Stopping playing bookies & house games

[claypole]

I think the first thing you need to do is be really really honest with yourself and decide is your problem a "binary" decision, as Glenn called it - either gamble or don't, or a managegable problem where you can be self aware, recognise triggers and be sensible. I think anybody that gambles has a "problem" - the problem To me is really about a degree off addiction and dependency.  At one end of the scale it is destructive and needs a lot of support, at the other it's almost non existent - we all sit on that spectrum and thankfully most towards the "non existent end" or in the middle.  Get clear on where you are, to be honest if it's very bad get some help and stop everything.

I found myself not in a great place in my mid 20s - best thing I ever did was understand why I gamble, I didn't want a life without gambling - however by understanding my triggers it enabled me to carry on enjoying the bits I love and exercise some control.  It's then about having a plan.  Mine were boredom and staving off depression - I.e. being down. I go major degen. So I put some steps in place I.e. deposit limits online, no credit cards, cash limit withdrawals restricted - I never borrowed so not an issue. Most importantly i learned to recognised those triggers - so easy if bored, see mates, play sports, go out. I also,played more poker, as I loved the game and it helped with triggers.  Over time it just became the norm - and I enjoy my sports betting profitably and in a controlled way. 

Do I still spaz out - absolutely, but in a more controlled way and I enjoy spin ups in Vegas. Worst that happens now is if I bust a tourne in a bad way, depressed can walk out and do a monkey at the tables - but I acknowledge it and move on.

There plenty of ways out there to help keep gambling enjoyable and in your life - you've just got to decide is that right for you. Stars are excellent with cash level restrictions, deposit levels, tourne entries etc - I've used them all for different reasons at different times. Like I say it soon becomes the norm, you're just retraining your brain

I don't subscribe to the "you must stop" school of thought - gamble or don't, personal view think its bollocks - however there is a time when stopping may be the best decision if really severe and unmanageable.

[RedFox]

I like a punt for the buzz and tbh the biggest for me is that spinning game with 30 odd numbers to have a blast on.

I just do it in b&m casinos and usually (unless on a night out) only participate when Im there for poker, which is once every week/10 days.

My problem is I cant find my cash out button when ahead or the stop deposit when behind so Im trying to just not bother at all (which is v. difficult).

I did enjoy some success by a self imposed exile from the tables during lent (gave up sugar too) but alas after lent started again with a modicum of success before once again succumbing to 'one more spin before stopping' and ending up blowing the lot.

Ive now started my exile from the tables again and this time being tough with myself which isn't easy by doing it in stages ie giving up for May, then giving it up for June and see if I cope.

Not easy good luck with it Aaron.

[StuartHopkin]

To be fair if your happy to smash a bag in the bookies and in the casino on a daily basis your actually doing pretty well so I would just carry on and wait for the upswing.

I am proud to say that I have just gone past 20k worth of bets this year. If your happily doing a grand a day you must be well past that!

[smurf]

i would draw a line under today and say from tomorrow i stay out of the bookies...then you need the will power to do it and in all honesty everyone has willpower if they really try.

if you can go in a bookies and blow 1-2k on a machine and not care then fair enough but if you come away thinking what a twat i am, why did i do that then just don't go in.

when i put my usual small football bet on 2 weeks ago one man used a card to get credit on a roulette machine...bet £100 five times in a row and lost then kicked the machine swore at it and stormed out...i just couldn't understand why he bothered to go on it in the first place...but that's just me.

will power my friend...the first few times will be the hardest...if that doesn't work find somewhere else to put your money, a car, holiday etc.

oh and if even that fails...get professional help and don't be such a snob

good luck

[OverTheBorder]

FWIW Gamcare can be better than GA if you are worried about weirdos! its one on one and can be very helpful!  If you are London based its down Clapham....

If you can't trust yourself, get someone you do trust to manage your money, then pay you weekly as opposed to being able to spunk your whole wage in one weekend.  Do not take your bank cards out, take only what you can afford to spend.  Self bar yourself from any online stuff you worry about! I had to ban myself from DTD online as soon as they added that blackjack box in the corner.  I asked to be barred from just that but they would not allow it, in my opinion a poker download should not have these add on's if you do not ask for them, only time I have ever been disappointed by DTD.

I tried a combination of a lot of these things and have started to get a hell of a lot better! also if you get into irresponsible lending I find sending all those pesky pay day loand companies the following e-mail helps:

"I am a degenerate gambling alcoholic and your service provides nothing but problems for me, if you loan to me again I will use this e-mail as evidence of irresponsible lending"

This tends to stop them lending which can be handy as it means you can not get further into a jam.

[leethefish]

Get help.
You need it.

[paulhouk03]

machines are super addictive but are super bad for ur wallet

do you go to books by urself or with mates?

[smashedagain]

machines are super addictive but are super bad for ur wallet

do you go to books by urself or with mates?

Looooooooooool. You don't know aaron

[Cf]

The easiest way to be put off table games/bookies machines is to go and learn about random numbers. In short: you WILL lose. No-one can claim to beat table games/bookies machines (with the exception of blackjack for counters) - it is simply not possible to beat a game where the edge is against you.

I enjoy a game of blackjack. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But I know that in the long run it's costing me money. That's fine, I enjoy playing - the edge is small so i'm paying for entertainment. But i'm not about to do my brains playing it as I know I can't beat it.

Same principle with FOBTs, although I don't see the appeal in the first place so I never play them.

[BorntoBubble]

Trigg trying to de rail threads so unnessary!

[Matt.NFFC.]

press the self exclude button . saved me loads on skybet and betfair casinos when i've had a swingy day on sports or poker

This is killing me.......I'm just learning about trading at low levels and winning a few quid here and there on Betfair, then guess what......fooking blackjack in the mini games bit wipes me out yet again.  I have already hit the self exclude button which is great but this is killing me.

OP, deffo self exclude, and do your best to avoid the other stuff you can't.

[youthnkzR]

you do £1k per day in up at naps?

oh please...

[smashedagain]

you do £1k per day in up at naps?

oh please...

Lol you know him as well

[aaron1867]

I wouldn't say I do £1k in every day or gamble to that extent every day, but when I'm in the gambling mood or perhaps in a session, I can gambool like mad. There are days that go by that I don't have a gamble at all and neither does it bother me, so happy to say that the 'problem' isn't that big.

The limits on machines are £100 a spin, if I have a day free, then I'll hit the bookies and just spin my nuts off really. So the next time I go in the bookies (probably in a bit, as someone owes me money) I am going to see what they say with regards to self banning on the machines.

I do leave myself with quite a few rules, I don't play much poker at weekends as I am out most of the weekend, so that is one plus point. I perhaps want to do this because of my own will power, rather than having to self ban myself in shops and online.

I span £600 into £9k two days ago, thought nothing of it, obviously problems.

As for comments regarding if the money means nothing, it actually does. If it carries on like it does, I'll definitely lose all my money and definitely put all work commitments at risk because of it.

[AndrewT]

Self-banning on the machines in the bookies isn't really an option as how can it work? There's no accounts to be blocked or human being to say 'No'.

The only answer here is self-discipline and, as stated, GA/Gamcare will know more about how to do that than anyone else.