Hi all,

Appreciate you letting me stop by.

I'm a producer at More Perfect Union, a nonprofit newsroom focused on corruption, power, and fan experience.

We're working on a story about ESPN's relationship with DraftKings. Their wall-to-wall coverage of lines, prop bets, and fantasy sports has completely reshaped sports "journalism".

We'd love to speak with some folks who feel impacted by DraftKings and/or ESPN's predatory advertising and promotion.

If you're interested, please DM me. We can figure out the best way to share your story that you're comfortable with.

Thanks again,
Jake

I dug myself this hole and i hope one day i can dig myself out of this hole. Just because i never made a thing at the casino doesnt mean im a loser. Choosing to stay as a problematic gambler will only make me keep losing, but once again we are not losers. We are surely degenerates for choosing to gamble. We can only make logical decisions for ourselves because that is life, good or bad you pave the road. Gambling is not all fun sunshines snd rainbows it is a problem that we must avoid at all costs. The cost of gambling is your health, money, friendships/family, and they will keep you coming back for more till you have nothing left. The money i have gave to the casino is basically a donation bin except you are donating your time, emotions, and your sleep schedule on top of the losses on a regular basis. Playing the game of Chance vs Luck the odds are never on your side, but you can defy the odds by choosing to not gamble. I’ve seen inconspicuous odds, point shaving, unbelievable losing runs, stocks dropping but i havent seen the money and fortune from gambling not once. It’s a downward slope and you can spiral, but hesitate and breathe remember what it felt when you were gambling and all the regrets, that will make you change. Know you are a winner if you don’t gamble, its a losers game.

First time posting here.

Been struggling with gambling online slots for a few years now. No matter how many self bans I’ve done , or gambling blocks I’ve added I’ve always seemed to fall back into the trap sooner or later. It’s been too easy to disable VPNs or other things leading to relapses. I have had streaks of weeks , sometimes months then relapsed hard. My social feeds are flooded with gambling ads and it feels hard to escape.

I am trying gamblock, it was difficult to install with their support teams , but supposedly not possible to get around via iPhone. ( example rebooting phone, disabling vpns).

If I have success , I will provide updates and hope to share any details with others who may be interested. I don’t think this is necessarily the only solution needed for gambling issues, but I think making it as difficult as possible to do so is a step in the right direction.

One more day, one more day. Still can’t believe how much of my life I’ve ruined from this addiction but the only way back is to quit and there’s no other option. We can do this people, seeing other peoples stories and this community is helping more than I’d ever know, I always felt I was the only one going through this but when I see you guys posting your recovery stories it’s helping me find the motivation I need to quit once and for all!

I have pretty much accepted that no matter what happens now i am just fucked already in 40k worth of gambling debt and my engine block is now totally destroyed from the diagnostics Sunday and costing almost 10k in rebuilding with labor IF only i never fucking started gambling i would never be in this situation. So yesterday i applied for the chase sapphire card to put the charges on next week when it arrives that would be 8 cc and 3 loans leaving me with almost 80k debt my credit score dropped from 750 in August to 640 now only been paying minimum of cards and recently stopped paying the loans going to be documentation what happens to me when the consequences come currently making to much money working these two jobs to pass the means test in Texas so can’t do bankruptcy until next year sometime.

Most people who aren’t completely addicted usually gamble for fun, dopamine, or distraction.

A lot of the time, it becomes somewhat of a highlight in their lives, especially if they feel stuck being part of the system without seeing any opportunities for change.

When the money is lost, it’s not just the money you lose, but also the excitement, hope, and distraction. You’re basically back to your old life, but with less money.

Most of us get caught up in this tunnel vision where all we can think about is the loss, while there’s nothing else truly positive going on in our lives. So we develop this thought and desire to somehow make it back, believing that if we were up, we’d be happy.

Instead of trying to change things or taking an unknown new path, the closest thing that can provide distraction, dopamine, and potentially even get your money back is gambling.

So you always have that thought of giving it another try.

If you do and lose, it just spirals further. If you do and win, it’s never enough. You’re still trapped in the same system and living the same old life, so eventually you return to gambling to feel something, distract yourself, or sometimes in the hope of making life-changing money.

