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How Gambling Changed My Life by Zyxsc: 8:04pm On Aug 28, 2022
I've read countless stories of how gambling has wrecked the life of many youths, boys, men alike and I wasn't left out. I was a perpetual gambler as well. I wouldn't have created this thread but for this Righteousness2 comment https://www.nairaland.com/7303107/please-save-marriage#116116165 on this frontpage thread https://www.nairaland.com/7303107/please-save-marriage.

Here is my short story

Our Nintendo game console got faulty and I did the best I could to repair it. Unfortunately, my measly knowledge on electronics was not enough. Electronic technicians couldn't repair it because Nintendo game console was getting phased out by Sega, so the spare parts were unavailable in the market. I resolved I would buy myself a Sega Game console. How could I have gotten the money to buy it. I was only a boy in Senior Secondary School 1. Shortly after, a friend introduced me to Baba Ijebu lotto and the possibility of winning so much with so little. He gave me a 2-sure. I staked ₦20 on the midweek-special game. On checking the result the following day, I found out that I won. I was so happy. I told the lotto man and my bet was settled. I took the ₦3700 I just won enta market, straight off. I got the Sega game console for about ₦3500. I bet on another game with ₦100. Thus, it started... the life of a gambler.

I lost way more than twice the money, I won, to Baba Ijebu lotto. Then came Football betting. We heard it's a lot easier to win than lotto. So I was taught the odd and staking concept. On my third stake, I won ₦10,480. I was so happy that I started planning on making a business off of it. "What if I could win like ₦10k every week or stake ₦100 on 2.00 odds every day for 1 week. What if I just accumulate like 10 games over one week and win like 10 million..." My greed went on and on, making me see ways I could win more with little, becoming a millionaire overnight. Series of loss came and I kept climbing up the losers leaderboard.

I was in 200 level when my dad sent me ₦40k for my school fee. "If I can just stake ₦20k on 3.00 odds, that's ₦60k. I'd pay off my school fee and have something to flex with, buy new clothes and enjoy my life", I thought to myself. Naso I carry my phone load the money enter my bet9ja account, selected like 3 games. My heart almost ran off my mouth as I watch the first game cut my ticket. I mellow, I no talk anything. My paddi wey follow me go watch ball think say na my team wey loss dey pain me. The following day was Sunday and there are still more matches to play. Lemme just stake this last 20k on 2.00 odds so I can recuperate my money and stop. Well, I did and no surprise. Like a cool breeze, my school fee was gone.

Tears first scarce for my eyes. I find tears, I no see. Abi make I go jump inside well ni. No, dem fit rush kon comot me. What of otapiapia? And I no even get rope for house. What am I even thinking? How can I think of suicide because of ₦40k? My dad toiled day and night to be able to get this money cry Now, it's all gone. Death will come sooner if I tell my dad what happened. Even the devil cannot tempt me to tell him. My mind became a busy road for evil thoughts.

Exam was approaching and school fee portal was to close in 5 days. Na, automatic extra year be that. I told my bestie about what I have done. She lambasted me but proffered a solution. So I did as she advised. I went to RCF (The Redeemed Christian Fellowship) of my school. I told the treasurer I need to borrow for my school fee and I will pay back on instalment. May God bless sister Kemi and brother Dayo of RCF wherever you are. They borrowed me the money and I paid back. But I starved so I could pay back the debt.

The hunger filled my heart with anger and vengeance. I made a resolution to never gamble again but recuperate all my losses. Only if I could win all time, then it's no longer a gamble. I researched on ways I could always win the bookmakers. Yes, I did find one sure way. However, it needs to be automated to get the best result out of it. I need to build a software for it. I Googled on how to build such software and I read that such software is hard to build. Of course, if it were easy to build, everybody would have been rich. I knew nothing about programming, but my rage burns still. I picked up Java and started learning on my own. Two years down the line I still haven't built it, but I found passion in what I was learning. All I was able to build at that time were simple calculators. Programming hard but I no fit give up.

Graduated school but work no dey outside. I kept at it, reading day and night, spending the bulk of my time staring at and writing magical words that can make computer do silly things. After NYSC, I built my first mobile app, published it on Amazon App store and got a job two weeks after. It seems my attention as shifted from building a software that wins the bookmaker all time, but nay. I just needed something to pay my bills while I horn the skills necessary to build such a software. Alas, after about 6 years, I finally built the app.

Reminiscing on these series of events that changed my life, I thought to myself, if I didn't gamble with my school back then or my bet won, I might not done anything good with my life. One thing I realise is, every good and bad things that happened in one's life are a series of tiny events that are meant to prepare and take you to the next phase of life. Now, I feed my nuclear family with this tech job.

