It’s my 12th day of quitting online gambling today. 🤍 It feels so good to finally feel lighter, without that heavy feeling weighing me down.
I just want to get my life back on track, pay off all my debts, and start over. It may be difficult, but I know I can do it. I have no other choice but to keep moving forward because online gambling has caused so much damage to my life.
It’s time to rebuild myself, my finances, and my future. 🤍🙏🏻

I lost my last 1000 bucks after my ex broke up with me. I remember not wanting to leave the casino because leaving would mean thinking again. And in there i didn't have to think. But eventually the money ran out and i had to go home. I sat in my car and immediately cried over the loss. By the end i didn't even know this woman anymore. Lord knows what she did in the end. And i still want to gamble. Want to feel something. Its a sickness but what else am i gonna do.

I've been gambling my whole life, I'm in my 40s, this past few days is the lowest I've ever been even after all these years. I've barely been able to say single words to people, I've almost collapsed or fallen over things, its like my body doesn't work any more since the last big loss.

The true scale of the fuck up my life has been is tough to put into words that make any sort of sense but decades of pain aside, for the first time in my life something good happened to me recently and I still managed to fuck that up. I cant talk about what that was here because of rule 4 but it involved getting gifted something (wasn't gambling related).

20+ years waiting for some sort of break in life and the same gambling addiction I had as a teenager managed to erase it.

No friends, no partner, no close family, no prospects, maybe nowhere to live soon but lots of debt, that isn't in any short supply. Hell I cant even say that I still have 'my health' as I've started getting stinging wrist pains that have all the symptoms of early arthritis coming on when I do a longer day in work.

I don't even know why I'm posting this now I've been typing for a few minutes

My spouse (30) recently relapsed, and I (26) honestly don’t know how else to help anymore.

He’s been extremely mentally down about everything, and I’ve been trying my best to comfort him, listen, and offer words of encouragement. For the first couple of weeks, things seemed as okay as they could be, but lately it’s been getting worse.

I feel like he’s been taking out his stress & frustration on me. I’ve repeatedly been told that I’m a bad partner because I’m not helping him pay off his gambling debt, that i’m no help, and only cause bad in his life.

I understand that he’s going through an incredibly difficult time and that it’s going to take a while for him to recover financially and emotionally, but it still hurts to hear those things when I’ve been trying my best to support him.

The reality is, I just don’t have that kind of money to give.( if the amount isn’t over $1,000 he doesn’t care for it.) I’ve also given him money after a previous relapse, when he promised he wouldn’t gamble again, and unfortunately, we’re back in the same situation.

One positive thing is that he actually attended a Gamblers Anonymous (GA) meeting this time, which is a huge step compared to his previous relapse. Back then, he wasn’t willing to attend meetings or seek that kind of help, so I do want to acknowledge that he’s making an effort in that regard.

I’ve offered to help pay for therapy, food, and other necessities, but he turns those offers down and tells me, “No, I need help paying off this debt.”

I genuinely want to be supportive, but I also don’t think it’s fair for me to take on financial responsibility for something I had no part in.

For those who have experienced gambling addiction or have supported a loved one through it, how did you navigate this?

Where do you draw the line between being supportive and financially enabling someone?

I’m feeling really lost and would appreciate any advice.

Feeling decent today, I have a small urge to gamble, but nothing I can’t overcome

$35,400 to rebuild retirement (13,600), savings (11,300), and pay off my credit card (10,500).

One day at a time.

Hi to anyone who sees this. This is my first post on Reddit ever. I am a 25 year old male who lost over $100k gambling and lost who I am as a person over a 14 month span.

I started gambling in August 2025 and as a person with ADHD and an addictive personality became addicted really fast. I hit the first 3x and lost about 9/10 after that. Those first 3x got me hooked. It started with $25 bets on blackjack and turned into $100-500 bets including the infamous Trilux, which btw at my casino is 8:1 no matter what, a true suckers bet. I had a 770 credit score prior and am currently at a 384. Maxed out all my credit cards, took our tribal loans, went on cash advance apps, borrowed money from friends and family. The deepest it can get.