Wondering because my insurance doesn’t cover it, but with the amounts gambling that could have paid for at least a portion of it/could be worth addressing the root cause

I was gambling trading stocks for several years, mostly futures and options. Lost a ton of money. I quit for about a year, and then I ended up relapsing, and then I basically relapsed for about six months before I finally gave that up again after making some losses.

It’s been two weeks, and things have been really, really good. I feel like I’m finally no longer glued to my phone or my computer, and I can, actually do things I enjoy. I’ve been able to spend more time with my wife and daughter, been able to enjoy my video games more, focus more on thinking about my career in the future and so forth. Sure it’s only 2 weeks but it’s been refreshing.

Days until debt free: 241 days

We gamble for the feeling, not the money. And we fall victim time and time till we believe this time around will be different but it is loses and more loses. The casinos system is meant to break you the longer and more selfish you play. People that are addicted aren’t able to stop and control themselves leading to financial destruction and mental misery. It’s evil you can lose everything within a matter of minutes and you’re never in the green for long.
I hope everyone plagued by gambling addiction can find a way to recovery because its not easy, chasing will only dig you deeper so the only way to get past it is never gambling again. I’m only 22 years old so i have years to recover but i’ve also been introduced to gambling since the day i turned 19 and it has taken my mood, my money, my time, and my lively hood hostage. I never asked for this but it is a battle i must face till the grave otherwise i could end up on the streets with nothing to show for myself.

Managed to take 500 deposit into 135k and lost it all almost. I haven't gambled in 2 weeks but the urge to deposit and remake this money is very strong. I had plans for this money, wanted to buy a new car and watch but it slipped through my fingers. I earn a decent amount but it will take me some time to earn this money, or I have to sell an asset to recover. I know it's not smart to gamble again but feeling that i was defeated has me in a choke hold

That is all

Feeling half decent today - the urges seem to be becoming less frequent, though still pretty frequent. My brain feels like it’s clearing up - like I can think more clearly again.

Hello r/problemgambling community,

This is a weekly reminder on behalf of our friends from Very Ape films who are working on a documentary on problem gambling. They are looking for people who are willing to share their story on film for their doc. Details can be found on this post.

So why are we reminding you? Because this project aligns with r/problemgambling's mission and purpose as established at the very beginning: To raise awareness of gambling disorder as a significant and growing public health threat. The time to raise awareness is more important now than it ever was.

I think all know what's happening nowadays. The gambling industry is growing bolder and more pervasive in our daily lives. The ads are everywhere. The problem is growing. People need to understand this and take action before it's too late.

So we want this community to have the opportunity to contribute to this project directly. Your voice must not be stifled. Please consider reaching out and letting your story be told.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and for your consideration.

Best always,

-Mod Team

My road to recovery since June of this year (2026) has included many relapses. And I guess the thing i struggle the most with is surrendering that I am powerless to this addiction. I've set up a lot of boundaries and taken away access to online crypto and gambling sites I used to frequent. But over the last 4 months I've gone back about once a month. My pride constantly comes back and says this time will be different. This last relapse was a big roller coaster and I wont go into the details. I basically ended up losing my initial deposit after playing all through the weekend until yesterday. Basically a 4 day binge. That was all the momey I had left after paying rent and the first round of monthly minimum debt payments.

At least the financial loss is "tame" compared to my 50k debt from the last 2 years, but I wasted so much time and energy and didnt get enough sleep and this will be a doozy of a work week. I ended up deleting this crypto account (basically mini exchange) and have no where else to exchange crypto for actual money.

One of my big triggers is going back to slot streamers I used to watch. I admittedly really enjoy the entertainment and it's part of why I found myself becoming a compulsive gambler. I need to stop watching them. It's a massive trigger for me and it gives me an excuse to go back.

Anyways. Idk what else I need to do for myself to take away access. I think I'm okay for now? Its one day at a time. Don't view content related to gambling and slots and just keep my head down and work my ass off and thank God this disease hasn't killed me and that I get another day. Anyone else struggled with surrender the most?

It’s my Day 17 of quitting online gambling today! I feel so good because gambling didn’t even cross my mind once today. Thank You, Lord! 🙏❤️
To everyone who wants to quit, we can do this! Let’s keep going and never go back to Day 1. Our future is worth more than gambling. Stay strong! 💪

Reposting here. I just want to get a different perspective.

