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Gambling
Aug 13, 2020 21:12:04 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattador78 on Aug 13, 2020 21:12:04 GMT
Recently I have fell back in to a habit I had broken 20 odd years ago and it started out of boredom and touch of depression and I started to gamble on what was a childish thing but on online gaming such as FIFA and COD packs just for a little buzz and just a little bit until it wasn’t. The wife found out lost it with me and bollocked me, I said I’d stop and I didn’t now my idiocy has been discovered again and it’s not been fun tonight and has been and could/will continue to be a very difficult Time in my relationship. I reached out and contacted GA about this and they have been very helpful I stated it just seemed embarrassing what I had been doing however the guys I have spoke to tonight were very understanding and helpful and made me realise it wasn’t what I was gambling on it was the fact I was gambling and not thinking about it like I had done all those years ago. I used to spend most of my wages on fruit machines when I was in my teens starting at dinner in the pub then after work as well, I took control of it when the future wife was pregnant with our first and now 23 years later I have relapsed into that habit of spending and not thinking looking for a buzz the sums have not been as extravagant as they were back then but it’s been a stupid amount of money. I’m posting this on here not to illicit sympathy or for anyone to have a laugh and mock me I’m just putting it in here to own my actions and advise others that addictions can rise up in the strangest ways and especially in this time where Stresses and strains are on a lot of people. If anyone is like myself in any form of addiction reach out talk and be strong. I can’t apologise to my wife enough but she can’t bring herself to believe me at this moment and quite rightly doesn’t want to speak to me really, my weakness has upset and ashamed the one person other than my kids who has always loved me unconditionally and been there for me hopefully she still will be there for me. Tomorrow I’m phoning the drs about my depressive feelings and nipping into the local church to find out when I can next take confession to talk to the priest and get some guidance as they are good listeners. Anyway I’m trying to say I’m not the only dickhead who does stupid things and probably aren’t the only one on here I’m just trying to own it and thought by making this statement in a community I’m apart of is a good step to admitting my flaws and working to counter them, and hopefully get some decent advice potentially.
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Gambling
Aug 13, 2020 21:39:46 GMT
via mobile
Post by yeswilko on Aug 13, 2020 21:39:46 GMT
Controlling gambling is so much easier if you can't do it from home via a phone or laptop. I used to gamble online quite a bit, but eventually came to the conclusion I would be better off going into the bookies and doing an acca or whatever on a Saturday morning than thinking I was a poker champion after a few beers or rum and cokes on a Saturday night, played the online slots a fair bit too and had some big wins. Eventually I decided it was becoming too regular and taking up too much time and money. I signed up to one of those blocking sites so literally can't gamble online with any company licensed in the UK. Taking the option away really worked for me
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Post by salopstick on Aug 13, 2020 21:39:51 GMT
Best of luck pal.
Get a book called chimp paradox by Steven peters and give that a good read
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Gambling
Aug 13, 2020 21:54:25 GMT
via mobile
Post by cheadlepotter on Aug 13, 2020 21:54:25 GMT
The first step is admitting you have a problem and you’ve done that. Believe me, many can’t see that they have a problem, or even if they do they don’t admit it. So well done. I’m not sure what measures are in place with regards to gaming packs. I’ve not long had a conversation with a work colleague that these sort of things are gambling and could sometimes be the start of an addiction because the target audience can be much younger than the legal gambling age of 18. However, take a look at self-exclusion.co.uk/ if you feel that betting shops could become a problem. It’s much more effective than the self-exclusion process that all UK shops have available as they are just brand specific. Gamcare also offer excellent advice and help with online self-exclusion too. I really hope you find the help that you need and that you come to a positive outcome at home.
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 7:48:33 GMT
via mobile
Post by henry on Aug 14, 2020 7:48:33 GMT
Gaming packs are an absolute ripoff, the companies that sell them probably cleaned up during lockdown. I was shocked to see how much my lad spent on them and got fuck all to show for his money. Legalised theft.
