r/GamblingAddiction

I have been deep in for awhile, you know 2 days clean,get paycheck loose it all. And the spiral continues, every month I loose my whole paycheck, I end myself asking parents, friends for money, all my loans possibilities are gone i am maxed out everywhere, I keep trying to quit, but i only quit as long as i don't have the money to hit, after my paycheck i manage to stay clean maximum of few days, where the urge to pay everyone back, pushes me right back to the casino, because i expect big wins, which never happens. I need some motivation, of how you guys got out, or how your journey is going.

Day 5 without gambling, man its so hard thinking of the debts and the losses, i used to be a normal happy person before this addiction, i wish i can get myself back.

See you on day 6

One of the most common responses I’ve gotten:

“I gamble too, but I would never do what you did.”

I understand that reaction. I used to believe the same thing. What I’ve learned is this:

When you’re deep in something like that, it doesn’t feel like you’re crossing a line. It feels like you’re buying time.

That’s the part that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it.

Curious how others see that line—where do you think it actually gets crossed?

If I could give it all back to never have gambled the first time I would. I’m only 24 and wish I can go back 4 years ago. I was focused a hustler nowadays I’m a degenerate an actual bum. I’ve lost over 100k I have nothing to show for it. My credit is ruined I have no money or assets because of gambling. I use to have 5-10k cash just sitting around nowadays I’m lucky if I have $20. It’s gotten so bad and I’m finally ready to give up gambling before it becomes giving up on my life. I’ve come to terms I’ll always lose so better to walk away now. I’ve read so many post and it’s possible i really want to see my life without gambling I’m actually excited for it. It’s been times I tried to quit and I’ve never had this mindset of wanting of actually see the other side.

I hope and pray everyone dealing with this addiction comes out a winner. One day at a time we will always lose the house always win. Today’s win is tomorrow lost.

Hi, im 30m male living in uk... gambling addiction 14 years on and off but now no stop gamling for hald of year.... overdrafts fully used, credit cards max out.... no girlfriend no friends... im feeling so miserable i dont now what to do and i how to live....

I’m a 49 year old father of 3, business owner with very limited risk appetite and very basic involvement in crypto (occasionally buy Solana, ETH and end up selling for either small or no profit). No history of any sort of gambling addiction whatsoever but business has been bad, so have been looking at various get rich quick schemes for a while. Was trawling through the Binance forums when I came across the meme coin AriaAI which everyone was talking about and had just dropped from an ATH of $1 to .10 and quickly recovered. Did a bit of reading and was convinced it was a technical issue and not a replanted rug pull.

Decided to drop $1000 on it and try to day trade. The spreads were awesome and before you know it I had made $300 on auto buys and sells that day. Before you know it (like literally the next day) I’ve dropped $10k which turned a profit of $1500 just setting auto buys and sells, the next day $20k in and $4k in profits. Steadily trading one session per day. On the last day I’m $28k in plus 12k in profits and trade 2 sessions where I make another $9k. Had never seen this much money in such a little time in my entire life, and I was literally doing nothing other than setting auto buys and sells with no stop losses. Zero homework, zero understanding of the market or coin other than everyone in Binance square going ‘Go Long on Aria’. $49k I go all in for one last trade (3rd for the day) to try and make $10k for the day and boom…the rug gets pulled and the price crashes from $1.0 to 0.11 in a matter of minutes while I was away from my phone. Kept hoping it was another technical crash and hoping for the bounce but seems it was the final rug pull. Sold about half my coins at the first low, but kept the balance in blind hope of a rebound but it now all seems confirmed dead. If I sell the rest now my $49k is worth $4k. A technical loss of $45k but real time loss of $24k.

Went from my wife and eldest thinking I was the smartest guy on the planet, to feeling like the biggest fool to ever live. I feel so ashamed of myself, don’t even know why I’m posting on here maybe wondering if there’s been anyone as stupid as me and who went all in on their capital and lost everything in as short as time as this? Didn’t know where to post this, so came here 🤷‍♂️

Not been able to sleep or eat properly, and even though my wife and son tell me they’ve forgiven and will forget I don’t know if I can ever get over the shame and disappointment.