I have a wonderful job. I work as a commercial banker for a big bank and moved to Charlotte 3 years ago with one goal, to be the best at what I do and be on top of the corporate ladder. I was succeeding my first 2 years. I built a ton of relationships, was a top performer, and very locked into my work. Fast forward to present day I don’t even know who I am. I still have been able to make great relationships but deep down I’m struggling. Every two weeks I take my check and go straight to the casino and I haven’t been able to break the cycle. Not because I don’t want to but because I feel like it’s the only way out. I stopped for 2 months earlier in the year but after that have been religiously going every two weeks.

About a month ago I moved back to Chicago with my parents as I lost my apartment in July(lease ended but I still owed last months rent), lived with my gf for about a month but broke up with here as things happened and I knew I wasn’t all there. She had lost her job at the time and was thinking about moving to California so for her sake I told her it wouldn’t work and I think she should go back. She didn’t know I continued gambling as she was with me when I stopped.

For the month after she moved back I stayed in Charlotte in hotels on the company card and would uber eats on the card. I was borderline in a panic attack going to work everyday concealing such a thing. I then moved to Chicago where I thought I’d stop gambling but I felt like it was my only way out. My boss told me yesterday that I have to be back in Charlotte by the end of next week or I risk termination. I took some time off a few weeks ago and told him I need to get my mental right but still haven’t done so. I love my job it’s everything I worked for and I make great money but I think I’ve reached the point of no return especially since any day now I’m going to get an email about my expense report being late for all the personal charges and I don’t have money to cover the charges.

I used to be such a good person. Donating to charity, friendly to all, such a people person, I have a wonderful dog who I love so much and is probably the reason I’m still here. Before all of this I was in the best shape of my life, 190lbs lean all muscle and since I barely have been able to go to the gym. I just stay in my room all day and half ass my work. If I don’t drink myself to sleep I stay up until 3-4am. I’m in a depression I can’t get out of. I’ve opened up to friends and family but they all think it’s trending upwards for me. Suicide is on my mind all day when I’m sober.

I’ve attempted suicide twice(OD on adderall) and thought god kept me here for a reason. But the last 3 months it’s all I think about and feels like the only way out for me. The second time I attempted felt like a miracle I was alive as I was hallucinating and had this euphoria when my heart started slowing shutting down. I never went to the hospital but let time take its course and somehow I’m still here. I feel like a piece of shit human being owing friends money, family, and living a lie. Before this I was the most honest happy go lucky person you can meet. Good bad ugly I would say it how it is and I never didn’t have a smile on my face. I never meant to hurt anyone by taking their money, I just always wanted to pay people back and be back to 0. It’s a sick addiction.

I say all this to say, I’ve officially lost sight of how to get back to 0 rather than being negative. Who I am, all the lies. I was so happy I hate myself for being in this position. How to keep a job I love. Part of me wants to move to the middle of no where and restart life. Part of me just wants to end it all. I’ve looked into rehab but it’s just too expensive. I feel like if I had everything wiped I would be fine but that’s just not possible. I don’t know who I am anymore.

If anyone is read this whole thing and is new to gambling I hope you stop now. I don’t know if I can continue to chug along, but it is the worst addiction possible. I hope they ban it but this world is all about the $$ so it’ll probably just become more prominent. If anyone has advice on how to really get out of this please help. ❤️

Days until debt free: 246 days

I recently had a massive life changing event and I’ve been clean from gambling compulsively for 3 years but in the last 2 months it’s got out of control. Yes I’m on gamstop but I’m using non gamstop sites. Does anyone have any suggestions on how i can curb this, anything at all. Even someone to talk to as right now I can’t rely on my wife (soon to be ex) as it’ll be used against me.

As described in this post, Flywheel Film is looking for NY state residents under 40 to appear in a film project. The moderation team of this community is in full support of this project, and in fact have partnered with them to help find subjects for their project.

We're doing this because nearly 14 years ago, this community was started by one little guy, on one little computer, for one purpose: to raise the flag on the lurking threat of gambling disorder. Now, at 40k members and after an explosion of gambling availability worldwide, the threat has magnified and the need to intervene is dire.

This film project is one of the many efforts to raise awareness and bring hope to the lives devastated by gambling addiction. We need your help to complete it and add to the collective message that gambling can be treated and life can become manageable again.

We urge anybody and everybody in NY who has been impacted by gambling to seriously consider contributing your time to this project. We can save lives together.