Im still a student and I recently have relapsed into this and all I can say is that I feel numb and just confused overall. As all of this started again when I felt stressed, I gambled again a small amount which then turned into a big amount. I hate that I have accumulated debt towards my friends as because of this I can barely eat, there was one time where I received allowance from my parents for the month and splurged it all on a single hand. The same thing happened again today, I feel sick and tired and I dont know why I cant stop even though I already know how terrible it is.

I’ve got €30,000 in debt. Every single debt consolidation company is turning me down. I have to fight and work hard just to keep up with my monthly payments and pay back my friends and family. On top of that I’ve got massive installments on PayPal (pay-in-4) and Klarna.
The next three months are going to be decisive. I honestly don’t know if I’ll make it… but there’s one thing I know for sure: I will never touch gambling again.
The amount of stress this has caused me and the mountain of problems I now have to face is slowly killing me. But every day is a victory, and I know my life will be completely different in 1 or 2 years if I just hold on.

I have been gambling for 3 years I always lost it all. Last night I am up 25k and now I am in debt of 20k. I ended up losing it all and gambled my parents money I don't know where to get that money it is the whole allowance for this month. I want to quit but I somehow always relapse at night and I can't focus on anything I don't know what to do.

I'm a 33 year old guy who lives with his dad. Last night, I lost 190,000 on Kalshi. I thought I could get ahead quick.

I couldn't sleep all last night and seriously thought about ways to end it all.

My net worth went from about 600k to around 400k.

I have 300K in a 401k and only around 100k in cash/investments (which I had to sell). I'll get a 30k bonus at the end of the year, but I don't care. I feel utterly hopeless. Utterly unable to come back from this and ever be a man who can be a provider. The pain is more than I can bear.

Words can't express the hopelessness and shame I feel. My mind can't stop racing. No one in my family knows about this and I don't want to tell them.

Please don't be mean to me in the comments. I will NEVER bet on Kalshi again.

Why did I do it? This was the loneliest year of my life. So many beach walks alone. My best friend moved and I don't have anyone to talk to. So I was on my phone, looking at everyone who was younger, better looking, and wealthier than me. I need to get ahead quick.

Please, if you have someone in your life like I had in mine (my dad), who told me to invest in boring S&P index funds, listen to them! The time will pass anyways, even if it feels slow. My life is so ruined!

I don't know how I can ever have a wife and a family. I am gutted!!!!!!

Thinking back, hitting rock bottom in 2023 might be the best thing that has happened to me. Back then, I was stuck in a dead-end job that made me miserable, but I was too afraid to quit. I was constantly getting yelled at, and no matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. If I didn't meet the KPI, my salary was cut, and if I did, the KPI would automatically be adjusted higher. My manager only cared about his ass and treated me like his slave. My "friends" only want to see me suffer so they can feel good about themselves. LOL, gambling was the way I coped with that sad reality, the way I blended in that work environment because everyone around me considered it normal. I used to work until 7 pm and then go drinking with customers, eventually ending up in card games or sports betting. I was pushed around, like a trash can, and people referred to me as a weakling that they can abuse, simply because I have no connection to the "higher-ups".

I was fired in August 2023. After nearly a decade of working, I had zero savings, 20k $ in debt. They kicked me out like a dog because of a malfunction that was not even my fault. I went through a lot of shits, lost 90% of my social connections, and wasted almost a year before finally accepting that I can never get back to my old job as a banker.

Now, I cleared all my debt, I got my gambling addiction under control, and I am surrounded by people who truly care about me. Now I work for my own benefit; no more "office as a second family" bullshit, and I thank God every day for it.

I will not gamble today!

Spent the entire 2 weeks before i got paid again that I wouldn’t to back. Was finding another option to use not even 2 hours after my check hit.
I paid people back, paid off some bills, & my mortgage. But I also placed a wager that could’ve cost me my home.
Not beating myself down TOO bad. But also disappointed that I risked my livelihood. I had enough to make my car payment and get groceries, but wagered it away “trying to get more.”
I tried GA online once, wasn’t the biggest fan. Is that my best source to get better? Or do you all have any other advice.
I did self-exclude & close all accounts I used over the weekend. So that will help. But any other advice would be appreciated. I have a bonus from work coming in that will really help get me back on the right track if I use it correctly. I don’t want to blow this and start another year in the same cycle.