Hello everyone, long story short i am realizing that i am a gambling addict.

I am in debt of almost 20k, I have been trying to recover all my debts however that was not possible.

I made a good portion back but I can’t seem to be able to stop. I tell myself I am done then after 2-3 days, I get the urge to do one more 500$ deposit. I did win a big amount a while back however i lost it all.

In my head I believe it’s possible to win big again but i don’t want to think that way.

I also don’t want to go to GA as I am scared and don’t want my family to know.

Please give me tips and tricks to just stop, like what do you guys do when you are in a urge?

It’s sad this is like the 4th in only 2 months I keep destroying my life. I just sport bet till I have absolutely nothing left. No food no gas nothing. I don’t know why tf I keep doing it. I’m sick in the head. Rent is due in 2 weeks even I don’t spend my next 2 work checks I won’t have enough. If I saved this $1000 or even left with $500 I would’ve been ok. But I kept canceling withdrawals it was taking too long what my mind would say. And nothing. Mattered until my account had no money in it. Where reality hits. I’m so far deep in. Up the whole night betting tennis game winners. It’s disgusting. I don’t know who i am anymore. I’m a shell of my self. In only 2 months I fucking went broke 10 times and each time is bad. Final couple weeks of the month left have to pay a lot of bill

my birthday is in 3 weeks beginning of may im down over 100k. This little money im losing is just to help me get by im super far down and still losing my last 300 and shit. Idk what to do I don’t want to kill my self but this addiction sure is pushing me to that level. I have no one to talk to about it Damm man I’m so fucked

I am 25 soon to be 26. I have had a gambling problem for the last couple of years, with some periods involving me losing everything I had. I’ve also been in a relationship for the last 2 and a half years where I genuinely believed she was the one that I would spend the rest of my life with. Throughout our relationship, I have made promises to her that I’d stop gambling. I’ve seen these promises through for a while (2 periods I was able to stop gambling for months), but eventually I would always get right back to it. She would always forgive me for gambling and trusted me that I would stop someday. Recently I swore on her life that I would stop gambling for bare minimum a month and she caught me gambling behind her back and left me. I’m sure she has more reasonings than that but this is what sealed the deal. Everyone always talks about how much money they’ve lost through this addiction but there’s also the part of letting people down and losing the ones who mattered the most. I have to live the rest of my life knowing I lost the one I loved the most because I couldn’t stop gambling for a mere month. To anyone trying to stop, please do. It’s not worth it in the end. You’ll lose everything that matters.

Hey everyone back on here after a long but wonderful weekend. This was my first weekend in almost 5 years that I was gamble free. I had a work trip, played golf, and even watched some of my favorite sports teams and wagered a total of $0 the entire time. I am extremely happy with myself and I know it’s still early in my journey but this has given me the courage to keep pushing. I still think about what I could be betting on as I watch a game, but now I will kind of keep track of what I would have bet on, and just laugh when it doesn’t happen. Always here to offer support for those of you struggling, but really wanted to share my success. #fuckgambling

Went out tonight and done $ 2000 on the pokies without a decent pay.

I’m pissed at myself for chasing lost money …

Blow up the pokies - the whitlams

One issue that plagues people new to quitting is that they want to think about their habit and then not do it. The porn person wants to look at bikini girls, the drinker just wants to think about whether that party is going to be the bomb. The Bible says to “Take every thought captive.” Every one, every single one that is about your habit. 100% of them.

Second, every person quitting should have three “Replacement thoughts” to use when tempting thoughts enter. You can find dozens of replacement thoughts from old articles. Find three that really speak to you.

1. ____________

2. ____________

3. ____________

Example: Gambling has wrecked you, and you want to quit. You think: “Boston is a lock to win the Championship.” That is destructive thinking, and it is wise to replace it. Consider saying:

“No! Then consider praying:

“Father, lead me not into temptation.”

