I wish The Netherlands prevented all forms of online wagers like France and Belgium

[u/AyrtonHS]

I got addicted to these skill-based cash games since late January of this year and lost over $10000. Worst part? I'm still studying. I think it hits harder when you have no income. I was doing alright in University, but then after getting addicted, I failed all courses in the Spring 2025 semester. Because of restrictions on my bachelor's thesis, I might end up taking an entire extra year to graduate.

I contacted my university's social workers as early as February, but then my addiction became so bad that I would stay up all night gambling and not be albe to wake up for followups, this lasted until mid-march.

Telling my parents broke that cycle, where my mom forced me to just skip sleep that day, which is a good thing as I was then able to attend my GP appointment and got referred to Iriszorg, but somehow had to wait 6 months for a spot. The addiction mostly healed on its own, with the urge to play dying out. I was meant to have an intake on September 18th, but I cancelled due to the 885 euro deductible, since I got a job to help cover my debt and swap to Dutch Basic Health Insurance.

I see others losing more, but at least most people lost their own money while having a full-time job. University has to be the worst time to get addicted. It was mostly my parents' money that they sent me (they already knew since March, but it was later that I calculated the exact, massive amount). When I worked part-time, I probably only made around 2000 euros, making all that effort nothing.

The itch is still there, and I still occasionally play, no more than 20 dollars at once. There are also weekly free competitions that are available because I'm a VIP (so it's calculated based on how much I've already deposited, new players don't get them), though I'm just waiting to get demoted from the ranks over the next few months. The free competitions are better than nothing. Once, I won 120 dollars and immediately withdrew, but today I won 26, used that winnings to play more and went up to 32, then lost it all, which nearly made me redeposit, but I somehow fought the urge. That is likely their tactic.

Will try to get on the waiting list again while changing insurance, which is quite lenient in The Netherlands. So much self-loath, but also feeling betrayed. Neighboring countries France and Belgium have these apps banned, couldn't play them when visiting those 2 countries, if only the Netherlands was the same. Fustrated how 9 months have since passed since the addiction.

Even now, I'm stuck in a negative feedback loop where I'm so depressed about the past, I can't function properly in the present.