Gambling is a good thing for tourism and lots of people enjoy it. Gambling is a positive thing because it improves the economy by bringing in lots of tax dollars that can be used to help. Even if you have decided to try to cut down and control your gambling, it is a good idea to first stop for 2-3 weeks and see how it feels to be without gambling in your life. If the idea of a break from gambling horrifies you, it may be a sign that you need to give up!

• Give Up Gambling For Good Money
• Give Up Gambling For Good People
• Give Up Gambling For Good Housekeeping

Uncle Daryl Smith, photo: James Henry

I’m a youth outreach worker with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. I do a bit of everything. Sometimes, when you’ve been through hard times, you can pass on a bit of knowledge to other people. If I can help keep kids out of trouble – including with gambling – I’m happy.

The first time I tried pokies in the local pub, I won – pretty big, a couple of hundred bucks. I thought, ‘This is mine! How easy is this?’ After that night, I couldn’t wait to get back and play them.

You think you know your limits, but there’s something about gambling that just grabs hold of you. The lights, the music, the colours – they’re hypnotising. And the next button you press is going to be the big one. The only time you leave is when you’ve got no money left.

The pressure builds

It’s like graduating: you start off in the local pubs, then you go to the bigger pubs, and then you go to the big one: the casino. You’re thinking, ‘Gee, if I win big, I can give my family some money. They can buy clothes, buy this and that. Maybe a car.’ But that never happens. It’s degrading, walking out of a venue with no money.

I felt worthless, not even good enough to talk to people. And gambling itself makes you antisocial. I remember one time playing the pokies, I was so into it, one of my mates sat next to me and I didn’t even talk to him. You just want to be alone.

The next button you press is going to be the big one. The only time you leave is when you’ve got no money left.

I had a good job with The Age newspaper. My responsibility was getting the newspapers bundled and out to the truck drivers going to the newsagents. This included shift work. I’d call into a couple of venues on the way home, at five or six in the morning. You’re wide awake and you want to do something. At work on Mondays, I’d tell them how much I’d lost at the pokies. And then it got to the point where I didn’t tell them. ‘Hey Daz, how much did you lose on the weekend?’ I wouldn’t say.

It felt like there was no way out, but that if I didn’t do something, I’d lose everything. Lose my house. My kids wouldn’t want to know me.

I tell my story and feel instant relief

Years ago, I went to Alcoholics Anonymous, so when someone told me about Gamblers Anonymous, I rang them up. As soon as I walked into my first meeting, I felt relief. We sat around talking and when I got up and told my story, a load lifted from my chest. Gee, it felt good.

Gamblers Anonymous gave me confidence to speak up and let family and friends know what was going on with me. Everyone was supportive.

I also learnt tips at Gamblers Anonymous, including: if you drive past a venue on the way home from work, take another route, even up side streets. Don’t go past venues or pubs with pokies: ‘Come in for a free meal!’ Don’t even look at them.

When you’re giving up gambling, the important thing is to hang in there.

After going to Gamblers Anonymous for a couple of months, I thought I’d kicked the habit. But I hadn’t. I’d go to a hotel and, if I got bored, I’d just go into the gaming room to have a look, not to play. But then I’d only play five bucks. Then $10, then $20, then $100. With Alcoholics Anonymous, the worst drink to have is the first drink. With gambling, the worst bet to have is the first bet.

There’s no quick fix with giving up gambling.

Getting better and better

Someone said to me, ‘If you put that money into a Christmas Club account, just imagine how much you’d have at the end of the year.’ And I thought, ‘100 bucks a week – that’s five grand!’

I started taking up different interests. I became a soldier in the Salvation Army, I did ballroom dancing, including a bit of competition, I joined the CFA (Country Fire Authority). I enjoyed it all, and still do. I go to the gym and try to look after myself and keep active. I always make sure I’m available for my grandkids.

When you’re giving up gambling, the important thing is to hang in there. It’s never too late to give up. If you stop for a while, and then gamble again, have another go at giving up. Keep doing it. You’ll get better and better.

How to get support

Gambler’s Help services are free and private. Call 1800 858 858 any day, any time.

There are also gambling workers you can have a yarn with in four Aboriginal co-ops:

• Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative: phone (03) 5820 0000
• Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative: phone (03) 5150 0700
• Victorian Aboriginal Health Service: phone (03) 9419 300
• Mallee District Aboriginal Services: phone (03) 5018 4100

I’m frequently asked about my thoughts on fasting.

Give Up Gambling For Good Money

I love to fast, but it’s rarely food that I fast.

I frequently ask God if there is anything in my life that gets in the way of me really enjoying Him and living an abundant life. The answer has never been food yet…

Give Up Gambling For Good People

What do I mean? Here are 23 things He’s talked to me about:

Give Up Gambling For Good Housekeeping

1) Negativity
2) Focusing on the demonic
3) Disagreeing with God
4) TV
5) Spending money on non-essentials
6) Late nights
7) Trying to grow closer to God
8) The Internet
9) Coffee/Tea/Soda
10) Depression
11) Greed
12) Media
13) Laziness
14) Trying to be more righteous
15) Comparing myself to others
16) Sharing my opinion without being asked
17) Facebook/Twitter
18) Email
19) My phone
20) Sleeping in
21) Regret
22) Worrying
23) Selfishness

Why not ask God now if there is anything on this list you could fast for a season (or forever) to help you grow into who you are in Christ, experience all you have been given and develop your relationship with God.

Don’t do it out of striving and straining but do it as an action of rest, giving up something so you can focus on just enjoying Him and in turn enjoying life.

This is NOT about you doing things to get more righteous or become a better person. Rather, it’s about believing in who you are in Christ and focusing on going to war with any mindsets you have that are contrary.

So we don’t work on being a less selfish person, or being a less negative person. Rather, we understand God made us to be selfless, He made us to be positive – therefore I will not allow myself to have thoughts contrary to that. I will be quick to dismiss those thoughts (which are lies) and just as quick to replace them with the truth!

So you have 23 of the things God has spoken to me about in my life… What are some things God has asked you to give up in the past and how has it benefited your life?