Third, we are most often tempted with our eyes or our ears. We must “Guard” our eyes and ears. If you happen upon something that is risky, consider instantly thinking about one of your 3 replacement thoughts.

It is hard work to take every thought captive. But, you can do it. Consider starting your fight today.

1077 days gamble free.

DMs open for any and all struggling. We can and will get through this together

Stay grinding, stop gambling. Life gets better. One day at a time.

I was 600 up since I started playing during Easter. It’s been going so well (600 is a lot for me I’m in high school so I don’t work and my allowance is 100). After a trip with my gf I had 300 left in my bank account and I wanted to play a little. I ended up losing it all after chasing back my losses. I just couldn’t stop I couldn’t help it and I saw it coming it’s so fucking stupid. I know it’s not a lot compared to others but I feel like it’s becoming a huge problem for me. It sucks so hard the feeling in my stomach the regret the embarrassment. I could have bought something for my girlfriend for myself whoever. Instead I lost it in such a stupid fucking way. I can’t think positively after this. I have exams in 2 week I at home with no school and tbh I have no motivation for anything after that. I just had to share it somewhere bc I want to close my account anyway and I don’t want to tell anyone as I promised to never gamble and I feel ashamed of myself. I’ve never imagined that the regret of gambling is 100x worse than the happiness of winning.

Well, its been 3 days without gambling, i know it doesn’t seem much but it is the longest i have gone, someone who gambled everyday multiple times for years.

I had urges yesterday while i was thinking how im gonna pay my debts but convinced my brain even that if i win i know i won’t stop and end up losing it all so why not cut it from the start, thankfully it worked i hope i will figure out a way far away from gambling.

Good luck y’all in beating this addiction.

See you on day 100!

I would like to share my personal experience with gambling. I am in my 30s, employed, and striving to build a secure future. However, I have developed a serious addiction to gambling, particularly online baccarat. What began as a way to pass the time gradually turned into a destructive habit.

Over the past year, I have lost approximately 200k—essentially all of my savings. At times, especially when drinking, I would gamble recklessly, losing as much as 20k in a single night. The saying “the house always wins” has proven painfully true in my case.

Because of this, my dreams of owning a car, a motorcycle, or even simply rewarding myself with something meaningful have vanished. I am now left with nothing, and I feel lost. Although I still have a stable income, I am struggling to rebuild my finances and regain control of my life.

My family and friends are unaware of this situation, which is why I am choosing to express myself here. I am seeking guidance on how to overcome this addiction, save money again, and eventually provide for myself and my family. Any advice or feedback would be deeply appreciated.

I’m 25. I make minimum wage in California. Today is Friday, it’s supposed to be the Weekend and fun.

And I just lost over 7K sports betting. I hate myself so much, I’ve don’t nothing with my life but waste it. I’ve posted on here before, but I don’t stop. That was my last 7K. I literally have no more money.

I did this to myself. I am suffering. I am so very sick. 7K just gone like that. And my parents still work every single day. I am a failure, I am so truly disgusted with myself.

Just gambled for the first time ever and lost 40$. Well that was very underwhelming even though I went in with the expectation that I’ll lose (knowing my luck) and boy did I hit the mark. I should have wasted that money fueling my nicotine snus addiction instead. I am forever turned off from gambling now cause I know I’ll never hit it big.

This makes me wonder: Are there any addicts here who, despite losing on their first time, still got hooked? I’d imagine that people who get hooked are the ones who hit it big the first time they gambled…or maybe there are addicts who just keep losing and never won, thinking that they’ll hit it big?

Today marks day 2 of not gambling. I want to pull money out on my credit card to try and win back what I lost last week, but I am resisting the urge.

As an addict, I’m not in recovery but I acknowledge my problems. I’m just trying to currently educate myself to learning how to quit with reasonable knowledge to back up my thoughts

I miss every parlay by 1 if it’s 4 legs I miss 1 3 legs I miss one, 2 legs I miss one…

How is that possible? What am I missing? How do they make you lose?

Do certain props they post make you drawn to them and they know they are likely not to hit?