Serious help and advice needed

[inseriousdebt]

I have a ton of credit card debt due to online gambling. I am currently getting help and realize how much this has cost me..in money and in life....sincerely. It is shameful and something I would never do again. I know this has ruined my life as well as my families. It is tearing us apart. I have over 87,000 in cash advance, credit card debt and on top of it, just found out that gambling online in my state is illegal. Yes, illegal. I don't know what to do, or where to go with this. I didn't know that this was illegal! I never had a thought as to why there would be so many online gambling sites and why they would accept my money if it was illegal! I am so lost, and cannot afford to repay my silly mistakes even thought I thought I would be able to. I am so ashamed and feel just embarrassed writing this on here. I need to do something, and I don't know how to do this now that I found this out. I thought I would give this forum a try and see if there is any honest advice out there that can be given to me.

In desperate need of help......

[keepmine]

See a bk attorney. Most give free initial consultations.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Online gambling is illegal almost everywhere in the united states. Thats the reason online gaming sites are hosted overseas where the us cannot prosecute them. But the internet is full of illegal activity. Any bk attorney you goto in your area should have plenty of experience with cases like yours. If theres any chance the cc companies want to come after you, probably all you would have to do is wait another 6-12 months with no cc activity before filing.

[cpw111]

Wait until the case advances are 6 months old and then file your BK. Keep paying the minimums for the next 3 months. The law is not after you for gambling online. To the BK process gambling losses are not looked at any differrently than a compulsive shopper except for the fact that a compulsive shopper might actually have some assests. Your creditors will not be happy but hey they were gambling on you and lost. The important thing for you to know is that there is a way out of this and if you play the legal "game" correctly you can come out with a worst case scenario of paying back the debt.

Dont feel bad inseriousdebt, you are not the first and will not be the last. Online gambling is the "crack cocaine" version of gambling and it is a sickness that is going to have to be acknowledged sooner rather than later.

Keep your head up and STAY AWAY FROM THE CASINOS.

[jane taylor]

I would definitely speak to an experienced BK attorney. Also, I strongly urge you to seek help for your addiction. Compulsive gambling is an illness like any other and is no respector of persons. You are not alone and you are not a bad person. Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

[inseriousdebt]

Bank Statements

What are the reasons that a trustee would have to look at your bank statements? and what is the standard amount of months back he/she would normally want to see? Any experiences you may have with this?

I paid a lot of this money out of an online account that then took it out of our checking which then was covered by cash advances...crazy i know, but I am now living with it...I love this forum because it gives me hope.

[cpw111]

My trustee did not ask for bank statements. Others do. They want to make sure you are not hiding money. If none of your creditors scream then he probably will not even look at your bank accounts but if they do he could put you under a microscope. You need to read up on this forum and you will learn a lot. Any activity within the last three months you will most likely have to pay back.

[inseriousdebt]

What could happen?

If I go forward with bankruptcy....since it has now been six months, I am afraid I will get in trouble for gambling online....I am so scared, afraid...confused!

What could happen to me?

i honestly didn't know.....I used an online banking system to transfer the money, which you can see on my bank statements......I am so frustrated....anyone else have this same experience? I was hoping I wasn't the only one.

[aa06a47]

If I go forward with bankruptcy....since it has now been six months, I am afraid I will get in trouble for gambling online....I am so scared, afraid...confused!

What could happen to me?

i honestly didn't know.....I used an online banking system to transfer the money, which you can see on my bank statements......I am so frustrated....anyone else have this same experience? I was hoping I wasn't the only one.

Here is a link concerning cash advances used in gambling.

http://www.doney.net/cases/kong239br815.htm

[cpw111]

I wouldn't be afraid of getting caught for gambling online because the gambling took place on a server outside the US. Where they could get you is the wire fraud law of sending money over federal lines. If you file the BK they are not interested in finding you guilty of internet gambling. Worst case scenario IMO is your case is dismissed.

Go talk to at least three attorneys and be upfront. The more the better.
An attorney will be your best bet (sorry) because creditors and the trustee are less likely to F... with you.

[BKSorrow]

I hate to be the one to say it but depending on who your trustee is, it can get ugly. So far we have been scrutinized and humiliated at our 341 and continuation meetings. Due to the gambling US BK court trustee came to our 2nd meeting to ask more questions. Make sure you know exactly now much of your debt each year for the last 3 years is related to gambling. They asked so many questions and I was so nervous, the trustee actually threw me a pen and told me to write things down for the next meeting. They want to see 6 months bank statements again and for us to breakdown our credit card debts into gambling and not gambling debt.

[lrprn]

BKSorrow, it is against our forum rules to post to old threads like this one. These older long-inactive threads can contain information that was accurate at that time (2006) but may no longer be accurate now. Also almost every poster in this thread is long gone from the forum - they won't see what you posted.

In the future in situations like this if you have something to say, please start your own new thread - thanks!

This thread is now closed to further posting.