Unmasking Gambling
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How much money have I lost gambling?

Short answer

Probably more than you think: memory keeps the wins and blurs the losses. The reliable figure is what you deposited minus what you withdrew, from your bank’s and each site’s history. The calculator on this page helps you estimate it.

Why it is hard to know

Hardly anyone keeps track of what they gamble. Money goes in and out in small amounts, mixes with prizes and gets staked again. What stays in memory are the good moments. That is why the first time someone really adds it up, the figure tends to come as a surprise.

This calculator helps you estimate it from what you remember. Below it is how to get the exact figure. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

What gambling has cost you

You lose per month
€150
Per year
€1,800
In total
€5,400
Hours of work
540

If nothing changes, five more years will cost another €9,000.

How to get the real figure

  1. Open your banking app and search for transactions with the name of each bookmaker, casino or lottery. Add up what went out and what came in.
  2. Each operator’s website or app usually has a deposit and withdrawal history. Download it if you can.
  3. Count cash too: arcades, bars, lottery shops.
  4. What you lost is what you deposited minus what you withdrew. Prizes you played again are already included.

None of this leaves your browser.

If the figure worries you, The Way has six steps to understand what is happening and make a plan. And if you need to talk to someone now, Get help lists free helplines.

Related questions

Why do I think I lost less than my bank says?

Because wins are remembered and losses blur. A €300 win is one specific moment; losing €20 forty times is not. On top of that, many slot “wins” are smaller than the stake, yet they ring and get celebrated as if they were gains.

Does money I won and played again count as a loss?

It is already in the sum. If you deposited €1,000, withdrew €200 and nothing is left in your gambling account, you lost €800, however many times you won along the way.

The figure scared me. What now?

First, do not try to win it back by gambling: that is the fastest way to make the figure grow. Tell someone you trust, put barriers in place so you do not carry on, and if there are debts, get advice before signing anything.