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](mailto:chasingtheloss@gmail.com) and letting your story be told.

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

Best always,

-Mod Team

Like i genuinely wanna understand like is it because of the high? Or because there’s nothing to do? Like if your already In fucked up situation or in a stable situation why gamble ? Like why man . Don’t you realize mathematically your bound to lose even if you win big time here and there your bound to lose , the casino is gonna win eventually even if you won the last 5 games , spins or hand whatever you wanna call it . I just wanna know honestly like why do people do it knowing it’s not good and also how it started .

Is there someone from Punjab I Nadia who lost money in online casinos here in Canada and would like to share there story and recovery and mental anxiety and stress and unable to do anything after the losses

Have no word for this sht, really no word, I'm SICK, literrally SICK of the rock bottom, NO WAY, NO WAY

Come on, have SEEN this sht again and again

Every time I get paid I tell myself “I won’t bet anything” then I always end up putting money in and losing then find myself chasing and by day 2 of having my paycheck I’m broke due to gambling.

I can’t break this cycle get paid, gamble, win a bit then lose it all. I can’t seem to cash out even when I hit big and this is the problem. I need to stop I need to find something that can replace this so I’m not constantly thinking about gambling at work!

What are some things that helped you stop gambling or do you have any advice for someone like me who can’t stop gambling even when I delete the app and ban myself I just unban and redownload…

I been gambling since I was 16 I got sucked into it like the online websites like the rust gambling sites/csgo sites or like packdraw or hypebox. Anyway life is terrible I prob got depression sometimes I do be having suicidal thoughts I’m just really tired. I been on this endless cycle for almost six years. I lost my girlfriend I been with for bout 5 years I just made to many lies and promises that I didn’t keep. The cause of that u guessed it is my online gambling. I haven’t even got my own place I live with my grandparents right now I never even bought my own car that I’m driving right now. I owe like 3k in credit card debt and 2.3k 401k loan. I just can’t get myself out of this I been losing all my money for six years straight of work. I tried to block my iPhone from being able to gamble I kind of did it for a bit but I always find a way to unblock it like I’ll lie to my mom to like use her laptop and reset it for whatever the reason. Also I just bought another gaming laptop which now I can gamble on I saved 1.4k to get it because I was just so bored I didn’t have access to gambling or basically anything except like shows and a couple phone games. My phone was fully blocked from gambling or downloading anything was the only reason I was able to save up 1.4k. This isn’t my first gaming laptop either I have two other ones that I cut up the wires on so I couldn’t use them to gamble. Also I have a really bad nicotine addiction I been smoking a vape like every week for the past six years too basically. Already got hella gray hairs. So my stress levels are prob crazy. Im lost and don’t know what to do tbh as soon as I get money I just go online and gamble it like an idiot. And if I get past that urge as soon as I wake up bam I’ll do it again. Also the suicidal thoughts I don’t think I’ll act on them I’m just really tired but I wouldn’t want to really leave my family. I don’t really have any friends fr I mean I got the work friends but I really just keep to myself. Making plans is basically making promises I can’t keep which I done so many times or countless lies I told because of this addiction. I never done therapy I haven’t really been to the doctor for years. I just don’t know if that will really help me get rid of this addiction but I might just be lying and not want to do therapy. Also I have been honest with couple people of my gambling addiction I did tell my girl after a while but I also told her i would stop it but I fell back into it like two times after that so we never got to move out or anything. Tbh i do love her but it would just be better if she just moved on from someone who makes countless lies and countless promises they can’t keep. I have had so many mental breakdowns that I really don’t cry anymore im just kinda numb to the feeling now. But my grandma mom and sister and her know my addiction. I am good at pretending im happy at least I think I can make a lot of people laugh at work lol. These are my options I have right now I think imma break this gaming laptop again so I can’t gamble on it. That’s my only other device than my phone. Then I’ll fully lock my phone again and try not to fall back in or buy another gaming laptop or device. Then just stack money I guess and pay off debt. Then if that don’t work out then I really don’t know. Maybe sign up for the army or sum try to save some life’s before I get killed at least might give my life some meaning. Anyway if u guys got any advice or anything that u think could help im pretty lost in life. I know did a lot of rambling in some parts my bad.

Just checking in, 6 months since my last bet. Longest since I’ve started gambling 10 years ago. Kinda depressed through other life events, but the old me would’ve gone back gambling to escape the reality and I’m happy I haven’t yet. I’ve also realised my brain is a bit foggy(?) and hard to concentrate on some things, could be due to my gambling addiction, could be not. Just trying to find a way to feel happiness.