Good luck O.P. Hope you get through it.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Aug 14, 2020 7:55:14 GMT
Recently I have fell back in to a habit I had broken 20 odd years ago and it started out of boredom and touch of depression and I started to gamble on what was a childish thing but on online gaming such as FIFA and COD packs just for a little buzz and just a little bit until it wasn’t. The wife found out lost it with me and bollocked me, I said I’d stop and I didn’t now my idiocy has been discovered again and it’s not been fun tonight and has been and could/will continue to be a very difficult Time in my relationship. I reached out and contacted GA about this and they have been very helpful I stated it just seemed embarrassing what I had been doing however the guys I have spoke to tonight were very understanding and helpful and made me realise it wasn’t what I was gambling on it was the fact I was gambling and not thinking about it like I had done all those years ago. I used to spend most of my wages on fruit machines when I was in my teens starting at dinner in the pub then after work as well, I took control of it when the future wife was pregnant with our first and now 23 years later I have relapsed into that habit of spending and not thinking looking for a buzz the sums have not been as extravagant as they were back then but it’s been a stupid amount of money. I’m posting this on here not to illicit sympathy or for anyone to have a laugh and mock me I’m just putting it in here to own my actions and advise others that addictions can rise up in the strangest ways and especially in this time where Stresses and strains are on a lot of people. If anyone is like myself in any form of addiction reach out talk and be strong. I can’t apologise to my wife enough but she can’t bring herself to believe me at this moment and quite rightly doesn’t want to speak to me really, my weakness has upset and ashamed the one person other than my kids who has always loved me unconditionally and been there for me hopefully she still will be there for me. Tomorrow I’m phoning the drs about my depressive feelings and nipping into the local church to find out when I can next take confession to talk to the priest and get some guidance as they are good listeners. Anyway I’m trying to say I’m not the only dickhead who does stupid things and probably aren’t the only one on here I’m just trying to own it and thought by making this statement in a community I’m apart of is a good step to admitting my flaws and working to counter them, and hopefully get some decent advice potentially. Good luck mate, it’s great that you can put this on the oatcake in the hope of achieving your goal. I’m sure you will find some good advice on here. It’s so easy to get hooked into online gambling, got quite a few mates who are in a bit of a spiral with it. Thankfully I’ve not had a problem as I just can’t be arsed, so my lazy attitude has some benefits😉 Stay strong and hopefully the Mrs will see you’re putting the effort in to solve it👍🏻
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Post by santy on Aug 14, 2020 8:44:42 GMT
I believe if you push hard enough with EA/Activision you can potentially get some blocks in place to stop you spending further. Potentially with your bank if they're no help, such as blocking the certain companies the payment is to. It's not a perfect solution but it would put more hurdles and make it more difficult in the future. But it is quite difficult because they're cynically doing all they can to try and avoid their in-game gambling being classed as gambling.
In general it might be worthwhile visiting Gamstop and getting yourself blocked from as much stuff as you can, it would prove to be something of a positive gesture towards the missus at least.
The games industry is by far the most underhanded approach for me since they outright deny what they do is gambling yet utilise all the same tricks, and more by preying on a past time that for many of us over a certain age was devoid of gambling. With almost any game now the intention from the company behind it isn't that you buy the game for £40/£50/£60 and that's it, their belief is you ought to be spending at least that per month you play the game for and ideally quite a bit more.
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 8:58:59 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattador78 on Aug 14, 2020 8:58:59 GMT
I believe if you push hard enough with EA/Activision you can potentially get some blocks in place to stop you spending further. Potentially with your bank if they're no help, such as blocking the certain companies the payment is to. It's not a perfect solution but it would put more hurdles and make it more difficult in the future. But it is quite difficult because they're cynically doing all they can to try and avoid their in-game gambling being classed as gambling. In general it might be worthwhile visiting Gamstop and getting yourself blocked from as much stuff as you can, it would prove to be something of a positive gesture towards the missus at least. The games industry is by far the most underhanded approach for me since they outright deny what they do is gambling yet utilise all the same tricks, and more by preying on a past time that for many of us over a certain age was devoid of gambling. With almost any game now the intention from the company behind it isn't that you buy the game for £40/£50/£60 and that's it, their belief is you ought to be spending at least that per month you play the game for and ideally quite a bit more. If it looks like gambling and feels like gambling it’s gambling and that what it’s been for me.
