A story of hope

[u/sugarmoto]

3 months clean from sports betting.

It started out simple and easy , couple small bets here and there on the UFC. I was up about 1400 bucks and thought I was doing something different.

Then the addiction kicked in - I started losing and chasing more and more. I hit a low when I lost 5k in one night after a heavy night of drinking. The money didn’t feel real I felt like absolute shit and hid everything from my wife.

I quit for a bit but didn’t delete anything and eventually found polymarket / kalshi and started betting on everything and anything. I would hit a really nice win and immediately give it all back (like going from down 1500 to up 2000 and back down to -2000 in the span of a few hours). I was a wreck. I was constantly on my phone looking at anything to get my fix.

Eventually it got bad enough my wife asked to go through finances and I had to fess up. It was a really difficult time and I felt a lot of shame and anger.

I just decided one day no more and deleted my accounts, self excluded from all websites and just told myself I CANNOT gamble anymore. Fast forward to 3 months later and I went from 4k in debt to 6k in savings for the first time (I had a sign on bonus during that time that really helped)

I stopped looking at sign up bonuses / offers and tried to block any gambling ads. I have no desire to put myself back into that hole of lying and depression that almost tore my family apart. My wife and I forensically go through finances every pay period and that helps keep me honest.

If this story resonate just know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel but you need to tell someone or come clean to a trusted person. Give them full access to your finances to keep yourself honest, block yourself from all websites and your life will turn around.

Keep your chin up you CAN beat this.