Crazy spending… am I in trouble?

[Rhodey72]

I had went crazy spending around 60k on gambling and invocing myself and pulling money out and literally just buying nonsense. Includes business credit I applied for that I used for gambling. I went through a bad year and quit my job long story short ended up being diagnosed bipolar. I am afraid to file and being accused of crimes. Anyone have experience with this?

[Freshstart88]

Did you end up filing and having any issues? I also went through a crazy gambling binge and looking for others who went through the same thing!

[justbroke]

Freshstart88 , search on the board and there are other stories on gambling. The major thing is that (a) bankruptcy will never fix a gambling addiction, and (b) the trustee will want to know that it is out of your system. Unless it is out of your system, the trustee will not want to allow you to proceed. You'll need to self-exclude. You need to stop (easier said than done). Otherwise, generally no issues with a gambler filing for bankruptcy for the first time.

[Freshstart88]

justbroke thank you! I am 19 days clean, in GA, self excluded, and have GamBan (a gambling blocker) on my phone! Im mostly worried because I’ve been a high income earner for several years (200-350k) but it all mostly went to gambling. No assets. I’ve been out of my good paying work since October due to doing clinicals for NP school so Im just doing a very part time job making minimal money. I would definitely qualify for chapter 7 in March or April with 6 months of this super low pay. Is that suspicious if I have a good reason for the decreased income?

[justbroke]

Freshstart88 the Trustee is going to ask where all the money went. When you say I blew it all "gambling," the trustee will seek to determine that you have it out of your system You will need to demonstrate that you won't be back in the bankruptcy system a year or two later with the same issue. That's the only thing that they are worried about. It's not suspicion.

[Jany]

I've been through it. I had an addiction to slot machines like you wouldn't believe. Sign yourself out of the casinos and go for a consultation. Everything will be alright. The worst part of the whole thing was the mental torture I put myself through.

[vhs]

You can also ban yourself from the casino by letting them list you in their books as "banning yourself from the casino".

If you have an issue still, then don't carry cash or credit cards can help.

Finally, never gamble on credit.

[APwinner]

Explore a Hardship dischage because fo your mental illness.

Sorry for your troubles.