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 9:13:35 GMT
via mobile
Post by telfordstoke on Aug 14, 2020 9:13:35 GMT
Agree , good luck OP and absolute fair play for acknowledging issue and seeking help.
As someone that is a one time a year "Grand National" gambler , lockdown (and more specifically a gambling firm) kind of suckered me in to actually placing a few bets when footy resumed. I'd opened an account for a "free" National bet a year or two ago and had an email offering yet more free bets so I reactivated it. That coupled with someone on Twitter I follow who used a Twitter_tipster, so a couple of bets a week has ended up being an accumulator or goals treble a day, and then they offer me a better-odds deal on a horse race etc and all of a sudden I've found some days I'm putting 4-5 bets on and adding "just another tenner" on the account.
So I've blocked the tipster (who I suspect is sponsored or bankrolled in part by a bookies to steer you towards them) and put the account on hold .
But we someone who swore blind that I could never get hooked , I have done so and hoping that twigging this early is the kick in the arse I need.
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Post by thisisouryear on Aug 14, 2020 9:45:32 GMT
Recently I have fell back in to a habit I had broken 20 odd years ago and it started out of boredom and touch of depression and I started to gamble on what was a childish thing but on online gaming such as FIFA and COD packs just for a little buzz and just a little bit until it wasn’t. The wife found out lost it with me and bollocked me, I said I’d stop and I didn’t now my idiocy has been discovered again and it’s not been fun tonight and has been and could/will continue to be a very difficult Time in my relationship. I reached out and contacted GA about this and they have been very helpful I stated it just seemed embarrassing what I had been doing however the guys I have spoke to tonight were very understanding and helpful and made me realise it wasn’t what I was gambling on it was the fact I was gambling and not thinking about it like I had done all those years ago. I used to spend most of my wages on fruit machines when I was in my teens starting at dinner in the pub then after work as well, I took control of it when the future wife was pregnant with our first and now 23 years later I have relapsed into that habit of spending and not thinking looking for a buzz the sums have not been as extravagant as they were back then but it’s been a stupid amount of money. I’m posting this on here not to illicit sympathy or for anyone to have a laugh and mock me I’m just putting it in here to own my actions and advise others that addictions can rise up in the strangest ways and especially in this time where Stresses and strains are on a lot of people. If anyone is like myself in any form of addiction reach out talk and be strong. I can’t apologise to my wife enough but she can’t bring herself to believe me at this moment and quite rightly doesn’t want to speak to me really, my weakness has upset and ashamed the one person other than my kids who has always loved me unconditionally and been there for me hopefully she still will be there for me. Tomorrow I’m phoning the drs about my depressive feelings and nipping into the local church to find out when I can next take confession to talk to the priest and get some guidance as they are good listeners. Anyway I’m trying to say I’m not the only dickhead who does stupid things and probably aren’t the only one on here I’m just trying to own it and thought by making this statement in a community I’m apart of is a good step to admitting my flaws and working to counter them, and hopefully get some decent advice potentially. You managed to break the habit for 20 years? You are definitely mentally strong enough to end the habit. Take some pride that you have controlled it for so long. Rather than tell yourself you can't control the habit tell yourself you can because you've done it. When I finally quit smoking I believe I can quit anything now. Setting a date and focusing on quitting on the day worked for me and I have never craved once and I had failed about 4 times before that within days. I probably spent 60 days telling myself I was going to quit and I never missed a day of telling myself that was the day I stop and it worked and I did it easily. I would never smoke again and I know I wont because that's how well i have programmed it in my brain. Your brain is a bit like a computer and only runs the programs you tell it. I'm no expert but I know what worked for me and I have never come close to wavering. You can do it, good luck.
