# 1 tip on quiting gambling is to let your spouse or someone who you trust dearly hold your money. Don't take more money than you need to the store. Take just enough for what you need. Talk to your spouse or loved one about your gambling problem and ask them to handle and/or budget your money for you. Be honest with the person you choose and don't feel too ashamed to do this. If they care about you, than they will completely understand. You will see your gambling debts disappear before you know it and your savings account balance rising. Or if you are like me, you can start a savings account with all the money you are saving from not gambling. This is a very important step because many problem and compulsive gamblers can't help themselves when they have money on them. If you don't have money....then you can't gamble.

#2 Believe in yourself. You can stop gambling, remember that you are now in control and your addiction is not in control. Your addiction is now gone and you are the one in charge. Just keep telling yourself "I can quit gambling, I need to quit gambling and I will quit gambling." Remember, your own words: I can't win. Everytime I gamble I lose....or play until I do lose all the money I have.

#3 Be honest to yourself and to others about your gambling! You need to quit being in denial about your addiction. This is also a very important step because if you are always lieing about your wins/loses, then you will never be able to quit. When you are in denial, you are not in reality. The reality of it all is that you have a problem and need help. Being honest will help you understand that you are a losing gambler. Telling yourself that you don't gamble as much as other people, or that you have no problem and you don't need any help....and you can control yourself....is that the truth?

#4 Stop making excuses for your gambling habits.  Do you tell yourself and others that there is nothing else fun to do in your life? Do you have a bad day and then say: "I can go gambling now because I had a tough day and deserve it"? Another silly excuse is that "everyone that I went out with tonight was gambling, so that is why I did too". Stop making excuses for your bad behavior! Problem gambling is a very serious addiction that you really need to use your mind to the fullest to help you quit.  

#5 Find other things to do with your time! Are you constantly trying to find time to gamble? If so, then you need to stop. There are better things to do with your time. You need to be extremely careful not to do what many problem gamblers do: replacing gambling with another bad habit. This will not work, you need to find good habits. Find fun and fullfilling things to do. Don't waste your life time being miserable. Life is so precious and the years fly by.....Do you want to be 80 years old and not have any good memories? For a list of good and fun things to do other than gambling please read the things to do page!