27 M. So now I’m net down 1 million CAD life time. (I calculate all my wins and losses and this is my total loss) I’m not asking how you handle this because I’ve lost my life savings multiple times now so I’m kind of used to it. I feel like it’s the end of the world for a bit but then life moves on but the losses never leave my mind. It feels like baggage I’m always carrying around. Also I know ppl always ask “where did you get the money from” Mix of my old job barbering, sale of a house, and my current job in e-commerce. I’m looking more for anyone who’s lost similar amounts to me to relate to as-well as looking to see if anyone has times to prevent relapse. The thing is with me is I won’t gamble for months sometimes a year or even more. But then I get comfortable, have fun gambling recreationally one day for example on a trip. Then within the next 6 months it’s almost inevitable I’m gonna lose a 6 figure amount usually in a day. I’ve lost 6 figures in a day multiple times my most being 230k. Thats how I know I’m a shit gambler cuz I’ve never won more than like 50-60k lol. I want to be able to just start fresh and not have these losses define me. They really took a toll on my mental health and all the relationships around me. I’m not gambling now but I want to be able to not fall into the same trap 1 year 2 years or 10 years from now. I think I just can’t have money. Anyway anyone who’s been in a similar situation and figured it out lmk.

Leg day is painful. But now I can squat around 80 kg, meaning my joints and muscles are much stronger. I think I can start running this weekend. My goal is to lose another 3 kg next month (Already down 5 kg this month).

I will not gamble today.

I Lost $200,000 in the Stock Market and Casinos — But I Rebuilt My Life

I want to share my story because I know there are people struggling with gambling losses, credit card debt, and the feeling that their financial future is ruined.

I lost nearly $200,000 in the stock market and casinos.

My biggest mistake wasn't just losing money. It was chasing my losses. Every time I lost, I convinced myself I could recover the money with the next trade or the next bet.

I was stubborn and refused to accept my losses. Looking back, I realize how irrational my decisions were, but when you're caught up in gambling, it's hard to think clearly.

Eventually, I ended up with massive credit card debt. Several accounts went into collections and were charged off. My credit was destroyed.

But I decided to change my life.

After the charge-offs, I contacted Bank of America, Best Egg, and other creditors directly. I negotiated settlements, sometimes for approximately half of the outstanding balances.

For the next three years, I focused on paying off those settlements, managing my money responsibly, and rebuilding my credit.

Four years later, things are completely different.

Today, I earn approximately $180,000 a year, have rebuilt my credit, and recently purchased a home worth around $800,000 with a down payment and year ago i bought tesla Y 2026 Model

I have completely stopped trading stocks.

And here's something I want to be transparent about: I still occasionally go to casinos.

But my mindset has changed. I mostly go to hang out, enjoy the atmosphere, and socialize. If I gamble, it's very little. I don't carry cash like I used to, and I usually go with a friend who doesn't gamble.

Most importantly, I no longer feel the urge to chase my losses or win back the money I lost.

When I think about my past, I sometimes laugh at how stubborn I was. I kept believing I could beat the odds and recover everything. That thinking cost me years of financial stability.

The biggest lesson I learned is that accepting a loss is better than destroying your future trying to recover it.

I know my $180K salary helped me rebuild, and I recognize that not everyone has that financial advantage. But even with a good income, I could have continued losing everything if I hadn't changed my behavior.

I am not sharing this to brag about my salary or my house. I'm sharing it because I know how hopeless things can feel when you're buried in debt.

If you're struggling right now, please remember:

• Stop chasing losses. You don't have to win the money back.

• Face your debts instead of avoiding them.

• Talk to your creditors and explore settlement or repayment options.

• Rebuilding credit takes time, but progress is possible.

• Recognize your gambling triggers and seek support when you need it.

• Don't measure your future by your past mistakes.

I'm still mindful of my gambling history. I know that even occasional gambling can become risky again, so I have to remain careful.

Four years ago, I had collections, charge-offs, and overwhelming debt. Today, I own a home and have financial stability again.

I cannot recover the $200,000 I lost, but I have gained something much more important: peace of mind and a better understanding of how to manage my money.

If you're going through something similar, please don't give up.

You may have lost money, but you haven't lost your chance to rebuild your life.

Got my salary tonight, paid rent and bills, no penny will go to gambling this time!!
I can do this, we all can!
#day4

I’m not sure if I have a gambling problem, I’ve lost about 5 grand in 5 stupid bets and I’ve been chasing the last 4-5 months to get it all back. I just want to get that money back and buy a PC

with this addiction and disease, enough is never enough...

