Hey Bill,
You’ll find that your story is a very common one on these forums. Many 20-30 year old gamblers didn’t get introduced to serious online gambling until only in the last couple of years when the market has just exploded.
A gambling addict is not one that gambles a lot but rather someone who cannot control themselves when they gamble. A person who cannot gamble in moderation, within limits or just for entertainment. A compulsive chaser of losses and always wanting just that “one” more bet.
I think you’re well aware now that you are indeed an addict (you became one after that 2k loss on roulette). You must accept that you will not recoup your losses through gambling…and if you continue you will only dig your hole deeper. In the back of your mind your addiction is telling you to “just give it one last shot” to win it all back, to immediately dissolve all your financial and mental stress. When you try to fight back with rationality it will bargain with you: “Bill, let’s just win a little bit and we will call it a day.” I am sure you know where this ends up if you listen to it. This is a trap for you to reach an even lower rock bottom. Whatever you do do not get into any more debt!!! Cut up or close that credit card. Self-exclude and download gambling blocking software (eg. Betfilter). Attend GA or confide to loved ones. You must stop gambling otherwise you will keep falling deeper and deeper into the hole and at some stage it will be too deep to crawl out from. Right now you can cut your losses and count your experience as a life lesson to never ever place another bet again, even for fun. It will not be easy…it will be a long road…but you can overcome this addiction. Keep posting and the people on this forum will support you on your journey, no matter how smooth or rough. Good luck.