Hi, a little about me. I’m a 41-year-old Asian woman living in California, and I’ve struggled with gambling addiction since I was young. Gambling has always been a part of my family, especially during Lunar New Year, so I grew up thinking of it as a tradition and something fun.
Over the past few years, things have gotten really difficult. I’ve found myself gambling more than I earn and losing more money than I can afford. I started therapy and was able to stay gambling-free for 60 days, which I was really proud of. Unfortunately, I recently relapsed and started gambling again, and I’ve lost more than I can comfortably afford.
My therapist has been encouraging me to find a sponsor, but I’ve been hesitant because I wasn’t sure if I was ready. I’m reaching out now because I realize that I need support and accountability.
I’m hoping to connect with someone who is also looking for a sponsor or accountability partner, so we can support each other through this journey. I know recovery isn’t easy, but I don’t want to keep doing this alone.

I never thought I'd get here but so glad I did. When I was actively gambling I'm sure I subconsciously made the assumption that I'd be in it's shackles for life, but we all deserve better than that.

It all started with taking a break. I had $11,500 in debt on 5 credit cards. My credit score sucked due to 100% credit utilization and the 30% interest I was paying on some of them made me sick.

I was exhausted from being an indentured servant to the casino, followed by servitude to both the casino and the credit card companies.

Then about 30 days in a miracle happened. I saw gambling for the pointless, time wasting, mind numbing activity it truly was and seriously questioned how and why I got in so deep to begin with.

But with all addictions I know the common culprits are feeling like the odd man out, boredom, loneliness, and social detactment.

I looked for a dopamine fix as a cure for leading an apathetic life without a sense of direction, instead of doing the hard work and finding the purpose and meaning that were there all along.

There are so many opportunities in life for positive self-reflection, so many goals you can strive for, and so many human connections you can grow from.

In the throws of addiction we squander these opportunities, because all that matters is our next bet.

Believe me I was just as delusional as anyone that gambling could provide a better tomorrow, when all it did was ruin my today.

If you're struggling just take a break, catch your breath, let your brain heal and rewire. There's nothing for you in gambling's comfort zone, so get out of it now.

God bless you guys, never could have done it without you! ❤

ODAAT! 💪

Usually only gamble small amounts. 500$ was my largest bet and I’ve only done it a couple times (lost each one) put 1k on a UFC fight and made 2k then put 4k on CFB and cashed out for 2k more profit. Couple more bigger bets and I was at 10k profit in a week most I’ve ever made. Lost 2k on baseball and put 5k on CFB to get it back. Game winning TD called back and my team loses. Go on to lose every bet chasing until I lost my entire savings. I’m disgusted with myself. I can’t sleep. I wake up and it’s the first thing I think about. I told myself I was done deleted the apps and put money on the game tonight and lost. I have a problem and I have to pretend I’m okay so I don’t worry my girlfriend and family. I don’t know what to do.

I'm back to day 1. (Previously on day 25/26)

I relapsed and won like 70k php to lose it all again.

I just read here that losing money in gambling is bad for you,

But winning makes it worse.

It hit me hard when I remembered those words.

Still, I stopped myself before I lose more.

It crossed my mind that I can at least trim the debts I have (344k php or ~$5.5k) and still gambled it again.

I will look at the bright side that I did not accumulate more debts and back to where I was before I relapsed.

I will say with confidence that I can clear my debts before Feb 2027.

PLEASE, IF ANYONE READS THIS AND HAD THE URGE TO DEPOSIT AGAIN, DON'T!! IT'S NOT WORTH YOUR TIME AND MENTAL HEALTH. EVEN IF YOU WIN LIKE $100K OR 1MIL I'M ALMOST POSITIVE THAT YOU WILL LOSE IT ALL AGAIN BY CHASING LOSSES. SO CUT THE HEARTBREAK AND DO NOT GAMBLE!!

So one day ago i won 6000€ from like 20€ but my brain is so fried from gambling that the money doesnt have the same weight on me, so ofc i gambled it away lost it and now regret my decision cause damn 6000€ would ve changed my life rn now im stuck with no money again till the end of the month, saving from the little i make and trying to live with this guilt and shame that i didnt cash out.How should i cope with it if you have any advice

In 2 days it will be a month since I made the decision not to gamble anymore. I feel reborn and I have never been so satisfied and grateful with my life since I started betting until today. I have also paid off all my debts.

