Adolescents and teens are at risk for developing a gambling problem. Compulsive gambling generally starts when someone is in their late teens. Occasionally, people even become addicted the first time they gamble. Other times, the problem starts in the teen years and progresses as people’s lives become more stressful. I think I was about 15 when I first heard the word Ludomania. Finally, it wasn't just some elusive thing that psychologists didn't seem interested in defining.

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• I think my story is like a lot of other people. I started gambling slow and it snowballed out of control.
  I am drawn to the casino like a moth to a flame. I have lost everything that I every worked, because of my gambling habits. When I say I lost everything, I mean it. Because of my gambling habits I did not pay my bills. I lost my truck, my motorcycles and the big one I lost my home. Many good people lost their homes due to bank fraud and other reason out the their control. I lost mine because I gambled my house payments away. Even my wife packed up and left. Guess what I did? Ran off to the casino. I thought it would make me feel better. After everything was gone. I got a pink slip at work because my work had slipped so far off. They could not keep me on staff any longer. I was going to work late leaving early and even taking long lunches to go to the casino. I used my pay check to fund my gambling, I used my credit cards after I lost my job, and once the credit cards were maxed out, I started taking high interest pay day loans to fund my gambling. Words can not express how lonely and depressed I am.
  I remember when my father died, the service at 11:00am all I could think of is getting to the casino. I was hoping the service would end soon so I could get to the casino. As I am writing this I am planning to head to the casino now! After each trip to the casino I feel so bad I wish I could just die and it would be all over. There really does not seem like a whole lot of reasons to live. I only exist, I don’t really live life. I work now only to get money to gamble away. Someone asked me once 'do you ever win' Nope. I never win. That’s the plain simple truth I don’t ever win. I have never won any sizable amount of money. I once borrowed a friends lap top computer for a work project. I stopped by the local pawn shop to see what it was worth…… $200 cash for a new laptop that my friend just purchased for $1299.00 seemed fair to me. So I sold it to the pawn shop and ran to the casino. My friend asked where his new laptop was I lied, I told him it had been stolen. I have lied, borrowed, begged and stolen to gamble. I have missed all family functions to gamble. The day my son walked across the stage in the biggest event of his life to receive his high school diploma. I was at the casino. I blew my sons college fund at the casino, and I took out a title loan on his car to gamble. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, 4th July I was at the casino. I am clearly the worse father and lowest form of scum to walk the face of the earth. Gambling to me is worse then any drug I have heard of. Just as a person that needs a drug fix I need a gambling fix everyday and it does not matter how I get the money to do it. I have only shared a portion of the crazy story. But, this is very depressing even writing about it. Thank you.

  Hi David,
  You story is like a lot of stories I have heard online and at meetings.
  I would implore you to please call the GA hotline and talk to someone, anyone. 1-888-GA- HELPS (US)
  You can have a better life, you deserve a better life. You ARE worth it!
  And yes, gambling is a rush, very much like herion. It releases the same endorfins as any feel good ****.
  There is help.
  bettie

  Hey David and welcome here. Thanks for sharing. It’s important to realize that you need help and you can’t fight this disease on your own. Just as you couldn’t fight a whole range of other diseases on your own. You need help.
  Also, realize that what you’ve lost so far is gone. You can’t win it back. What you maybe could do is not lose more. This of course is easier said than done. I wish you best of luck!
  If you dine with the devil, bring a long spoon

  Hi David, A Warm Welcome to Gambling Therapy
  Having found us you have also found a diverse community who can help and support you on your recovery journey.
  Here on the forum you can share your experiences in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment and by reading others stories am sure you will see that you are very much not alone in this addiction
  Please click here to see our services page, feel free to use all that this site can offer…
  To chat with others in real time you may wish to make use of the support groups, the ***** of these groups are advertised under 'What’s on and When' or click here to see the weekly group schedule.
  For one to one chat you may want to try the live advice helpline. Click 'connect' when these options become available.
  Also to say when you registered we would have sent you an email with an attachment, this attachment will help you navigate the site and find the support you so rightly deserve, alternatively this guide can be downloaded by clicking here.
  Take Care
  The Gambling Therapy Team
  

  Dear David

  Thanks for sharing your story. You just have to consider that whatever you have lost to be spilled milk. You can’t have it back. The money that you lost now belongs to the casino.

  I had the same problem for several years and all I could think of was heading to the casino to get my fix. Predictably I lost all my savings and maxed out credit cards and took out high interest personal loans of which I am still servicing.

