Andrew's story

I am 25 and have been gambling since I was about 12, as my old man used to love a punt and got me onto it.

When I hit the age of about 20 is when I started to have a problem, always gambling more than I have to spare and then having to tell my mum and brothers I have no money to buy the things I want and always borrow money off them. I would usually pay them back the next week though.

I have probably lost about $20,000–$30,000 in the last 4–7 years mainly on horses, dogs and trots. I have self-excluded myself out of about 15 accounts and put $10 deposit limits on the other ones because I can't be bothered filling out the forms. But I always look for a new betting company. I think I have got them all now fingers crossed.

It's annoying because I'm actually so tight with my money, will rarely eat out, buy clothes or new toys and barely go out as I can't justify spending over $100 on drinks. But when it comes to gambling I'll spend $300 in a day. I'll usually spend about 40–70% of my pay check for the last 2 years and leave just enough for bills, food and smokes. The worst is when I know I'll be getting paid the next few days and use a payment option that allows me to deposit money I don't even have that sends my bank account into negative until my pay comes through, whilst accept copping an overdraft fee of $10.

I have told myself NEVER AGAIN at least 10 times but always get hooked again when I have extra money to spare. I even sold $700 worth of shares to blow it all on punting. The day before yesterday I was in a betting pool of 130 people and finished second. It was $2 to buy in and I won $54. I 40x my fake money to finish second. I thought why not just do that with real money. So yesterday I deposited $100 a time, four times and couldn't make any money slightly because bad luck and emotional attachment with my money, lost it all. Want to put more in but I locked myself out and don't want to go sit at the TAB with no hopers.

Furthermore, I have been in a bad mood, wanting to cry when I have no money left. I also waste my whole day on my phone betting not getting any of the tasks done that need to be completed that day. I am going to start the 100 Day Challenge today. Wish me luck, I hope anyone else with a gambling problem who reads this will forget about how much they have lost, accept that it's gone and do the challenge with me.