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Time for change, i hope. - Guest - 29-04-2010

Hi GA,

I hope you can help me to help my girlfriend.

we have been together for 7 years and she has had a gambling problem on and off (i think) the whole time.

She generally plays fruit machines but also plays bingo (this can also get expensive at major franchises) and has been known to play online scratch card games on the UK national lottery website.

her habit ruins every holiday and or day trip we take because of amusements, and everytime she goes out alone i am worried about what she might be doing.

today she went to bingo and later called me to admit that she had spent a fair amount on the slot machines and that she didn't even have enough money to get home so i had to get the kids out of bed to collect her. now it needs to stop. she seems almost like she wanted to but i'm not sure. i told her when the ga meeting was and when it was and she was like 'an hour and three quarters!!?' so i'm unsure as to how committed she really is.

how can i help her to motivate herself to change to enrich hers, mine and our kids lives??

Thanks for reading,


Glen


Re: Time for change, i hope. - Guest - 03-05-2010

Hi Glen

I would also like to echo Craig's comments re the CG wanting to stop. If she does not want to stop, there is little you can do.

We call "fruit machines" POKIES down here (Australia), and that was indeed my vice. I used to spend at least 6 hours per day playing the bloody things. Basically wasting my life away. <!-- s:oops: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_redface.gif" alt=":oops:" title="Embarrassed" /><!-- s:oops: -->

If your girlfriend is aware she has a problem, but is unwilling to spend 2 hours of her time to attend a GA meeting, I believe she is not ready to give up yet.

The trouble with all gamblers is access to "the means" to have a bet. Would your girlfriend be willing to having you control the finances? She would get a small allowance every day. When the wekly shopping needs to be done, you would have to go along as well to make sure that is where the money is going.
What I am suggesting is common practice for us gamblers. If she does not accept to at least attending GA or taking over her finances, she is not yet ready to stop.

GAMANON will be able to help with info re the possible problems you might face in the future.
They have seen, and experienced the problem from your point of view, not from the gamblers point of view.

Best wishes
Roy