I made a mistake but I made a resolution to fix it. I realised gambling would destroy me, so I stopped. What helped me? DISCIPLINE!!!
Gambling is not an evil spirit. It is greed driven by lack of self control and discipline.

12 Likes 4 Shares

Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by iHart(m): 8:11pm On Aug 28, 2022
You are still whining yourself!!!
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Zyxsc: 8:16pm On Aug 28, 2022
lalasticlala snake, mynd44. To the promise land please.

Kobojunkie, every form of addiction is not a mental illness like you said https://www.nairaland.com/post/116115960. It's an absence of discipline.

Gaby, gambling addiction can be controlled.

stallionhorse nailed it https://www.nairaland.com/stallionhorse
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Kobojunkie: 8:24pm On Aug 28, 2022
Zyxsc:
lalasticlala snake, mynd44. To the promise land please.
Kobojunkie, every form of addiction is not a mental illness like you said https://www.nairaland.com/post/116115960. It's an absence of discipline. Gaby, gambling addiction can be controlled. stallionhorse nailed it https://www.nairaland.com/stallionhorse
First of all you have to get it into your mind that not every person who gambles regularly is an addict, the same goes for those who use drugs, drink alcohol, etc. undecided

By definition, Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. An addiction is a chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward, motivation, and memory. It's about the way your body craves a substance or behavior, especially if it causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” and lack of concern over consequences. Yes, addiction is treatable. i.e. controlled but it makes it no less a problem of addiction even at that. https://www.asam.org/quality-care/definition-of-addiction
https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Saintdan0421(m): 8:27pm On Aug 28, 2022
Gambling that has 1% prons relative to 99% cons na in u dey recommend give anoda human being.


Keep the recommendation to your family members only. Imbecilic and idiotic write up.
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Zyxsc: 8:41pm On Aug 28, 2022
Saintdan0421:
Gambling that has 1% prons relative to 99% cons na in u dey recommend give anoda human being.


Keep the recommendation to your family members only. Imbecilic and idiotic write up.

It wouldn't hurt if you admit that you didn't read the write-up, coz you clearly didn't. Dumbo

2 Likes

Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Solofresh2: 8:42pm On Aug 28, 2022
Zyxsc:
I've read countless stories of how gambling has wrecked the life of many youths, boys, men alike and I wasn't left out. I was a perpetual gambler as well. I wouldn't have created this thread but for this Righteousness2 comment https://www.nairaland.com/7303107/please-save-marriage#116116165 on this frontpage thread https://www.nairaland.com/7303107/please-save-marriage.

Here is my short story

Our Nintendo game console got faulty and I did the best I could to repair it. Unfortunately, my measly knowledge on electronics was not enough. Electronic technicians couldn't repair it because Nintendo game console was getting phased out by Sega, so the spare parts were unavailable in the market. I resolved I would buy myself a Sega Game console. How could I have gotten the money to buy it. I was only a boy in Senior Secondary School 1. Shortly after, a friend introduced me to Baba Ijebu lotto and the possibility of winning so much with so little. He gave me a 2-sure. I staked ₦20 on the midweek-special game. On checking the result the following day, I found out that I won. I was so happy. I told the lotto man and my bet was settled. I took the ₦3700 I just won enta market, straight off. I got the Sega game console for about ₦3500. I bet on another game with ₦100. Thus, it started... the life of a gambler.

I lost way more than twice the money, I won, to Baba Ijebu lotto. Then came Football betting. We heard it's a lot easier to win than lotto. So I was taught the odd and staking concept. On my third stake, I won ₦10,480. I was so happy that I started planning on making a business off of it. "If I could play win like ₦10k every week or if I stake ₦100 on 2.00 odds every day for 1 week. What if I just accumulate like 10 games over one week and win like 10 million..." My greed went on and on, making me see ways I could win more with little, becoming a millionaire overnight. Series of loss came and I kept climbing up the losers leaderboard.

I was in 200 level when my dad sent me ₦40k for my school fee. "If I can just stake ₦20k on 3.00 odds, that's ₦60k. I'd pay off my school fee and have something to flex with, buy new clothes and enjoy my life", I thought to myself. Naso I carry my phone load the money enter my bet9ja account, selected like 3 games. My heart almost ran off my mouth as I watch the first game cut my ticket. I mellow, I no talk anything. My paddi wey follow me go watch ball think say na my team wey loss dey pain me. The following day was Sunday and there are still more matches to play. Lemme just stake this last 20k on 2.00 odds so I can recuperate my money and stop. Well, I did and no surprise. Like a cool breeze, my school fee was gone. Tears first scarce for my eyes. I find tears, I no see. Abi make I go jump inside well ni. No, dem fit rush kon comot me. What of otapiapia? And I no even get rope for house. What am I even thinking? How can I think of suicide because of ₦40k? My dad toiled day and night to be able to get this money cry Now, it's all gone. Death will come sooner if I tell my dad what happened. Even the devil cannot tempt me to tell him. My mind became a busy express-way for evil thoughts.