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 10:18:58 GMT
via mobile
Post by elystokie on Aug 14, 2020 10:18:58 GMT
Recently I have fell back in to a habit I had broken 20 odd years ago and it started out of boredom and touch of depression and I started to gamble on what was a childish thing but on online gaming such as FIFA and COD packs just for a little buzz and just a little bit until it wasn’t. The wife found out lost it with me and bollocked me, I said I’d stop and I didn’t now my idiocy has been discovered again and it’s not been fun tonight and has been and could/will continue to be a very difficult Time in my relationship. I reached out and contacted GA about this and they have been very helpful I stated it just seemed embarrassing what I had been doing however the guys I have spoke to tonight were very understanding and helpful and made me realise it wasn’t what I was gambling on it was the fact I was gambling and not thinking about it like I had done all those years ago. I used to spend most of my wages on fruit machines when I was in my teens starting at dinner in the pub then after work as well, I took control of it when the future wife was pregnant with our first and now 23 years later I have relapsed into that habit of spending and not thinking looking for a buzz the sums have not been as extravagant as they were back then but it’s been a stupid amount of money. I’m posting this on here not to illicit sympathy or for anyone to have a laugh and mock me I’m just putting it in here to own my actions and advise others that addictions can rise up in the strangest ways and especially in this time where Stresses and strains are on a lot of people. If anyone is like myself in any form of addiction reach out talk and be strong. I can’t apologise to my wife enough but she can’t bring herself to believe me at this moment and quite rightly doesn’t want to speak to me really, my weakness has upset and ashamed the one person other than my kids who has always loved me unconditionally and been there for me hopefully she still will be there for me. Tomorrow I’m phoning the drs about my depressive feelings and nipping into the local church to find out when I can next take confession to talk to the priest and get some guidance as they are good listeners. Anyway I’m trying to say I’m not the only dickhead who does stupid things and probably aren’t the only one on here I’m just trying to own it and thought by making this statement in a community I’m apart of is a good step to admitting my flaws and working to counter them, and hopefully get some decent advice potentially. You managed to break the habit for 20 years? You are definitely mentally strong enough to end the habit. Take some pride that you have controlled it for so long. Rather than tell yourself you can't control the habit tell yourself you can because you've done it. When I finally quit smoking I believe I can quit anything now. Setting a date and focusing on quitting on the day worked for me and I have never craved once and I had failed about 4 times before that within days. I probably spent 60 days telling myself I was going to quit and I never missed a day of telling myself that was the day I stop and it worked and I did it easily. I would never smoke again and I know I wont because that's how well i have programmed it in my brain. Your brain is a bit like a computer and only runs the programs you tell it. I'm no expert but I know what worked for me and I have never come close to wavering. You can do it, good luck. Do you still fancy a smoke now and then? It's rare but I have to say I do. I did similar to you when I gave up but I didn't set a definite date until about a week before I stopped. Bloody hard, even with a nicotine substitute. I've been very lucky gambling, addiction wise if not financially lol considering I started betting on the horses when I was about 12, I used to wait outside the bookies for someone to go in and ask then to put my bet on Nowadays it's pretty much just online poker tournaments and the lottery. Good luck Mr mattador looks like you're going about everything the right way to beat it again
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Post by Soro's Sorrows on Aug 14, 2020 11:50:46 GMT
I believe if you push hard enough with EA/Activision you can potentially get some blocks in place to stop you spending further. Potentially with your bank if they're no help, such as blocking the certain companies the payment is to. It's not a perfect solution but it would put more hurdles and make it more difficult in the future. But it is quite difficult because they're cynically doing all they can to try and avoid their in-game gambling being classed as gambling. In general it might be worthwhile visiting Gamstop and getting yourself blocked from as much stuff as you can, it would prove to be something of a positive gesture towards the missus at least. The games industry is by far the most underhanded approach for me since they outright deny what they do is gambling yet utilise all the same tricks, and more by preying on a past time that for many of us over a certain age was devoid of gambling. With almost any game now the intention from the company behind it isn't that you buy the game for £40/£50/£60 and that's it, their belief is you ought to be spending at least that per month you play the game for and ideally quite a bit more. If it looks like gambling and feels like gambling it’s gambling and that what it’s been for me. It is absolutely gambling and EA know it as you can see what the odds of "winning" a certain rating of player are on the packs. This year in particular they seem to be bringing different and higher rated player cards out almost weekly which would be unobtainable to most on the transfer market. They then release their special pack offers which equate to around £13 per spin, they also ensure that their top £79.99 FIFA points deal is exactly divisable to amount of points required for the special packs available on the given day. I have fallen foul of this myself and know where you are coming from. Best of luck mate!
