Pete, 29, from Birmingham is a compulsive gambler. What started as an occasional flutter soon progressed to a full-blown gambling addiction that threatened to tear his young family apart.
We are proud to be able to report a number of Port of Call recovery stories and wish to assure anyone reading that there is always help at hand.
In a series of gambling addict stories, the following Port of Call blog tells Pete’s journey from active addiction to recovery.
- No one wakes up and says, “I think I will become an addict today.” That’s why I wanted to share my gambling addiction story so you can see how easily it happens. Please never be afraid to ask for help. Please never turn your back on someone asking for help. Call the National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700.
- Gambling addiction stories from around the world. Here at gambling SOS we will be scouring the net for the best and worst gambling addiction stories. A lot of these should act as a warning for others of the dangers of gambling addiction and the impact this can have on individuals as well as the family and friends around them.
- In one of many sad gambling stories from the UK related to addiction, Justyn Larcombe squandered a massive £750,000 in online sports bets. Previously, he had a six-figure salary and he and his wife owned a £450,000 townhouse in an idyllic Derbyshire village.
Gambling addiction stories from around the world. Here at Yes No Casino we will be scouring the net for the best and worst gambling addiction stories. A lot of these should hopefully act as a warning for others of the dangers of gambling addiction and the impact this can have on the gambling individuals themselves as well as on the family.
Pete’s gambling story
I have a gambling addiction. It took me a long while, and a lot of money and stress, before I realised it. But that’s the truth of the matter. I can look you in the eye today and tell you that I’m a compulsive gambler.
My addiction started in my early twenties. Me and my mates liked a flutter at the bookies, every now and then, to liven up a Saturday night out. Usually we’d put on an accumulator and watch the results come in at the pub. It was fun, a buzz, especially on the rare occasion that one of us would score.
By my mid-twenties, most of my mates were settling down and having kids. They didn’t have as much time to go down the pub, or the bookies for that matter, but I wasn’t interested in slowing down. My weekend gambling was what got me through the week. It was all I could think of to get me through the boredom of work and everyday life.
But it wasn’t enough. As well as being a regular at the local betting shop, I’d joined a nearby casino. I began playing the Black Jack tables and roulette on Saturday nights. Often to try and win back my losses from the football, horses, dogs – whatever I’d bet on earlier that day.
Soon enough though, I’d be visiting the casino three, four, five nights a week at the height of my gambling problem. When the bookies or the casino were shut, I was gambling online. I did it all; online poker, in-game betting, sports betting. I got such a buzz from the wins, no matter how big or small. When I was up, I’d never walk away with my winnings. They’d go straight back on another bet, in search of a bigger rush.
My long-term girlfriend Sarah and I would get into blazing rows about how our money was just running through our fingers. I wasn’t just squandering my own wages but I was dipping into our joint account too. We were barely able to pay for food, let alone the bills and rent. The trouble is, the worse things got the more I turned to gambling to escape reality. I’d carry on regardless, gambling bigger stakes each time to try and dig us out of a hole and feel good about myself again. Neither of which ever happened.
The tipping point was when Sarah told me that we were expecting our first child. When Jasmine was born, I got a real wake up call. I knew full well that, without help, I would gamble away our money. Money that we needed.
So I called Port of Call. They arranged for me to go into rehab. I’d have regular therapy sessions to help me to change how I was behaving and manage my impulses to gamble. It was tough. Not the sessions so much, but stopping. Occupying myself in other ways.
It was a long slog, but I stuck with my treatment programme and I’ve managed to stay off gambling completely. My life and my family are too important to me to ever change back to my old ways. If I could offer advice to anyone, it would be to get help now. It is the only way and you won’t regret it.
Contact Port of Call on 08000029010 to find out more about treatment for gambling addiction, including gambling rehab. We offer 24/7 free advice and support to help people overcome addiction.
Disclaimer: Names and certain details have been changed to protect the identity of case study participants.
Compulsive gamblers can always find a way of betting. If the bookies are closed, online gambling is all too easy to access. In many ways, it’s an issue that can link really well to becoming addicted to your smartphone.