Exam was approaching and school fee portal was to close in 5 days. Na, automatic extra year be that. I told my bestie about what I have done. She lambasted me but proffered a solution. So I did as she advised. I went to RCF (The Redeemed Christian Fellowship) of my school. I told the treasurer I need to borrow for my school fee and I will pay back on instalment. May God bless sister Kemi and brother Dayo of RCF wherever you are. They borrowed me the money and I paid back. But I starved so I could pay back the debt.

The hunger filled my heart with anger and vengeance. I made a resolution to never gamble again but recuperate all my loss. Only if I could win all time, then it's no longer a gamble. I researched on ways I could always win the bookmakers. Yes, I did find one sure way. However, it needs to be automated to get the best result out of it. I need to build a software for it. I Googled on how to build such software and I read that such software is hard to build. Of course, if it were easy to build, everybody would have been rich. I knew nothing about programming, but my rage burn still. I picked up Java and started learning. Two years down the line I still haven't built it, but I found passion in what I was learning. All I was able to build at that time were simple calculators. Programming hard but I no fit give up.

Graduated school but work no dey outside. I kept at it, reading day and night, spending the bulk of my time staring at and writing magical words that can make computer do silly things. After NYSC, I built my first mobile app, published it on Amazon App store and got a job two weeks after. It seems my attention as shifted from building a software that wins the bookmaker all time, but nay. I just needed something to pay my bills while I horn the skills necessary to build such a software.

Alas, after about 6 years, I finally built the app. Reminiscing on these series of events that changed my life, if I wasn't a gambler back then, I might not have compelled myself to learn programming. Now, I feed my family with this tech job. I made a mistake but I made a resolution to fix it.

What helped me? DISCIPLINE!!!

Gambling is not an evil spirit. It is greed fuelled by lack of self control and discipline.
Gambling is not for people who have Ni self control.
I made my first million as a gambler and I invested it into my business
Be wise
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Saintdan0421(m): 8:49pm On Aug 28, 2022
Zyxsc:


It wouldn't hurt if you admit that you didn't read the write-up, coz you clearly didn't. Dumbo

Aren't u trying to justify gambling?

Yes or No?

You more silly than ur writeup.
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Zyxsc: 9:00pm On Aug 28, 2022
Saintdan0421:


Aren't u trying to justify gambling?

Yes or No?

You more silly than ur writeup.

grin Broh, you do reading-comprehension for secondary school at all? I doubt you did. You could have just read and pass if you can't comprehend a simple narrative.

You can't even pass a clear message without using abusive words. Carry your janjaweeed mouth go front abeg. Ah no dey for vawulence this evening.
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Saintdan0421(m): 9:10pm On Aug 28, 2022
Zyxsc:


grin Broh, you do reading-comprehension for secondary school at all? I doubt you did. You could have just read and pass if you can't comprehend a simple narrative.

You can't even pass a clear message without using abusive words. Carry your janjaweeed mouth go front abeg. Ah no dey for vawulence this evening.


Lol, cry baby, you had 2 simple options; yes or no.

What's the significance of your writeup I ask once more?
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Gift96: 11:44pm On Aug 28, 2022
Zyxsc:
lalasticala snake, mynd44. To the promise land please.

Kobojuie, every form of addiction is not a mental illness like you said https://www.nairaland.com/post/116115960. It's an absence of discipline.

Gby, gambling addiction can be controlled.

stallinhorse nailed it https://www.nairaland.com/stallionhorse
baba youve made your money... naa God run am for you

run somthing for me too. show your boy love
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by JanettFlower: 10:04am On Jan 27, 2023
I would not say that I am a gambler, although sometimes I can play at online casinos. But I know when to stop and I play quite rarely. Before you play you should carefully study the reviews. For example this link explains what the pros and cons are and what you should pay attention to. All this will help to make the right choice.
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by obinna58(m): 6:37pm On Jan 27, 2023
For the past 8years I’ve been betting back to back and I’m not wrecked



The aim is to wreck betting companies
Re: How Gambling Changed My Life by Karleb(m): 7:01pm On Jan 27, 2023
How many people can actually be disciplined?
How long would you lose to become disciplined?

If people get addicted to things like food, soft drinks, prostitutes, prostitution and masturbation that have no serious effect on the finances, then we shouldn't advice them to gamble.

Just one loss can send you to kirikiri.

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