  My sister paid out my debts but I kept incurring them again. Eventually I knew there was no other option but to ban myself from the casino. It is the best thing I have done and I urge you to consider doing the same.

  It’s never too late to stop and start rebuilding. The fact is no one wins. When we do we give it all back and more. That seems to be everyone’s story.

  I am still struggling myself but I hope you find the strength to do what is right.

  Take care
  Chloe

  I, too have lost lots but not everything. I am just joining this site today because I feel as you do that there is no hope. My savings is gone, we are behind on everything. Payday loans to pay bills cause my paycheck goes to the casino. They have a way of making you feel special, don’t they? Comp meals, rooms, etc, it’s so easy to fall into the trap. My husband loves to gamble too so we feed of each other which somehow makes it okay. Then we have the next day 'hangover', swear to never do it again, because we have no money left, then go to lunch, comped, and start at it again. To longest I have gone without gambling is 4 months, this was about 5 years ago and I really felt good but then I thought I could go back and gamble with moderation, hah! So here I am again, starting over, hopefully before it’s too late. I am embarrassed and humiliated that at my age I have nothing to show for my years of working. I am as broke now as I was 30 years ago when minimum wage was 3.75/hr. I need to feel good again.happy trails

Hi everyone,

I posted here about a week ago. My son is addicted to gambling. A week ago he was going to stop. Now he is going to 'get it under control.' It is impossible to talk to him about this horrible addiction ( compulsive gambling ) unless he comes to me first. And, unfortunately, that is when he has lost. I do not know what to do to help him. How do you watch a loved one destroy himself?? I can barely function. I live 100 miles away from the nearest Gam-Anon, and their meetings are on an evening when I can not go due to work. My son will not ask for help. He is young, proud, and, I imagine, afraid. Thank you for listening.

Jane
Maybe it would help if you found an ex-gambler that could give him some talking to, or show him some people that are in deep in gambling and ask him if that is how he wants to be.

Just a suggestion.
Thank you for the suggestion. I do not know any one, but perhaps I will try to find someone. It is a good suggestion. I am open to any suggestions. At this point I am desperate. I am sorry, I know I need to try to live my own life. I try. Most of the time I do, even if only barely. Sounds terrible, I know. I have got to figure out how to deal with this. I wish I did not live so far from any help.

Jane
Hi Jane,

I am a Compulsive Gambler... but can help you. I know that sounds very weird, but I've have 9 years of experience working in a support group for acting out kids and adult kids. Every addiction imaginable, murder, gangs, runaways and mental illness... you name it. So... If you would like I can help you through this.

My heart goes out to you.

Terri
Hi Terri,

Thank you for your offer to help. I very much appreciate it. I know I should not let this affect me so, but at this time it is. I feel for you, a cg. We are all in this together. I hope to help others, also. Do you have any suggestions? Yes, I do need help through this.

I Think My Son Has A Gambling Problems

Thank you. Jane
I printed some of the pages off of this message board and showed it to my husband and let him know that I joined - I did not say much more than that but he did seem kind of interested and then when he wanted to try 'the allowance idea' he kind of hinted that I should post that question to see the feedback that I got and he really liked a couple of your guys responses - So, try it out. Don't badger him with it - just hand him some pages and let him read - Maybe he'll join.

God Bless and Protect Us ALL - Take Care.

Anita
Hello Anita, and others,

I Think My Son Has A Gambling Problem Meme

I have told him about this site. At the time he was determined to quit. He said he would check this site out, but he did not. Now, a week later, he is giving into the impulses, and says he will not. He says he can quit, or 'control' his gambling on his own. He cannot. I am terribly frightened for him...

I Think My Son Has A Gambling Problem Symptoms

I just had a thought. I have asked my son to visit this site. At first he said he would, a week later 'no.' (As I believe I said already) Do any of you have an idea on how I can, or if there is something I can say to him to get him to come to this site? I am careful with what I say to him, I do not tell him what to do. Only try to suggest. Right now he seems to be literally going crazy, because he is trying to stop.

Thank you again, and the best to all of you. Jane
Hi Jane, I'm a Compulsive Gambler.

It's unfortunate, but most of us can't get help until we admit we are powerless over gambling. Any thoughts we have that we can control it or limit it is really just another way the disease warps our thinking. And yes, he probably is literally going crazy...I was totally shocked at the feelings of withdrawal I had when I first became gambling-free.

