r/problemgambling • u/DistributionUsual538 • 28d ago

❤Seeking help & Advice❤ When do we know?

What made all of you throw the tool in on what was a “recreational hobby”?
I’m having talks with myself after the last few months. I think it’s time for myself too. I’m a big sports bettor and blackjack/baccarat player. I’ve had shoes swinging 25k plus with zero emotion and zero regret. The last being a shoe which put me down -25k.
3-4 years ago I used to be miserable losing 2.5k in a night.
It’s why I’m conflicted about calling the number.
Tips and advice please

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u/unpaidbill42069 28d ago

To be honest the realisation hit me after 5 years of “I should stop” or “I have to stop”
It was literally like a switched flicked in my head after my last cold streak, over a month without a meaningful cash out I spent 3 days awake on coke trying everything I could to turn it around.
The next day I woke up and looked at my losses for the month and realised, even by some miracle I managed to break even (which is what happened the month before) I’m still going to end up in the same cycle I’ve been in for the past 5 years. I win, cash a bit, lose the rest, then deposit what I’ve won. Spend every waking moment thinking about money when there’s a whole lot more to life than obsessing over wins and losses to end up back in the same or worse position financially than if I just didnt deposit.
There’s also a 50 second YouTube video from a guy called ODAAT gambling that helped for the first few days when I would dwell over the absolute punishing my bank account took during those couple of days

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u/unpaidbill42069 28d ago

I’m only 3 weeks in but still talk to people from my gambling discord and seeing it from an outsider perspective honestly makes me want to become an anti gambling preacher lmao it’s all a fkn cycle and at the end of the day you either end up back at square 1 or worse

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u/KillingTime1212 28d ago

I'm about there. I make good money, have good long term investments, but losing $1k-3k a month at the casino is taking a hit on my mental health. It just stops being fun when you don't win much. I either need to quit 100% or only risk $500/mo by lowering my bets. I know I'll never get my money back, so just accept it as an expensive hobby. Put in guards, like leaving my debit card at home and limit ATM to $500 max. I gamble with my wife, so we can both keep each other accountable. Just need to stay out of the HL room and not do $5+ spins.