Changing for Good

I recently wrote an article for Impact News called “Learning to Change’, this is a follow up ...

I haven’t played the poker machines for 8-months since August 2002 and I am very proud of myself. I still go to the clubs, in fact I go there more than I ever did and I don’t go near the machines and most of the time I don't want to play them anyhow. I have self-excluded form the gaming areas in 5 clubs and 3 hotels in my local area.

About 3 weeks ago (it was pension day which used to be fatal as far as the machines went) I was visiting my brother and his wife in a town where I have not banned myself. I deliberately walked downtown past the bowling club and thought to myself “I could go in there and play the machines and nobody would know” but I immediately thought “I would know though”, so I walked on past. I really wasn't the slightest bit interested in the machines. In fact ,when I am in the clubs now, whether it be for a concert or Bingo, I sometimes watch people just wasting money in the machines. But most of the time I don’t even look at the machines—I am not interested.

I have a whole new life. I go to the clubs and play bingo a lot, but even if I became addicted to bingo which I am not, it is still only $2.00 a session. When I used play the machines, I would go straight for them before bingo and then during the 1/2 hour break and then half the time I would end up staying there and not going back to the bingo at all. I’d just keep on playing the machine. I would never buy myself a drink because every cent I had in my purse would go straight through the machine.

Now I enjoy going to bingo at one club on a Friday. There are two sessions with a half hour break in between. I get to the club at 9.30 am and laeve at 3.45 and don’t even think about the machines. When I self-excluded, at the time I was the only one in the whole area who had done so, but anyone can do this. I couldn't think of anything more embarrassing than a tap on the shoulder and being asked to leave the club. Although the ban was available for a minimum of three months I asked for it to be implemented for three years.

Now I am making new friends at the club and in the breaks we are either playing cards or having a meal or simply just sitting and talking which is wonderful. One week I go to see a counsellor the other I go to a gambling support meeting. As I said before, there is help and all you have to do is ask.

I am not ashamed of banning myself—in fact I am very proud of myself and I would tell my story to anyone if it helped. Bingo is a social thing for me its not the bingo it’s the friends I am making.

Anyway I am happy with my life now. Before when I played the machines I was ashamed. Riddled with guilt, especially when my family was going without and I could of helped with the money I was using in the machines.

I am very proud and as I said, happy now. I will not play machines again, of this I am determined.

I do need the support of my counsellor and gambling group and as I said there is help all you have to do is ask for it. But if at first you won’t help yourself no one else can. Gambling is a sickness just as drinking or other things are.

Check out our article on the benefits of self-exclusion, alternatively speak to you local gambling counselling service who will be happy to assist.

Phone G-line for information on your local Problem Gambling Services 1800 633 635

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Disclaimer - The opinions expressed in this website are not necessarily those held by the Gambling Impact Society (NSW) Inc. No responsibility will be accepted for anything that may occur as a result of anyone relying on the information and opinions contained in the website.

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