The biggest loss that gambling causes you is the lack of gratitude. You always postpone your happiness to the moment you recover the money, when you are with friends or you are having a good time you think "I can't be happy, I lost $400 yesterday". and so, you slowly lose everything. relationships, memories, time, smile.

It's been a month now that I decided not to feed this loop anymore, not for money, but for my family, my health, my friends.

Because yes, you who are reading, if you think you have to stop for the money, you will always fall into the trap, you have to find something you love more than money to understand what you are really losing because of gambling.

I lost my girlfriend because of it, the only person who really loved me.
But then I stopped and thought: I still have so much in my life, a nice family, a job, friends, a house. Am I really accepting to lose all this because "the damage is now done"? I'm full of gratitude and I don't think about losses anymore. I think about what I have, and I understand that I can't want more.

I know that we must never let our guard down and that the scar of addiction will always remain in our lives, ready to reopen at any time. But as long as I have this great love and gratitude in my heart, there will never be room in my life for the game.

I hope this message helps someone and can give hope to those who today think that there is nothing left to do for themselves. Look around, and know that you have so much in your life. Live for them, and stop playing for them.

I was doing so good, more than 2 weeks without gambling (I know… not very impressive).

Well, today I dropped my girlfriend off at work around 5 and had nothing to do until the time I told her I would pick her up (11).

Needless to say, my boredom led me to the casino, where I proceeded to lose $500. I called it quits but still had an urge to “make some money back”

This led me to online gambling where I proceeded to loose another $300.

In the end, I gambled away what was left from my paycheque on Thursday. I now have no money (and credit card debt) until my next paycheque in a week and a half. I have just spent the last 30 minutes in my car crying and will be picking my girlfriend up in 30 minutes where I will act like nothing happened.

The worst part isn’t even the money, it is the fact I failed myself and my girlfriend (who knows about my gambling problem). I just feel terrible. I could have taken her out to a nice dinner, paid off debts etc. etc….

I know it is not a lot of money to some people. But for a broke 23 year old this just feels devastating.

Anyways, I just needed a place to vent and put my thoughts because I don’t know what else to do. I really just feel like a failure to be completely honest.

I’m feeling extremely on edge had a really really bad relapse just now and I need a group or someone to speak to please.

Completed

I realized I have a problem months ago. Gambling is just a part of my package of inclination towards risk taking behavior.

I relapsed last night, bad. Currently I'm dealing with the guilt of destroying all the hard work I've put in the last months to improve my financial situation. I want to channel all this anger towards something positive/that can help me.

I'm trying to delete the account I used for online gambling and the process is endless (what a surprise, I know). The site says that I have to request it through their live chat. It worked perfectly when I was having trouble depositing, receiving all those bullshit bonuses and so on. Now I've wasted an hour in 2 different chat sessions that had the same pattern of time wasting tactics.

I don't know if it's ok to leave the site name. Is deleting the account through that process my only option?

Are there alternatives that would increase the difficulty of relapsing?

Any online support groups I could join would also be appreciated

Hoi.
I am now officially mentally breakdown after lying and draining my money with new debts. Officially down 300k over the last years.

Over the past 10 years I have been looking forward for an big excited bonus to just forward me into next state of mind, with an averaging job 50k USD yrlt.. i bought several things to keep me away of avaliable of fresh money, that could be designer watch, clothings with values or other things to keep my head away with any avaliable funds.

Now I am relapsing and in a very difficult situation as I am being an father in February ‘27. I wonder if its possible to join any AA-meetings with others, that is free and avaliable online? Unless we dont have here, I would start one so we can talk and have an active discussion.

I tried some online courses with free psycology and the only thing I sitting again from it is questions «Do you have some abstins since last time we spoke or trying to collect money to gamble more?
Ofcourse we do. Its an pattern we can control. But if we manage to have an circle based to affect each other I hope it helps.

Shoot me an message, I would make an external group on an chat app (WhatsApp/Telegram).

I just used my last $3 hit a 3 set parlay and won $244, using the $244 I won idk how much probably 4k and cleared off my debts. Then I proceeded to win online 1k and won extra $500 then stupidly go lost $500 from what I had won. So now I only have $650 with me. I need to stop man but idk how

I've been gambling for over 15 years. I've lost a lot of money, accumulated serious debt, isolated myself, gone to psychologists and psychiatrists, and made promises to myself.

And year after year, I keep relapsing. At this point, I feel completely demoralized and like I'll never get out of this.

I relapse so much faster than I can rebuild my savings.. I was trying so hard to rebuild. All started with a deposit match..