Gambling and casino addiction are very real issues that, if allowed to spiral out of control, have the ability to tear families apart. Luckily, Pete took it upon himself to get in touch with Port of Call and is now looking forward to a future with his young family.
If you feel you can relate to our gambling addiction stories and are concerned by your habit, please do get in touch with us. We work with a network of trusted addiction rehab centres throughout the UK, find your nearest clinic here.
Make us your Port of Call and begin looking towards a future free from gambling and casino addiction.
About the author: Martin Preston
Martin is our Founder and Chief Executive. Martin is himself in long term recovery and started Port of Call to help families navigate treatment options. In 2020 Martin will open Delamere Health Ltd, the UK’s first purpose built addiction treatment clinic.
Although gambling might be a tempting activity that you enjoy, for many people around the world gambling can be a serious problem. From huge financial losses to the losses of loved ones and the breakdown of marriages to murdering one’s own family, gambling addiction can have some truly negative and horrific outcomes. It is best to seek help as soon as you feel that you are losing control of your gaming and are unable to stop. There are plenty of organisations out there which specialise in helping addicts deal with their addiction. In our blog post today, we will share with you some horrific gambling stories with the hope to dissuade you from gambling and losing out on more than you bargained for.
Online Gambling Addiction Stories List
Curt’s Story
Before checking in to the Lutheran Social Services’ Gambler’s Choice programme, Curt’s addiction had driven him to suicidal thoughts. He described his addiction to gambling as a serious ‘hangover’, which prevented him from stopping. Thoughts of suicide are severely serious and require instant attention. The fact that Curt wanted to die because he was losing out on so much money as a result of gambling is an indication that he couldn’t cope with the situation. As soon as you feel that your gambling habit is starting to get out of control, contact an organisation such as GamStop right away. They will help you deal with your impulses to gamble and your gambling addiction. Today, Curt is attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings, working on regaining his family’s trust, and is being much more careful with his money than he would previously.
Jodie Nealley
Jodie Nealley is another individual who truly suffered as a result of her gambling addiction. This time, however, she was forced to pay up for her losses and since she couldn’t do so, she was sent to jail. She lost her husband after a sad divorce as well as a beautiful home and a job. Learning her lesson whilst in jail, Jodie is now an Intervention and Recovery Support Coordinator at the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. She has been in recovery from gambling disorder for six years and in recovery from alcohol for 22. The combination of gambling and alcohol addiction is scary and requires a lot of effort to overcome. Jodie Nealley has truly committed herself to a strong recovery and is addressing the symptoms on a day to day basis.
Anonymous 1
According to Financial Spread Betting, Anonymous also has a horror story to share. This time the story is related to credit card debts while at the same time being unemployed. Anonymous started out as a shy gambler who would phone in to bookies and place his bets. However, his interest in placing bets soon turned out into an addiction that he couldn’t control. This led to severe gambling debts being into the thousands of pounds, which he can’t afford to repay as he is currently unemployed and still struggles with the urge to place a bet even though he doesn’t have the cash to do so. Remember to seek help as soon as you notice any of these symptoms cropping up in your experience.
Anonymous 2
Anonymous 2 is another example of a sad situation where gambling has taken over someone’s life and made things exceptionally difficult. In Anonymous 2’s case, the situation led to divorce and having to ask his father for financial support. With four children in the mix, this situation really got out of hand when Anonymous 2 decided to gamble at a casino. With a lucky winning streak, he gambled funds that he thought he could double and even triple. Yet the situation turned out that he lost 15k in the drop of an eye and these were 15k which he didn’t have. A grown adult asking his parents for financial help is an embarrassing situation, but gambling addiction isn’t embarrassing and you need to seek professional help wherever you feel the need as you do not want to end up divorced, where your significant other doesn’t trust you, and where you’re digging into savings that affect your children’s futures.
