my week so far -(Need advice/help Counselling) :(

Well it all started thursday night went out had a few drinks the week was already pretty shit without added problems coming, and the stress of work pressure, targets, probation, later that night after we were steaming I went to the casino playing roulette, about an hour lost perhaps 400.00 left swiftly feeling ok, then got online at home and I spent 2,500 had a long game ended up losing a game i should of won... then after that spent 2,400 most of which was in minutes, which was pretty much my whole account balance. I instantly just went into a state of shock unable to beleive it, I drank till 7am and then passed out
(obviously that meant I couldn't go to forest green or work ) so i spent my last 15 quid on a bottle of vodka which started off friday afternoon (i dont drink too often) , I put the change in a roulette machine and won 60 quid, which I spent on more alcohol and we got wrecked,

woke up saturday, phoned in sick to work the next two days just spent then in company of people who didnt care of my gambling habit and i could escape the carnage from girlfriend and family., And today, I've gone AWOL from work, head's not in a good place,
spent every last penny trying to obtain some money through poker, 'which believe it or not I did for a living a while back' which made some decent wins, its mainly roulette that is the culpret
Feeling Too scared/embarresed to walk back in to work after being AWOL and assuring I would be back,
Feel in a bad, bad way massively depressed haven't trained or been out anywhere just eating biscuits and chocolate comfort indulging.
Cardiff city langston news this hasn't helped , plus never won the euro millions tonight was banking on that spent 6 quid on that
basically, I'm brown bread, michael chopra, chris brown
can't describe the feeling, its horrendus, just feel like letting myself collapse to floor and wake up, to a problem free life, but the dilema's keep piling up in current affairs around my secret crisis

Do you gamble because at times it can be easy money or do you gamble because you are addicted to the game?

This is very important as both need a different approach.

Mate I am addicted to fbot machines ... I spent beetween 5-10 grand on them in 5 years at least !! Best thing I can say .. Is to tell your partner give her your money bank cards credit cards .. Just have no money on you !!! Get gambling blocks on laptop ... Ban your self from casinos and betting shops ... !!

It not easy , I ain't going to lie but u can do it ...

If you got kids or someone close have their picture in your wallet and think of them every time you gamble !! But trust me u can win !!!

Do you gamble because at times it can be easy money or do you gamble because you are addicted to the game?

This is very important as both need a different approach.

A very good point. first thing you have to do is stop boozing and fess up to the mrs and the folks. Than itself will make things 50% easier.

Go to work tomorrow. Tell them you've been sick and yr mrs said she left a message on their answer phone. Anything along those lines. The problem isn't tgat u took the days off its that u didnt tell them about it. The above excuse will work for that.

Then get some pro help for your gambling, depending on which of the two options redblue gave you.

Good luck.

Do you gamble because at times it can be easy money or do you gamble because you are addicted to the game?

This is very important as both need a different approach.

I would say both, sometimes I play poker and do really well If i could stick to that without getting greedy or angry would be succusfull every week, I also cant stop myself playing roulette or getting frustrated if i take a bad lose and spiraling out of control

cheers for the reply's guys,

wasn't sure what to expect posting on a cardiff forum
But I figure alot of us have had experiences with gambling so it maybe a good place to bring it up

Good luck with it mate. My uncle had a similar problem a few years back and it almost wrecked him, his wife paid for counselling for him and he's feeling much better now.
And as someone said above, keep a picture of your family with you

The list of things to do

Tell your loved ones, preferably older ones who won't care as much or get as emotional as your wife
Tell your wife, telling another loved one first will be easier and prepare you for whatever she may say
Prove you want help the moment you tell her by giving in your cards
Tell her to delete your accounts online with gambling sites
Tell her to change your cards so you don't know the details. Tough move but needs to be done.
If you want something you want to purchase online tell her to order it for you
Tell her the reason you are doing this is for her and the kids and you need her help a lot and appreciate it
Never take more than £50 out of the house - This is enough for £20 petrol if needed and £30 leftover - You don't want to be spending £200 in the bookies do you?
Play card games at home with mates with your mrs there - NO MONEY GAMES - just have a drink and enjoy the game
If your mates ask to play for money get your wife to tell them to LEAVE
Every time you feel like spending £5 on a bet stick it in a jar instead with a picture of the kids on for a holiday.
In your wallet have your money but in every card slot have a picture of each family member so when you go to grab that card you are reminded why its not there and they are there to help you on the battle you are facing.
Tell your friends and if you ask them to borrow money and they give it to you they aren't good friends at all unless they buy the specific thing you ask for for you

