[ayrmad]

dubs, on 25 October 2010 - 11:48, said:

Lol, what a terrible comparison to make.

I wish it was.

[Jordo1872]

dubs, on 25 October 2010 - 11:48, said:

Lol, what a terrible comparison to make.

In what way is that remotely funny? As MidTable has already pointed out, FOBTs (and certainly Roulette) will cause many, many problems in society unless the government are willing to take a tougher stance, unfortunately I can't see that happening.

The are indeed the crack cocaine of gambling; highly addictive, widely available and will ultimately cost you a lot more than money.

edit to add: DB62 if you have realised you need to address your gambling and taken teps to do just that you deserve a lot of respect. Good luck with it, keep at it and you'll get where you need to be.

Plenty of people on here will help with advice if needed.

This post has been edited by Jordo1872: 25 October 2010 - 19:35

[DarkBlue62]

Thanks for all the kind comments folks.

[dubs]

Jordo1872, on 25 October 2010 - 19:32, said:

In what way is that remotely funny? As MidTable has already pointed out, FOBTs (and certainly Roulette) will cause many, many problems in society unless the government are willing to take a tougher stance, unfortunately I can't see that happening.

The are indeed the crack cocaine of gambling; highly addictive, widely available and will ultimately cost you a lot more than money.

I just don't get how you can equate the two. Then again if that's the way you or anyone else thinks then I agree, you have a gambling problem.

[Jordo1872]

dubs, on 26 October 2010 - 08:28, said:

I just don't get how you can equate the two. Then again if that's the way you or anyone else thinks then I agree, you have a gambling problem.

No gambling problem here, just a perception of the problem and the effects it will have on society.

[DarkBlue62]

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

[DarkBlue62]

Went to my second meeting last night which was an open meeting. This meant that there were a few folk from other places there. Some guy was getting his 26 year pin! Also there were GamAnon members which are people who are affected by a memeber of their family gambling or the likes. So for instance my mum or girlfriend would maybe go to it. It was quite difficult listening to the GamAnon members speak as I then started to think thats how my family members feel, it really is horrible. Im glad Ive decided to stop at 21 and not wait another 20 years down the line and then decide its a problem.

[jagfox]

DarkBlue62, on 28 October 2010 - 08:36, said:

Went to my second meeting last night which was an open meeting. This meant that there were a few folk from other places there. Some guy was getting his 26 year pin! Also there were GamAnon members which are people who are affected by a memeber of their family gambling or the likes. So for instance my mum or girlfriend would maybe go to it. It was quite difficult listening to the GamAnon members speak as I then started to think thats how my family members feel, it really is horrible. Im glad Ive decided to stop at 21 and not wait another 20 years down the line and then decide its a problem.

Keep up good work fella and do what ever works for you. My mate and I were punting heavy bets a couple of years ago. Got to the stage of going to bookies with a ton and almost expecting to lose it. He went a bit further but that's his story. I've more or less given up apart from the odd £2 on a football coupon or throwing a quid down the drain with the lotto. My mate has just got his year pin and that's working for him. He sometimes goes to 3 meetings a week.
Agree with half of point made earlier. Try saving what you routinely gamble and then don't gamble it. Spend it on something more worthwhile and not giving a contribution to the bookie's new merc for next year fund
Maybe there should be a non-gambling forum? Most ga members have to go cold turkey and stay away from gambling references outside of meetings.
Another point is amount of gambling advertising in football. I wonder how many clubs in england are sponsored by bookies.
Imho slot/roulette machines do eat your money like crack cocaine. Once I went in spent £50 and won £500 in an hour spent all day in bookies. My mate(the ex-gambler) gave me £300 he owed me and by the time I left the store at 9pm I only had a £10 to my name.
Anyway have a lucky weekend whatever you get up to

[ayrmad]

DarkBlue62, on 28 October 2010 - 08:36, said:

Went to my second meeting last night which was an open meeting. This meant that there were a few folk from other places there. Some guy was getting his 26 year pin! Also there were GamAnon members which are people who are affected by a memeber of their family gambling or the likes. So for instance my mum or girlfriend would maybe go to it. It was quite difficult listening to the GamAnon members speak as I then started to think thats how my family members feel, it really is horrible. Im glad Ive decided to stop at 21 and not wait another 20 years down the line and then decide its a problem.

