JKS's story

The problem with pokie machines is YOU think the next time you push that button, Feature will appear. I am 23 years old and I believe there are many factors why I gamble. Living expenses increase every year, so my mind would trick me into thinking IF I risk $100 of my pay check, I could potentially get $200 back. But the problem is, even if I did win $200, sometimes my mind tends to think MAYBE just maybe I can make it $300. Fact is, when you are a gambler like myself, more often than not, it is NEVER enough, no matter how much you win. Winning is a thrill, living the moment, but you are not winning, in fact, when you're losing, you'd feel down, lonely and thinks no one in the world would understand what you're going through. I feel ashamed when I walk into a club by myself and when you see other people by themselves, you know chances are they are addicted gambling as well. I have recently been promoted. Part of the reason why I work so hard is that once I get a pay increase, I have more money to gamble with. I am also undergoing a Bachelor Degree, I have the most supportive family anyone could ask for, everything in my life seem so perfect BUT I have an addiction and no one knows about it. I can't justify to my partner where my pay check goes every week. I started making up little white lies hoping he'd be stupid enough to believe me but sooner or later he'll see through me. I lost $300 tonight, and I am DETERMINED to quit as of today. If I have the guts to post something like this in a public forum, I am willing to give it my best shot and I mean it. It may fail but AT LEAST I am self-aware now, my mind will learn to make judgements for both pros and cons of gambling, whereas in the past I had been one-sided about gambling. I SUGGEST ANYONE OUT THERE WITH A GAMBLING PROBLEM, THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU'D SAVE IF YOU DIDN'T GAMBLE. THINK ABOUT THE TIME YOU COULD HAVE USED TO DO MORE CONSTRUCTIVE THINGS, THINK ABOUT WHAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP LOSING, THINK ABOUT ALL THE LIES YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE TO COVER YOUR TRACKS. AND FINALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT THE MACHINES WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO TAKE YOU MONEY. JUST THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU WALK INTO A CLUB AGAIN. LET'S ALL QUIT TOGETHER.