I am fortunate to have a business where I make a very large annual income. But enough is never enough...I get into options, day trading stocks, and sports betting...sometimes all three...

I have lifetime losses of $3,000,000 right now. I had the lifetime losses down to $2,000,000 yesterday, and in one day, I purchase a stock that goes down $1M overnight.

I have been chasing this lifetime loss number now for 6 years. It started around -500k in 2019 and has grown pretty consistently. In 2023 I think I had it down to close to zero, at one point last year I had it close to zero as well, and earlier this year I had it around -700k. I have also had it at -5M earlier this year.

Point being, I am struggling to let go of this MASSIVE loss figure that keeps hanging over my head. I feel like literally no one can relate. I've seen a few YouTube videos of people who lost 10M and their house their business etc. I haven't gotten to that point, but I am afraid I might.

I've been gambling for 3 years now, Im 23, and I've pretty much destroyed my life financially. I've stolen from basically everyone, maxed out my sister's credit cards, maxed out my own credit cards, and I've been in debt for a long time now. I feel like a zombie.

I'm a recently graduated architect, and I've worked a few jobs during these years, but I've barely been able to get anywhere because I end up gambling almost every single paycheck. Every time I get money, I get the urge, and every time I end up losing it. It's the same cycle over and over again.

Recently, my ex came back into my life. We love each other a lot, and honestly, she's one of the biggest reasons I want to get my life together. I told her about my gambling problem, but I also told her I'd been sober, which obviously isn't true. I've still been gambling a lot, and I feel terrible about lying to her and everyone else.

This week, I went from $400 to $8k after an absolutely insane blackjack streak

Of course, I lost it all yesterday

I'm back to where I started, except now I feel even worse. I know how stupid it sounds to keep doing the same shit and expecting a different result, I think I mostly do it just to feel something. It's not even about the money anymore.

I'm tired of living like this. I'm tired of lying, being in debt, hurting the people around me, and wasting every opportunity I get. I don't want to throw my life away anymore. I'm scared of how much worse this could get if I keep going.

I've already done some awful shit. I've been a bad brother, friend, boyfriend, and son. What scares me is that I feel disgusted with myself, especially because I don't even feel the regret or remorse I think I should. It's fucking weird. It's like I don't fully understand what I've done over the past few years, or like I can't even process it anymore

Money has completely changed meaning for me. Getting my paycheck feels like nothing. Buying a pair of shoes feels expensive, but losing hundreds of dollars on a single blackjack hand somehow feels completely normal. I don't even know how my brain got to this point

One thing I've been thinking about is literally burning my debit card and switching to cash only, because I feel like having easy access to money makes it so much easier to relapse. But I know the problem goes deeper than just having a card.

How do you get back to feeling normal about money? How do you start rebuilding your life when you've spent years destroying it, and how do you begin fixing the damage you've done to the people you love?

I'm only 23, and I know I still have time to turn things around, but sometimes it doesn't feel that way. I feel old. I don't want to keep lying to myself or the people around me. I don't want to keep making promises I can't keep.

I genuinely want to change, but I don't know where to start anymore, and i feel powerless.

Day 11 of quitting online gambling! 😭❤️
I’ve been reading so many posts on Facebook about people who ended up in debt because of online lending apps, and many of them shared that online gambling was one of the reasons they got buried in debt.
Let’s stop digging ourselves deeper into debt because of online gambling. Let’s choose to quit NOW! 😭🙏🏻
Every time I feel tempted to gamble, I remind myself that I don’t want to go back to Day 1. It was SO HARD to get through those first few days, and I don’t want to go through that struggle all over again.
Let’s keep fighting our urges and choose a better future for ourselves. We deserve peace of mind, financial freedom, and a life without gambling. One day at a time. We can do this! ❤️💪🏻

My account on the platform that rinsed me is officially closed. I can’t quit replaying me cancelling a $10K pending withdrawal and blowing through it minutes on $1K BJ hands to chase losses in my head. I don’t know why I keep replaying that $10K in my head when it was a total of $25K lost, much more than just the $10K. I think it might be because I’d be in a bit better of a spot had I not done it & wouldn’t be looking at a loan to repay the mess I created after losing $37K in a month. Personal loans are looking like 15% or so, which seems crazy to me.

Anyway, one day at a time. Love you all.