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 12:08:54 GMT
via mobile
Post by nicholasjalcock on Aug 14, 2020 12:08:54 GMT
I feel ashamed about my gambling! At the start of the footie season I have 10 * £5 bets on the top and bottom of the four leagues. I won a small sum on my bets and usually do each season? I have pangs of guilt in collecting my winnings? How will that poor Denise survive losing £30 each year? The poor lady will end up on Universal Credit? I feel so guilty?😜
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Post by thisisouryear on Aug 14, 2020 12:50:12 GMT
You managed to break the habit for 20 years? You are definitely mentally strong enough to end the habit. Take some pride that you have controlled it for so long. Rather than tell yourself you can't control the habit tell yourself you can because you've done it. When I finally quit smoking I believe I can quit anything now. Setting a date and focusing on quitting on the day worked for me and I have never craved once and I had failed about 4 times before that within days. I probably spent 60 days telling myself I was going to quit and I never missed a day of telling myself that was the day I stop and it worked and I did it easily. I would never smoke again and I know I wont because that's how well i have programmed it in my brain. Your brain is a bit like a computer and only runs the programs you tell it. I'm no expert but I know what worked for me and I have never come close to wavering. You can do it, good luck. Do you still fancy a smoke now and then? It's rare but I have to say I do. I did similar to you when I gave up but I didn't set a definite date until about a week before I stopped. Bloody hard, even with a nicotine substitute. I've been very lucky gambling, addiction wise if not financially lol considering I started betting on the horses when I was about 12, I used to wait outside the bookies for someone to go in and ask then to put my bet on Nowadays it's pretty much just online poker tournaments and the lottery. Good luck Mr mattador looks like you're going about everything the right way to beat it again No...never. I have been in cars, vans with people who smoke, I can get pissed and I never think about smoking and never get tempted. I have drilled it in good and proper. I had about 50 cigs on the day before I quit too and still did it instantly without a craving once. I couldn't believe how easy I did it it was literally like switching a switch.
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Gambling
Aug 14, 2020 13:04:14 GMT
via mobile
Post by mattador78 on Aug 14, 2020 13:04:14 GMT
I believe if you push hard enough with EA/Activision you can potentially get some blocks in place to stop you spending further. Potentially with your bank if they're no help, such as blocking the certain companies the payment is to. It's not a perfect solution but it would put more hurdles and make it more difficult in the future. But it is quite difficult because they're cynically doing all they can to try and avoid their in-game gambling being classed as gambling. In general it might be worthwhile visiting Gamstop and getting yourself blocked from as much stuff as you can, it would prove to be something of a positive gesture towards the missus at least. The games industry is by far the most underhanded approach for me since they outright deny what they do is gambling yet utilise all the same tricks, and more by preying on a past time that for many of us over a certain age was devoid of gambling. With almost any game now the intention from the company behind it isn't that you buy the game for £40/£50/£60 and that's it, their belief is you ought to be spending at least that per month you play the game for and ideally quite a bit more. I just won’t use it anymore mate stick to reading a book or doing something positive for a while
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