Been the speaker at quite a few open meetings, they're great for getting the suffering of family members across.

At one open meeting my wife and myself were the speakers, that was different as my perception of me and my actions were quite different from those of my wife, If asked to speak in the future, do it, you'll absolutely shite yourself but believe me in terms of recovery it's a fantastic thing to do.

Have also been a speaker at social work, kids groups, schools and rotary clubs, a slightly different experience but if it allows one person to realise there's somewhere to help them if they need it in the future then it's worthwhile.

[DarkBlue62]

ayrmad, on 29 October 2010 - 15:53, said:

Been the speaker at quite a few open meetings, they're great for getting the suffering of family members across.

At one open meeting my wife and myself were the speakers, that was different as my perception of me and my actions were quite different from those of my wife, If asked to speak in the future, do it, you'll absolutely shite yourself but believe me in terms of recovery it's a fantastic thing to do.

Have also been a speaker at social work, kids groups, schools and rotary clubs, a slightly different experience but if it allows one person to realise there's somewhere to help them if they need it in the future then it's worthwhile.

There was a wife talking at this open meeting and her husband was in the watching chairs. She talked about how she wanted to kill him at some stages of life, pretty scary like!

I look forward to progressing from day to day. Hope I can stayu clean as it were. Also thanks to all on here giving me encouragement.

[ayrmad]

DarkBlue62, on 29 October 2010 - 16:12, said:

There was a wife talking at this open meeting and her husband was in the watching chairs. She talked about how she wanted to kill him at some stages of life, pretty scary like!

I look forward to progressing from day to day. Hope I can stayu clean as it were. Also thanks to all on here giving me encouragement.

Just concentrate day to day, it's easier than some think, I personally found stopping gambling far far easier than realising what an arsehole I was and changing my personality, just take the positives out of every meeting even if it's only one small thing, those that struggle tend to carry the negative out the rooms and view things with a cynical closed mind.

[Kylesons]

Thinking I should really go to this. How do you go about finding meetings to attend etc?

[DarkBlue62]

Kylesons, on 12 November 2010 - 16:07, said:

Thinking I should really go to this. How do you go about finding meetings to attend etc?

GA

[IrishBhoy]

A few of my friends have said to me that I have a problem with gambling but I dont believe I do.

I get quite a large wage for someone of my age and when my money goes in I will think nothing of sticking a few £50 trebles on, maybe a couple of hundred on a short priced horse if I fancy it.

But if I lose all of they bets I will reduce it right down to £5 or £10 bets and then if I have no money I forget about gambling again until I get paid.

Does that mean I have a problem? I only answered yes to 2 of those 20 questions.

[DarkBlue62]

IrishBhoy, on 15 November 2010 - 20:53, said:

A few of my friends have said to me that I have a problem with gambling but I dont believe I do.

I get quite a large wage for someone of my age and when my money goes in I will think nothing of sticking a few £50 trebles on, maybe a couple of hundred on a short priced horse if I fancy it.

But if I lose all of they bets I will reduce it right down to £5 or £10 bets and then if I have no money I forget about gambling again until I get paid.

Does that mean I have a problem? I only answered yes to 2 of those 20 questions.

Only you can tell yourself if you are or if you arent.

[Lerwick Lad]

IrishBhoy, on 15 November 2010 - 20:53, said:

A few of my friends have said to me that I have a problem with gambling but I dont believe I do.

I get quite a large wage for someone of my age and when my money goes in I will think nothing of sticking a few £50 trebles on, maybe a couple of hundred on a short priced horse if I fancy it.

But if I lose all of they bets I will reduce it right down to £5 or £10 bets and then if I have no money I forget about gambling again until I get paid.

Does that mean I have a problem? I only answered yes to 2 of those 20 questions.

You may not even realise it but your mood may be really bad after you lose £300 on a short priced jolly. You may think you are normal but your close friends know different.

Ask your friends why they think you have a problem. Unless you are earning £100k+ I would suggest putting £300 on a horse would indicate you either have a gambling problem or are completley stupid. As you have a high earning job - I suggest it is the former.