This helps you understand that you can play the game and have a good time with no finance involved. Trust me, that holiday with your kids once its worked out will be the greatest holiday you ever have and just rewards plus you'll also see what you can achieve by keeping that money than potentially throwing it away.

If you are a private man this is going to be hard and feel very intrusive. I

've never had a gambling addiction but I know people who have been addicted to other stuff and its essential you cut off the supply. You will never stop playing card games if you enjoy them. it would be like asking a city fan to stop going down the city when he enjoys it. People need to let go, you just need to learn to do it without the money involved. This is why you need to cut off the supply which in your case is MONEY. You can never get rid of a bookies or an online gambling etc.

Sorry, this is the hardest part, work out a routine with your mrs about a curfew. It NEEDS to be done. There is no point doing all the above if you're going to sneak off to a casino and loan money to gamble only to end up getting threatened etc etc which will end up worse for your family. A curfew is a must.

It is obviously going to be tough and good luck but you need to do the above. Also, if your wife gets angry just sit back and soak it up like a man, like the city fan you are. Just tell her she is right to be mad and thats why you are telling her now before it gets much worse. Let your release be down the City. Go to more games or go to games of other clubs if needs be like Welsh league clubs just to kill time etc and do something. I know a lot of people gamble due to boredom and trying to make a quick buck. Its not worth it at all.

Good luck.

Christ I used to go bloody ape shit if I lost 40 quid on roulette :L
put a deposit limit on your account so IF you did decide to go on there, you can't do too much damage.
It's hard because I used to go casino 3-4 times a week. Sometimes losing a lot of money constantly is one of the only ways to snap out of the habbit. I hardly go anymore and only play for fun.

Do you gamble because at times it can be easy money or do you gamble because you are addicted to the game?

This is very important as both need a different approach.

I would say both, sometimes I play poker and do really well If i could stick to that without getting greedy or angry would be succusfull every week, I also cant stop myself playing roulette or getting frustrated if i take a bad lose and spiraling out of control

We all want more money and some of us actually need more money just to live a life.
When work gets on top or you cant get work - it is convenient now, whether a betting shop, casino or, even easier online, to try to get money by being a glamourous gambler and winning loads.
The reality is, the betting shop is full of mainly skint blokes keeping out of the rain or not staying home alone and online is desperate people trying to earn extra cash to pay the mortgage or give the family a holiday/christmas presents.

The image of the racetrack, james bond casino etc draw us in from our sometimes hum drum life and thats how they hook you.

I was addicted to the fruit machine and lost when i was young - even now when i get the odd occasion (grand national/ casino on a stag trip, euro millions) I bet more than i should. I never win.


Not winning can get to people and they try more and more just to win then, its not about just the money then - its pride or macho and stuff.

I want the money -

I have realised to do that i a) have to work hard in the right type of jobs and b) live within my means.

Feel sorry for you Sloper.
The good thing is that you've opened up mate, now dust yourself down a bit, get that chin in the air and start to build again pal.

I used to have a massive problem with the roulette machines, losing all the money I earned over a period of about 18mhs,the most important thing I did was to self ban myself from all the local Bookies,this is easy to do, just call in and ask for a form, I can't even go in my local Ladbrokes even if I wanted to. I also think the advice about the amount of money you carry around with you is vital,take the absolute minimum you need with you,also leave your cards at home. As for the on-line gambling,thankfully I never got into that, but I assume you can cancel the accounts ???...this won't be easy for you,I DO still have the occassional bet on the horses/football ,but nothing silly,the machines were the big problem,they shouldn't be allowed in the bookies,but they're not gonna take them away as it's by far their biggest earner...good luck,pm me if you want to chat sometime...

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/ind ... f-Thursday