Tala’s Story
Tala and her husband would go to casinos several times a year just for fun. However, Tala’s love for gambling became a problem that she would hide from her husband and her family as she managed to withdraw all the cash she had available on her and her husband’s credit cards. This led to a situation where her husband was denied credit after applying for it, telling his wife that she had ruined his “good name”. To avoid situations where you’re squeezing out your family’s hard-earned cash, without their knowledge, and to resist the urge to gamble away money that you do not have, seek help as soon as possible.
Murder of a Family
Gambling Addiction Stories Reddit
Losing money and your family’s trust aren’t the only terrible things that could happen to you as a result of your gambling addiction. There was a story of a North American man who ran a business whose grave he was slowly digging as a result of his gambling addiction. Things got so bad that one night he strangled his children three, and then shot his wife and then himself. This murder should send horrific tingles down your back as you contemplate this poor man’s situation. Things had gotten so out of hand for him that he simply believed he couldn’t go on with not only his life, but with his family either. There was simply no hope for him; no light at the end of the tunnel. This darkness can be defeated with the right help. If you feel that you’ve reached a point of no return, help is always available. Please seek it out when you feel down! Murders of innocents can be avoided this way as can suicide.
Conclusion
As you can see from these brief examples, gambling addiction can have a range of diversely different consequences and they are all bad. You will be doing yourself a favour if you seek help as soon as possible. Gambling addiction is a very serious mental addiction that makes one think that he or she can make up losses by playing a little bit more or adding a few more dollars or pounds to the game. This assumption is incorrect and there is no evidence that this wrongly-held belief is correct. Better save yourself some trouble, money, and the loss of loved ones and seek professional help. GamStop, Gamble Aware, and Gamblers Anonymous are some important institutions that can help you and support you as you address the void that is created by gambling.
Gambling Horror Stories – What Else You Need to Know?
The horror stories speak for themselves and we sincerely hope you can put them down to experience so that you never have to go through something like this. We give you the crux of the matter with this final section. Quitting gambling takes some doing, but it’s for your own good, so you better start now if you’re having problems controlling the urge to place wagers.
⚽️ Can I get in trouble for betting on sports?
Even shy punters can be in danger of developing a gambling addiction. All sorts of cases are reported daily to Gamblers Anonymous and GamCare. The most important rule if you can't give up on betting, is to do it in moderation. Use the limitation tools available on most licensed sports betting sites.
🔒 Has someone gone to jail due to gambling addiction?
Going to jail isn't out of the question, especially if we are talking about a significant debt. An important lesson can be learned from Jodie Neallyey's case who not only went to jail but also lost her husband, home, and, job while serving time.
🧠 What does gambling do to the brain?
There are a lot of experiments and tests that have been made to identify how the human brain reacts when a person is gambling. There are certain emotions that activate from the back of the brain that are really close to the feeling of happiness, euphoria and satisfaction or anger when the player wins or loses.
🤑 Is gambling addictive?
Gambling is proven to be addictive. People often start playing out of boredom or due to a tragic episode in their lives. Gambling addiction could be also triggered by drugs or strong influence from someone, whether a friend or a relative. Of course, it is not always permanent – there are a lot of ways and a lot of people that have cured themselves and now live a normal life.
💷 Why are casinos so addictive?
There are a lot of myths for casinos, including that there is something in the drinks or in the air in the facility. Both online and land-based casinos are addictive – there are a lot of triggers that get players to dig deeper in then their pockets and play more. This includes bright colours, triggering words and music or ringing when you win and other visual and sound stimuli.
👪 How does gambling affect relationships?
When gambling becomes a routine, it might affect not only your life, but your relationships. There is a high percent of couples that split up because of gambling addiction and all the dept that comes consequently. According to tabloids, this is the main reason celebrities like Ben Affleck got divorced.
👉 Is gambling a mental illness?
Gambling could be considered mental illness. There are a lot of people that struggle with gambling addiction. Therefore, there are a lot of organizations that support online casino sites and prevent gamblers from playing too much. Same goes for land-based casinos. It takes a lot of time, but gambling addiction is curable.
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