[DarkBlue62]

Went out on Saturday with a bunch of them. Hang around with the younger guys, granted they are 28-30. Really good laugh, plusI won the bowling. Also enjoyed a fantastic chinese. Its great being around people who understand what you have been through and we can relate to each other.

[Mosby1314]

DarkBlue62, on 29 November 2010 - 22:15, said:

Went out on Saturday with a bunch of them. Hang around with the younger guys, granted they are 28-30. Really good laugh, plusI won the bowling. Also enjoyed a fantastic chinese. Its great being around people who understand what you have been through and we can relate to each other.

Sounds very intimate. So happy to hear you've found love pal, going to Gay Anonymous meetings is so brave of you.

On a serious note, I might need to have a long and hard think about GA as my losses this season run into the hundreds and I answered yes to most of the questions.

[ayrmad]

Mosby1314, on 29 November 2010 - 22:32, said:

Sounds very intimate. So happy to hear you've found love pal, going to Gay Anonymous meetings is so brave of you.

On a serious note, I might need to have a long and hard think about GA as my losses this season run into the hundreds and I answered yes to most of the questions.

Going is painless.

[DarkBlue62]

Mosby1314, on 29 November 2010 - 22:32, said:

Sounds very intimate. So happy to hear you've found love pal, going to Gay Anonymous meetings is so brave of you.

On a serious note, I might need to have a long and hard think about GA as my losses this season run into the hundreds and I answered yes to most of the questions.

Dont go if your not serious about going. Only go if your going to be comitted to going. Good luck.

[mid-table]

ayrmad, on 29 November 2010 - 22:33, said:

Going is painless.

Going the second time onwards is painless. I would imagine that the anticipation of going the first time can be absolutely nerve wracking.

DarkBlue62, on 29 November 2010 - 22:44, said:

Dont go if your not serious about going. Only go if your going to be comitted to going. Good luck.

I disagree with that. Go if you think you need to go. You cant decide if you are committed to going until you know what it's like.

[ayrmad]

mid-table, on 29 November 2010 - 22:58, said:

Going the second time onwards is painless. I would imagine that the anticipation of going the first time can be absolutely nerve wracking.

I was apprehensive the 1st time, within half an hour the weight of the world had been removed.

Quote

I disagree with that. Go if you think you need to go. You cant decide if you are committed to going until you know what it's like.

I'd agree with this, nobody will ever know if the penny will drop 'til they visit the rooms, even if it's not great I'd still tough it out for as long as it takes as some people take a long time to grasp what's on offer.

[Nick_BCFC]

I gave these guys a call a couple of weeks back. They didn't seem overly helpful at first (all the meetings were in big cities 30-40 miles away). I got another number off them and the nearest one the other organisation ran was 15 miles away. With not driving this was no good either as I work and couldn't get to the meeting they have each week on time.

They gave me some advice over the phone (tell a mate) which I took. Felt a bit of a tit going out for a pint and getting him involved but i'm glad I did. We went round the local bookies and filled out the self ban forms.

More of a weight off the shoulders knowing someone else knows. The funny thing is i've not really wanted to go in that much either.

I think its about 12 or 13 days since I told my pal and lost my last bet. I really couldn't tell you the last time I went more than 2 days without betting on something until I said something to someone.

[philpy]

Right. I've known for a good while i've had a gambling problem, and this year it has fucked me up big time. I spent my xmas bonus on slot machines at the bookies and online, along with most of december's wages, and ended up with little xmas money, i bought about 4 presents for the wife, and she bought me loads of stuff. I lied to her, saying that i put a large sum away for a holiday, but she asked me to prove it, and that point i had to admit that i had a gambling addiction, and by f**k did she hit the roof, she took off her wedding ring, and told me we were finished. I managed to calm her down, and we both agreed that i needed help, and the following night i went to my first GA meeting. She was proud of me, and it built a small amount of trust back up, but we're not out of the woods yet. I have handed her my debit card and complete control of my finances until i get rid of this addiction. We've only been married since september, and i came very close to having a very short marriage. I have done a lot of thinking these last few days, and i know i can get through this. I went to bed before the bells at hogmany, i didnt feel very festive after what i put her through. We're still sleeping in the same bed, but things wont be the same for a while.

[Latino Lover]

Very brave post, good luck amigo.