Forum List | Off Topic
Start Previous [ 1 ] -- 2 -- Next End| Topic: Online Gambling Addiction |
|---|
| 1. Author: Dave_1885 Date: Mon 9th Feb 2026. 18:56 Signed up today for Gamstop, the online betting blocker……I realised over the weekend I was spending too much needlessly chasing bets and the big wins, instead of saving and pushing for a better life for myself and my family. The feeling of anxiety over it is surprisingly bigger than I anticipated. Was wondering if others have done the same and how they coped with it at the start? Reply |
| 2. Author: Bletchley_Par Date: Mon 9th Feb 2026. 19:02 Worse thing I`ve ever done. Sure, I may have gave the bookies less money but I really miss a spin on the games in the wee small hours or a quick bet if I get a tip. I don`t mind goiing to the bookies to bet on the nags. I have 1 year left of suspention left. If you are spending too much and are not enjoying it you have done the right thing, it`s tough at first though.  Reply |
| 3. Author: jake89 Date: Mon 9th Feb 2026. 20:27 Best of luck with it Dave. You`re doing the right thing for you and your family. Reply |
| 4. Author: NMCmassive Date: Mon 9th Feb 2026. 23:04 Fair play for coming onto the public forum and starting a thread. I really hope you get what you need but you’re opening the door and giving opportunities to others as well. Even if they don’t post about it here, they might see it and make the decision to address their own situation. COYP Reply |
| 5. Author: red-star-par Date: Mon 9th Feb 2026. 23:12 You have 100% made the right decision, gambling is a scourge on society. My dad always gave me the advice that you don`t see any poor bookies, and that gamblers only tell you about it when they win. I am actually quite successful at gambling in that I usually win enough to wipe my face on account of the way I place my bets, but I have had situations in the past where I have beat the bookies for months on end for big money. Do you know what they do in that situation? They close your account and give you the money in the account. They aren`t interested in a relationship with people who win, they only want the losers to beg with them. The best thing to do is to not gamble Reply |
| 6. Author: Turps Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 13:19 Used a similar service and stopped 6-7 years ago. Hard at first but doesn`t take long until you get to the mindset of not missing it. 100% better off mentally as well as financially. Reply |
| 7. Author: Dave_1885 Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 14:50 Cheers for the advice and letting me known Ive made the right choice - well except Beltchley 😂 On a positive note I did track my football bets from the start of the league cup this year and ended that on a very nice profit, so maybe will feel a bit better knowing Ive stopped on a winning season. Reply |
| 8. Author: buffy Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 16:06 I’m hope you’re able to get back to being yersel with the family, Dave. I’ve known a couple of pals who became completely overwhelmed and isolated from gambling but they’re now on the road to recovery. I was encouraged to visit a betting shop one day years ago. I hadn’t a scooby what it entailed and once I was through the door and reached the front of the queue to the counter I was so flummoxed and bamboozled that I squeaked “where’s yer toilet please?!?” Needless to say I’ve never ventured back. 😵💫 ”Buffy’s Buns are the finest in Fife”, J. Spence 2019” Reply |
| 9. Author: Bletchley_Par Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 16:18 Topic Originator: Dave_1885 I never said you have not made the right choice, you asked for people`s experience of this subject and I gave you mine. I specifically said if "If you are spending too much and are not enjoying it you have done the right thing" If you just wanted validation you should have said....so... It sounds lkie you are doing the right thing, well done and good luck.  Post Edited (Tue 10 Feb 16:22) Reply |
| 10. Author: Rusty Shackleford Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 17:29 NMCmassive, Mon 9 Feb 23:04 Totally. All the very, very best Dave mate Reply |
| 11. Author: Dave_1885 Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 19:40 Bletchley_Par, Tue 10 Feb 16:18 I can only apologise BP, I must have misinterpreted it/rushed through it and overlooked stuff 🤦🏻♂️ cheers for the support 👍🏻 Post Edited (Tue 10 Feb 19:41) Reply |
| 12. Author: Bletchley_Par Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 20:16 No bother dude. I don`t think I needed 7 years away from it, that decision was a bit rushed. I was just blowing any winnings on slots. Dogwalking helped. Reply |
