Hey everyone, I’ve been an avid gambler for over 10 years, losing paycheck to paycheck.
I self-excluded myself using Gamcare in June 2024 having lost 80% of my monthly income the hour it hit my account.
I’ve been at rock bottom too many times, and I decided I don’t want to try and ‘Win it back’ anymore. I decided I was tired of the numbness I felt every time I lost my money. And most importantly, I decided I actually want to have a future.
What have I done during those 1.5 years?
I managed to propose to my girlfriend (now Fiancé), the ring itself cost over £12k
I spent money on dental care (Root Canal issues and Wisdom tooth removal), fillers, which costs around £1.5k. Vacation/Travels – twice, spent roughly £2k each time. I’ve recently bought concert tickets for myself, fiancé, and two others, which costs roughly £2.3k in total (special occasion).
All of this would not have been possible if I didn’t stop gambling. It’s easier said than done, I know. Trust me, 10 years of being a degenerate gambler – I know the highs of winning 5 figures in a few minutes. I also know the lows of losing EVERYTHING time and time again.
At the end of the day – just ask yourself, how long do you want to keep this up for? Aren’t you tired yet?
I became a zombie. I wasn’t alive, I was just an empty soul in a human form. I would still eat. Go to work, and the moment I got paid – it would vanish. Then I’d do it again. For 10 years.
I sincerely wish all of you the best in fighting your gambling demons. And I hope you all understand that your future is based on what you decide right now. You can keep gambling and hope you won’t dig yourself deeper – but let’s be honest to each other. The odds are against you – that’s why you’re browsing this sub and reading this in the first place. Let’s stop gambling.
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Exactly this i have been in recovery since 2010 however my issue was after a while i would become complacent and get hooked into it again been on and off Ga since then i realised the issue once i place a bet i cant stop either way if it winnings i change the target even though i understand the longer i do it the worse it will get many time i have decided enough is enough however this time i havw invested my time towards recovery i am on day 934 bet free second longest time i have had away from a bet i also learnt the value of time money saved and the things i have done which had i continued on would have been far worse my last relapsed got me in debt so i know too well a relapse would be dentremental i have made all the changes and dont want to experince gambling life again however i learnt for me recovery is important its the only soluction i have and has long as i continue on this path i can remain bet free it very easy to relapse even with all the blocks in place
i am a pathological liar and a compulsive gambler. my last best was 29 Jan 2026. I am done with this and is moving on. no more urges to gamble after my mind is cleared.
The more I win the more ammunition I had to gamble. I just saw every dollar won as more credits I can use to escape reality
And the five figures still wasn’t enough, right? I did that about a few months ago and went down to $0 in the matter of 30 minutes. Thanks for your story!