where I have managed to abstain but this addiction creeps up on you especially in periods of happiness or sadness. Another thing as well with the money planning to buy things but then all those plans going out the window because you want another bet. Really would be great to get some info.

[G Rec]

Hi nflfan44 – Welcome to the forum and well done on taking a positive step.

Everything you have mentioned (gambling for many many years, regularly gambling away a large portion or all wages, gambling affecting you badly etc) are all things that I can directly relate to, and the same will be true for many others on this forum so know that you are not alone.

I would recommend attending one of the New Members practical advice groups that are held on Monday and Thursday, there you will receive some direct and practical steps that you can help.

One of the things that will be discussed in these meetings is how you can put barriers in place to make it as difficult s possible to bet. The sooner these barriers can be put in place the better and with Cheltenham coming up, it is going to be very important for you to have these barriers in place before then.

Barriers include items such 1)Permanently closing all online betting accounts. 2) Having yourself excluded from live betting shops 3) Reducing or removing access to funds or alternatively making yourself accountable for any money spent be that through a family member or a friend who has visibility of where your money is spent.

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