Gambling Has Destroyed Means

The spirit of gambling destroys the financial success of people because they will be made to spend the money they don’t have on gambling. Many of them will be badly indebted all in the name of gambling. 'These schemes must be outlawed.' Charles Ritchie, founder of the charity Gambling with Lives, who was involved in the consultation, said: 'We know so many people on ordinary incomes who have been.

This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 11 months ago by .

Gambling Has Destroyed Means

I am 53 and have ruined my life.
Been through several different theapists over the years without success.
I used to be a Casino binge gambler. Never really lost money there but lost hours,days, weeks and months of time there.
I have had that under control for years. Stopped going to local casino daily after realizing that if I go up even $ 100,000, I eventually give it back.
Stopped going to local casino 15+ years ago. I self banded myself without anyone pushing me. I go to Vegas once a year and gamble like a madman while there, but get on a plane and it’s done and out of my system. Yes I can lose 20,000 in a trip but somehow usually win.
Tried online casinos but after consistently losing there, that too stopped 10 years ago. Self exclusion.
Now someone introduces me to sports gambling 4 years ago, and I am addicted and can’t stop. I lost over 100,000 this past year alone. while on ” vacation” I lost another 20k. Can’t stop betting and what ever bet I do, I lose 60% of the time.
Arizona college portal. Wife and kids know I gambler but have no clue for how much.
I spend tens of thousands more a year than I make, and lose much more in gambling.
My debts are insurmountable and I now realize I need to sell my house worth 1m plus.
I can not join GA because of my profession (financial planning) .
Not suicidal which is good. But selling my house will send a clear message to the community that I am involved with, that I am not what they think and that this will hurt my ability to earn a living. I do not steal nor invest on behalf of others but render financial advise all day long!
Help!!!!
Good you want to get help. This site is really good- alot of great people and very supportive community.
I can see why you feel that selling your house will send a negative message about yourself in regards to your reputation workwise- but in reality it is probably a sound financial decision- albeit brought on by unsound financial decisions. (but then again gambling is not about financial decisions)
Recognising you have a gambling problem and getting help for it is a really good move. Its never too late and your life will improve in leaps and bounds without gambling.
Stay connected here- alot of great support- and advice- especially about barriers etc.
Stay strong and gamble free.
well just cause ya sell your house dont mean that everyone will think your life is going bad and so what if it is. the economy is just that bad anyways now days that i would think every area of buisness is getting hit. **** if you can bale yourself out by selling your house you should. get something a little more modest and affordable while you recover. can always go big again later if thats what you really need.
Hi Reallydumb,
A Warm Welcome to Gambling Therapy
It sounds to me that you are reluctant to take the necessary steps to fully engage with your recovery for fear of damaging your good reputation in the community. Do you see going to GA meetings as a sign of weakness or strength? In my opinion, its the latter. Who is the bigger man, the one who pussyfoots around making excuses as to why he cant go to GA and cant ask for support from his family or the one who holds his hands up, accepts when he is beaten and determines to do whatever necessary to get back up?
Your reputation as a financial planner will be gone forever if you dont take real action now. You can join GA now while you are still a financial planner or you can join GA later when you have sold your home and, potentially, are unemployed and insolvent.
Please dont think that your gambling will stop if you manage to pay off your debts. It will stop when you take decisive action, go to GA, go and see a counsellor/therapist again, tell your family (get it out in the open with them), let someone you trust take control of your family’s finances (a hard one for you, I’m sure), exclude yourself from venues, etc.
I apologise if what I say seems harsh but it comes with the best of intentions. Oh, and by the way, you are not really dumb. You are here reaching out for help, I hope you can find the strength to do what you know is necessary.
Having found us you have also found a diverse community who can help and support you on your recovery journey.
Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment and by reading others stories am sure you will see that you are very much not alone in this addiction
Please click here to see our services page, feel free to use all that this site can offer…
To chat with others in real time you may wish to make use of the support groups, the ***** of these groups are advertised under 'What’s on and When' or click here to see the weekly group schedule.
For one to one chat you may want to try the live advice helpline. Click 'connect' when these options become available.
Also to say when you registered we would have sent you an email with an attachment, this attachment will help you navigate the site and find the support you so rightly deserve, alternatively this guide can be downloaded by clicking here.
Take Care
Mike
I dont think you’re really dumb, you are a compulsive gambler like many of us here. That dosn’t excuse you or make what you’ve done acceptable, but that is the fact of the matter.
If you were really dumb you wouldnt be living in a million dolltar house.
You do not have to gamble, and with the right support you can learn to say no to it. You seem to think that people will immediatley presume if they find out about your problem and your situation that they will instantly loose faith in you. This is only your perception of how others will see the situation and not neccasarily the way it will be seen. You are not unique in your position, many people will be surprisingly supportive to see you admitting your problem and taking steps to fight it.
Gambling is ruining your life, not you. If you didnt gamble your life wouldn’t be ruined.
You can not stop gambling on your own, you seem to have accepted that I hope that you do seek support from GA and although you have your reservations about it, I think you should at least give it a try. Maybe go to a meeting away from where you live. As the name suggests Gamblers Anonymous is exactly that; anonymous. Nobody will know unless they are there or you tell them.
One thing I think must be apparent to you is if you dont get help quickly you will end up in a far worse predicament. Earning the income you do but living in debt is probably worse than living on minimum wage but not in debt, so losing your job although a very serious thing wouldn’t be the end of the world. Hopefully it will not come to this, but please swallow your pride and get to a meeting.
Geordie.I gambled last year, but havn’t this year. Imagine that!!….Recovery is priceless.
Originally posted by Reallydumb
I am 53 and have ruined my life …Help!!!!
Larry
Thanks to my Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT, 'Day Two Is Another Day Behind' and with the help from all , I will continue to remain gambling free.
Good afternoon RD, my name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was August 13, 2009. Welcome to GT, a place where 'Reallysmart' people come to find help and work at the ways and means to stop their compulsive gambling and renew a life ruined by an addiction, not by them, but by a baffling and insidious compulsive addiction to gambling.
You may find yourself in a situation that you feel is unique or one where others fail to grasp the seriousness of you position, but in the long run you will find that you are not alone, that others have experienced mush the same predicaments that you find yourself facing. The only difference could be that they have accepted that they had to do something different and not just hold onto old ways that did not work or ones that they refused to follow; they had to become Honest, Openminded, and Willing to make changes in their lives, and work at a recovery program that would afford them the opportunity