| 13. Author: Never10yairds Date: Tue 10th Feb 2026. 21:10 Much like red star, I’ve had bookies accounts closed in the past because I was beating them. I had a good system on betting trebles in the Scottish lower leagues and spotting single bets I judged to be a wrong price. A friend of my dad who worked as an odds compiler told me most bookies paid very little attention to Scottish lower leagues, so if you knew a team was decimated with injuries or illness there was always a fair chance the price hadn’t been updated to reflect that. I rarely bother with it now. It’s not something I ever found addictive, I did enjoy beating them over a season though. Good luck in staying off it Dave, if you’re not winning it’s no fun, especially if you are losing more than you are comfortable with. Reply |
| 14. Author: NikNakPar Date: Sat 14th Feb 2026. 02:12 Dave_1885, Mon 9 Feb 18:56 Another useful tool is Gamban. Register with them quick convo and they send link to download software on your phone for free that prevents you accessing any form of gambling sites. I needed this extra deterrent along side gamstop as still used prize pages and non gamstop sites. You can set how long it’s on your phone for. You cannot delete it or disable it. Only way around it is to get a new phone. You may not be that bad that you would need this but good option to know about for some. Reply |
| 15. Author: GG Riva Date: Thu 12th Mar 2026. 16:45 I`m trying to help a friend (honest!) to overcome his online gambling addition. He has followed my advice to the letter, cutting up his gambling card, handing over control of all income to his wife, and banning himself using an online betting blocker. So far, so good. I`ve heard that there are ways to get round this blocker, if your addiction is particularly severe. I`m wondering how that can possibly happen, if you have no access to your own income? Are we talking about pawning valuables or borrowing from loan sharks? Any info would be appreciated as I`m in contact with his wife, who is an absolute saint for sticking by him. I`ve also suggested he make an appointment with a psychotherapist with experience in cognitive behaviour therapy.  Not your average Sunday League player. Reply |
| 16. Author: Bletchley_Par Date: Thu 12th Mar 2026. 17:22 Topic Originator: GG Riva There are sites based abroad that do not work with gamestop or other prevention methods, he could probably gamble on them with a pre-paid debit card and in a weak moment if he can, he will. Do everything you can to keep him off these sites, they are dodgy as hell. Reply |
| 17. Author: Pars_1986 Date: Thu 12th Mar 2026. 19:02 Boy I worked with ran up mega debts and lost everything he is now an ambassador for gambling addiction and also has his own facebook page called takeleap. He`s also releasing an app to help addiction of all kinds not just gambling. He goes around places talking about his addiction and what hes done to over come it. He was ment to be doing a chat with our players also but that got knocked on the head when we got bought over and gamdon etc came into sponsor us etc so got nail on the head. how true this part is im not sure but the boys no reason to lie about it either. But anyway could be worth a look at as he lost serious amounts of money etc even to the point his lunch breaks were used to put a bet on Reply |
| 18. Author: Dave_1885 Date: Thu 12th Mar 2026. 21:17 Gamstop also only blocks online gaming - I could still walk into Ladbrokes or Genting and place bets with cash if I fancied it. The problem with online is how quick and easy it is to gamble on. Im glad to say Im over a month without any sort of bet now and don’t even feel the need to return to it. Still get anxiety about it and about money, but I guess thats probably added to by other external issues (thanks Donald 🙄😂) Reply |
| 19. Author: NikNakPar Date: Fri 13th Mar 2026. 19:24 GG Riva, Thu 12 Mar 16:45 I was in same boat as your friend. I borrowed from anyone and everyone to gamble. There was absolutely no stopping me. I wasn’t honest about all my income to partner and family so I had secret money so to speak that I could waste. I had every prevention tool in place and still managed to gamble. In my opinion until the individual with the issue starts helping themselves they will still find a way. Reply |
| 20. Author: GG Riva Date: Sat 14th Mar 2026. 08:20 NikNakPar, Fri 13 Mar 19:24 Thanks, NikNakPar, I really appreciate you coming on and opening up about your addiction. My friend has been similarly dishonest and is very fortunate he hasn`t lost his family and his job. He could even have ended up in jail. I know everyone`s different but did you get professional help or were you able to escape your addiction by your own efforts? Not your average Sunday League player. Reply |
Post your Reply
Your Message:
By using your account you have implicitly accepted the DAFC.net Forum Rules and agree to be bound by them. You also agree that you will take sole responsibility for your post and indemnify dafc.net on all matters and costs. Refrain from making any potentially libelous comments about anyone
- - -