Struggling with no money due to losses

[Benji30]

A few years ago I read an article that mentioned using a system for roulette called the Martingale system for winning. So I thought to myself good, now I can make some decent money and pay off my student loan.

 

Initially I won reasonable sums of money with but then I started running into losses. I used two credit cards to play and soon maxed them both out. I then started to think how to make the money back. So I started working again earning a bit here and there.

 

I then had a reasonably good run up to the point where I had 500 GBP in cash. I decided to play on with the live casino at roulette and ended up losing it all.

 

Now the problem is that I have virtually nothing left, and what the worst thing about it is that my wife divorced me and since then I haven't been able to make maintainance payments for my son because of losing.

 

I think I am addicted to gambling because every time I start thinking every time when I try to think how am I going to get the money I always start thinking playing this system again online with small stakes and a small deposit.

 

Although recently I noticed that I am starting to overcome it because I am not going in any more.

 

The worst thing about it though is that I feel absolutely terrible about the losses because I know I should have given the money to my wife. And what really gets me down is that on my sons 6th birthday the most I can afford is a phone call to wish him happy birthday but that is all.

 

I already have a psychiatrist who I see from time to time. But the urge for me to play again and the oh but if only I had the money syndrome is still there everyday when I am at work and wherever I am.

 

I just don't know what to do because I feel that really when I think about it that I have really ruined my chances of becoming rich by fairing so badly with it and having no money left and ruining my chances of winning any decent money.

 

And I couldn't help but blame it on my now ex-wife because of her telling me that the money wasn't enough. And I feel that I have really ruined the relationship and yet I still want all the best things for her and my son.

 

So this is my story and I just wanted to share it as a warning to others of what can happen when your heart overcomes the mind and ruins you by leading you into the game and trying to win big and get rich quickly by gambling.

 

The worst thing about it though really is that I have no idea about what to do and often I feel suicidal and have to consciously stop myself doing anything to myself because of my losses.

 

I know I am not the only person who is poor but I find it very depressing that I cannot afford what others can because of my difficulty in overcoming the habit.

 

I came to realize also that the information was misleading because it stated that it required 250 GBP to start and yet this is simply not the truth because you really need more than that to with the system I think because the house is keeping you believing that you can when all the time the house has the edge over you because of the zero in the game being a factor in the odds.

 

Any suggestions as to what I should do next would be very much appreciated. I have already called my ex-wife and apologized and told her that I will do my best to get some money to her soon.

 

 

[ValDes]

Hi Benji and a warm welcome to the AskGamblers forum!

 

I'm so sorry to see you facing up with one of the most difficult situations in the gambler's life, but hey, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! A lot of us know exactly what you are talking about and how you are feeling right now, so I'm sure you will get some help and friendly support here.

 

First of all, kudos for your sincerity and determination to share your story in a public forum. Must have been very difficult for you to admit all this, but believe me, what you have done is the first, and most important, the RIGHT step to solve the problem!

 

Next, I will recommend you to read one of our guides  - SOS, I am addicted to gambling - what to do? It's not a magic pill, but will probably give you the opportunity to understand and estimate how serious (or not) the real situation is.

 

Let me know if you need anything else. I'm always around, so you won't be waiting longer,

[LordCronal]

In this week I read one gamblers story from another site. He told that he played in 2012 wife, children, car and house. 2013 he got everything back and now still plays but much more carefully and only those money what he can loose without any risks.

So, there is always hope and Benji: Stay positive, even if often it feels impossible to think anything good. I hope that you also get everything back.

[Afi4wins]

Benji, I know exactly how you feel! I too have gone through a very similar painful experience, and just as every other gambler would have gone through too. Yes, it's very hard indeed to break the habit, almost mission impossible I would say, especially when you start having some cash in hand. The first thing that would come to mind is "oh good...now I can play again!" You know it's a big mistake to do...but you do it anyway...the fingers become too itchy to play! 

 

Try my suggestion Benji. Download a Playtech casino software into your pc, create a 'Play For Fun' or 'Practise' account, not a real money account, and this will allow you to play most games in the casino with fun money. Doesn't matter if you are in the United States, which Playtech casinos do not accept...just use a false ID and address, as long as you can create a fun account! It's not a real account, so there are no legal implications to you! If you're wondering why Playtech casino, because Playtech is the ONLY software that allows you to play in the fun mode endlessly, with unlimited credits, online or offline! So you would NEVER run out of credits, unlike other softwares whereby end of fun money would mean end of fun play, and you don't need to be connected to the internet whenever you want to play! However, you need to be connected initially for you to download the software, create your fun account and download as many games as you like - you need to download the games first if you intend to play offline - or otherwise you can download them later when you are connected to the internet again. I always play fun mode offline because there are no data downloading costs and no ISP interference whatsoever! 

 

Once you have the software installed, login with your username and password, and you can start off playing with the preloaded $2000. Whenever you need more money, click on the 'cashier', fill in any amount up to $50,000 at a time, click 'deposit' and bingo! All the money you want instantly! Repeat as often as you like, up to the max of $999,999!  Instant millionaire!       If this doesn't keep you satisfied for a looooong time...I don't know what can!  This way, you get to play almost any game in the casino (some games need to be online or using real money only), kill your 'cold turkey' syndrome, satisfy your itch to play, and NOT LOSE any money! How's that for fun???!!! 

 

Afi

[LordCronal]

You dont even have to download anything, just choose some instant-casino, for example NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech might be also an option and play for fun. No need even to register.

[Irine]

Yes, just read the SoS of Askgambler "I am addicted to gambling what to do?" and also read some comments, article and posts how to overcome it. I'm also got addicted to online casinos but by the help of friends and forums like askgambler i controlled myself and always got plan or schedule when playing online casino. 

[cocopop3011]

Wow benji that was deep, well done to you to be able to come out and talk about it to potentially hundreds of people. I. Really sorry to hear of your tough time and I'm not going to try and say I know how your feeling because I don't. All I can say really is, when your at the lowest point in life you can only go one way from there which is UP Benji. It sounds like you have taken the first steps into recognising your addiction and starting to find ways to deal with it so I'm sure in time Benji it will get better. You just have to stay true to yourself, you will achieve your goal only if you want to and i can tell you want to for your son. Best of luck mate, I sincerely send my best wishes to you and have faith in you!

 

Oh one more thing, my mum always says to me and what I'll say to my daughter when she is older, which is MONEY DOESNT BUY LOVE. That phone all to your son, hearing his dad's voice wish him Happy Birthday is a million times better than any present could be ok because its genuine from the heart. And it's that you have to think of whenever it gets hard, having money isn't what makes you happy xxxxx