First, you are blessed for not having to experience the lowest and not being in debt like so many us do. You are also blessed to know that you have a problem.

I am not going to go into suggesting why you should take a step in recovery because I sensed that you already know the outcome in the end. But I do suggest something like 12 step program. It's not so much as focusing on the quitting gambling but building yourself a more fulfilling life.

You've said "lost soul", that is a much more bigger issue then your gambling. You may came to this point by spending endless hours gambling but gambling is only a clutch but it's also a platform in which transforms a person to function and live in a tainted reality.

Compulsive gambling turns a honest person into a liar, smart person into a stupid one, and otherwise compassionate, loving person into a selfish irresponsible person ever.

I highly recommend you to take some type of program that will help you fix that "glitch". Find your lost soul, fulfilling your voids so you can live your life as a whole person without satisfying your needs by gambling more. Believe me, there isn't enough of money to satisfy our needs in gambling, there isn't enough of time to fulfill the needs of satisfying our lost soul.

I believe that once you work on your internal struggles, you will come to a realization that gambling isn't as exciting as you once thought but rather you don't want to loose your time constantly occupied in the dream world you've created.

Wishing you a peace today!

Cease the moment, one day at a time!
Love,
Victoria

Finding the lost soul, that was my turning point. (I like how you put that)
The day I said out loud to myself, "I don't trust me." was a scary day. You will see by the posts on here that we are not dumb people, so why do we do dumb things? I think the grab of gambling is we win, sometimes we win big. This will not continue. But we have won before so our day is coming for that big win again.We are just that lucky, right?
I wish I could say that the moment I knew I didn't trust me and I hated me for what I was creating was the day I stopped gambling. It was not. I read the posts and the devastation that was taking place in peoples lives, but I would reason that I could handle this. A few more months went by and more money won and more money lost. The last time I was in a casino I saw someone I knew. They didn't have any money to waste. I looked around and said out loud, "These people are poor. If I continue doing this I will be poor." I also felt a deep sadness for the people in the building. I don't want to forget that sadness. I am 37 days GF.
Find out why you feel the need to gamble, fix that and have a life with a happy soul.
God Bless you back.

That is why machines have the signs on them that say 'FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY'.

The only way to win is quit and leave when you get even a little bit ahead. For me it meant I could play longer and not have to go home.

To mini ize loss, set a limit on how much you can "invest" and a time limit on how long you will play.
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I'm an ex sports bettor. I stopped because what it did to me mentally, emotionally and physically. I actually won $ doing it for a few years in a row and have won more $ than lost overall in my lifetime gambling. I know the likelihood of having positive years is extremely slim. With having success I began to bet more and was never satisfied. Always want to top my biggest win. When in gamble mode I really didn't care about anything other than gambling. Winning $ didn't make me happy. I slept less, became less social, drank more, diet was poor, exercised less and had withdrawals if not getting action in during the day. It's not a healthy hobby. You are fortunate that you haven't put yourself in a bad financial spot and are still young. Get away from it. Enjoy the game for what it is. Get yourself back. I'm getting close to 2 months clean and finding myself again. I think about gambling everyday but it's not as much as used to be. Welcome to the board.

Frank said it, about all the other facets of our lives we give up for gambling. There is far more at risk than $.
By being abstinent for over a year with the help of therapy, support groups, meticulous self care, determination and many other tools I now have a sense of self-worth, connectedness and peace.