r/problemgambling • u/Odd-Concentrate-4580 • 19h ago
❤Seeking help & Advice❤ Drowning at 20 and I know it
Hi some backstory
I am 20 and got introduced to gambling at 17 trough my old group of friends, it was on those slot machines in caffes. I never gambled a huge amount as I did not have a paying job and was still at school.
Come me turning 18 we started hiting casinos and thats where it took wind. My first win of 1K on a bet of 40cents. I thought that will happen again and I started spiraling. By the time i was turning 19 I was 9.6K in debt (Credit Cards, Personal Loans, High Interest Loans)
Thankfully I managed to pay 95% of it. Again through gambling by wining a big amount.
Now once I realised I got a problem I cut of contact to my old group and requested a ban on my ID which I got till 2035.
Now the problem has become online I find myself gambling 60% of my pay on my payday and I do not make a lot as I am an apprentice.
I sm really scared that its going to get worse and its going to have a huge impact on my future life as I am on a good academic path with my apprenticeship.
I would like to get some tips and advice from the people who want trough this already.
Thank you in advance
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u/KillingTime1212 19h ago
Addiction thrives in the dark. You need to tell someone that is close to you and can help keep you accountable. That is the best advice I can give you.
The good news, you are young and figuring out this quickly. The money is gone, you will be just fine if you stop. Don’t chase. It’s gone. You got this.
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u/Odd-Concentrate-4580 15h ago
Thats what I am currently doing as I have a good friend who is recovering compulsive gambler as well but clean for well over two years
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u/KillingTime1212 15h ago
Nice. Keep in touch daily with this person. Let them know if you are struggling.
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u/Investigator-Melodic 18h ago
You sound like you are heavily addicted to.. you have a long path ahead if you wanna stop this.. you are young please don’t wreck your future as happiness beats gambling, I know to well..
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u/Odd-Concentrate-4580 15h ago
I know mate, I have had some trouble with different addictions since I was 13. But I am trying to take it step by step with gambling
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u/4RC4NG3L0 11h ago edited 11h ago
Picture how you felt when you had $9,600 in debt and image how you'd feel with $96,000 in debt. That will be you in 2-3 years. Maybe less. It will get worse if you do not take additional steps to stop now. Do not trade your freedom for a bet. I went from $0 to over $90,000 in CC/loan debt in just over 2 and 1/2 years. I make in the low six-figures but after my loan and CC payments (all from gambling), I basically live on less than minimum wage. This will be my reality for years to come. Do you want that life?
My advice: you need to find something else that you're passionate about that isn't related to gambling. Travel. Find a long-term hobby. Yes, GA and therapy are great; however, you need something else to drive you and keep you interested in life.
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u/Outrageous-Ice-8928 19h ago
Bro, I get your situation, don’t stress, things can get better step by step. First thing, the moment your paycheck hits, pay all your important bills and expenses before spending anything else. Then open another bank account with no online access at all, no app, no online banking, nothing. Once your essentials are paid, keep enough money for your daily expenses and transfer everything else into that account. Treat that money like it doesn’t even exist. For emergencies, keep a regular ATM card, but ask your bank to disable all online purchases and payments on it. The whole point is to make your money harder to access when the urge to gamble kicks in. Don’t rely on willpower alone, bro, put barriers in place to protect yourself. Take it one day at a time, you can get through this.