My heart goes out to you...keep coming here for support!

Take care. Shelley.
Hello,

I am trying to understand this addiction (compulsive gambling ). It is hard to understand. I would understand more if I were a cg. I have never had the desire to gamble, drink, or do drugs. I do not understand why some do, and some do not. I know we all have difficult things to deal with, why some of us turn to something destructive, and others don't I do not know. There are those studying this. Our brains are all different.I know no one starts gambling for the reasons they now gamble, if they are a cg. My son started, for one reason, simply because it was there. EVERYWHERE. We live in Nevada. He makes bets on sports. He knows a lot about sports.

He won a lot of money, at first. He saw a program on t.v. about people making a 6-7 figure living betting on sports. That did it. He thought he could become wealthy. Others do. Yes, they actually do. But what kind of life do they have? Are they able to keep families? And, what is the percentage of those that do make a living at this? VERY small. Now he is addicted, and it is, perhaps HAS, destroyed him. He is very young (20's). When his brother was in college I went to an orientation at the college. They told us that college students' (there) biggest serious problem is not drinking, is not drugs, it is gambling. This is SO terrible. I wish the absolute very best for all of you. Hang in there. You deserve a good life. I do not think I can keep coming here and laying my problems on you. I will keep you in my thoughts, and prayers. I simply am feeling too down, too lost, to burden you who are dealing with this demon.

Shelley, artist block is when you are an artist, and you do not do your art. I teach art classes at the community college---I paint for class because I have to. But my own work, it does not get down. My worries get in the way. I have won many awards with my art, could do a lot with it. But my heart is just not in it.

I am sorry for the down mood today. I feel I may never get my son back. I am scared, and, as I said, will not bring this to you. I really do wish all of you the best. Please keep doing good.

Jane.
Jane,

please don't pull away from the site...no matter what you are feeling there is someone else out there who feels the same. Maybe there are other Moms out there who have been here and read your posts, not thinking to reply, but taking comfort in knowing they are not alone. You are feeling lost, scared and depressed. I can't possibly know what you are going thru because I'm on the other side of compulsive gambling, but I do know that it's times like this we NEED to reach out for help. You mentioned that the nearest Gam-Anon meeting is miles away? There should be a phone number, for you to get in contact with someone from the group. Please try...even if you can't make a meeting, maybe there is some alternative that is available. Just call!! Make that one small step to help yourself feel a little more pro-active in this problem. As a CG, I have absolutely no idea what the basic program is for Gam-Anon. I wish there was another member here that was involved in Gam-Anon.

I Think My Son Has A Gambling Problem Now

Please don't stop posting. Share your feelings, no matter how hard it seems. You are NOT burdening me! The more I progress in my recovery, the more I want to help others recover...and that includes those that are affected by a CG. Please, Jane, just try making the call to Gam-Anon. You have nothing to lose but a little long-distance charge, and maybe everything to gain.

Take care of you.

Shelley

Boyfriend has an online poker problem ›
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my son
By jane - Posted on December 31st, 2007

Tonight I was reading the posts on Paul's blog, and saw the gambling helper web address. It reminded me of how I met Paul---it was at the gh site. I posted here often, about my son, who is bets on sports. I am not sure anyone will remember; or if anyone is here any longer. It does not look like the site is active. Paul and I communicated often, and he was a big help. As were others here. Here is an update:

My son tryed to quit off and on for some time. Then one day he decided to go to GA meetings. His father and I went with him the first day. He and his father cried at the meeting, hearing what they were hearing. I had already heard such stories, and it was not such a shock to me as it was to them. My son kept going, and it did help. Then he stopped going very often.

Then-------------almost two years ago a new treatment center for gambling addiction opened in the town where he lives. His father and I asked him if he would go, and he said yes. And, he did. He attended meetings there four evenings a week, and 3 evenings a week he went to GA meetings. The treatment program was for about 2 months. He never missed a meeting. I attended meetings for family members twice a week, driving almost 100 miles one way. The more I learned about the addiction, and also the role his father and I had in it (enabling, etc.) the better we were able to help him. (And ourselves.) The treatment center was a life saver. One of the good things about the center, it only costs $5 a meeting. If you do not have the $5, you do not have to pay. They really do want to help the cg. After finishing the program my son turned his finances over to me. I handled his finances for about a year, and now his girlfriend does. He has had one relapse in the last year, but is doing very well. I see the son I had before this nightmare returning more every day. There is hope.
jane