March 25, 2021 21 min read

likes:

Top 10 Worst Gambling Addiction Stories

The stories we are about to tell you are personal as they are harrowing and poignant. They remind us all of the fallible nature of man and how easy it is to take something up in good faith and go down the wrong path. Gambling addiction is the main topic of our stories today.

From losing one’s home to losing one’s loved ones, the gambling addiction stories we have found serve as a reminder of the dangers of why we should seek help when fighting the invisible enemy which is addiction.

Some of the worst gambling addiction stories here will not always be easy to read, but they will certainly be a fair warning to our society, lawmakers, and even players.

1. David Bradford Lost £500,000 in 30 Years

Denise and David Bradford had been married for 35 years when she discovered her husband’s gambling addiction, over the phone, with a solicitor informing her that her husband had just handed down a two-year prison sentence and was on his way to Liverpool.

Devastated at first, Denise found it in her heart to forgive David, who had been battling addiction for 30 years prior to the incident. A full-time housewife, Denise never suspected anything about David’s struggle until that faithful call on Friday in April 2014.

As it turned out, David had accumulated a £500,000 debt across 21 loans, had re-mortgaged the family home, and had stolen a total of £53,690 from his employer to fuel his habit, which had been forcing him to commit more – to the point where David couldn’t afford to fix his house’s boiler, just weeks before that faithful call.

The story of Denise and David is definitely one of the worst gambling addiction stories there is. Both in their 60s now, but they still face a mountain of debt that they would need to pay off for as long as they are alive, and living on pensions. Yet, David’s story is partly inspirational, if not for the fact that he squandered their life’s savings, then at least for the fact that he had found it in himself to carry on.

While in prison, he signed up for support groups and joined Gamblers Anonymous. Together with his son, Adam, they have set up a charity to help other addicts who may be facing similar addiction stories or worse.

2. Michelle Singlehurst Gambled £550,000 in 3 Years

Michelle Singlehurst had a cozy life. She was chipping away at a job that gave her £25,000 steady annual income, and her house was worth £440,000, more than many people make in decades. Yet, Michelle also loved to escape in games.

Nintendo and GameCube gaming became online slots, and between taking care of her husband, daughter, and elderly mother who nearly passed away in a nursery home due to maltreatment, something inside Michelle snapped.

Suddenly, online gaming didn’t seem like such a bad idea. She would escape her worries by playing away for hours, waking up at night, and logging back in. At one point, she had no idea if she had any money left.

She felt embarrassed as well as drawn to gambling. Before long, she had incurred thousands in debt from friends, and this would only be the beginning of what is one of the worst gambling addiction stories we have read.

Michelle decided to take care of her mother, and so the family wanted to move into a new house that would have enough room to look after Michelle’s mom. The family’s original home was sold, but Michelle didn’t quite intend to hold on to the money. Before long, she had gambled through the entire £440,000.

Her husband of 30 years, a good-natured man who was not tech-savvy, eventually found out and it got ugly. He blamed Michelle for her imprudence and lack of self-restraint and took their daughter and left.

Michelle’s Breakdown Follows Shortly After

Michelle spent time with her parents as she started drinking and taking pills. One of these times, she overdosed and was rushed to a hospital. Even then, Michelle said her senses were dulled and she felt nothing – until one faithful doctor visit.

“You have one in three chances to survive,” the doctor said, explaining that Michelle had done near-irreparable damage to her liver. It was at this moment she suddenly came back to life and decided to live.

Her husband had started coming back and bringing her daughter to visit. Slowly, he was going to forgive her. Does the story end here? It almost does. Michelle is back with her family, but they have a big debt to cover. In three years, she managed to gamble away £550,000 and, in her own words, the family would never be able to afford a home.

While this addiction story can serve as a reminder for us all about the irreparable harm we can do to ourselves and others through our obsession with gambling, it’s also a good story of redemption.

3. Sharon Who Stole from Her Daughter’s Piggy Bank

Sharon has struggled with gambling addiction since 1992. Pokies have played a core role in her addiction. She became a victim of circumstance with video poker machines introduced in her local pub even though she found them boring and even “stupid” at first.

One night she came back home and had an argument with her husband about something she wasn’t really sure she remembered. And so, she returned to the pokies bar to sort of “brush it off,” as it was the only place where it was socially acceptable to go on your own anyway.

After a short session, she won $190 off pokies, and Sharon was amazed that the games would actually allow you to win money. This is how most gambling addiction stories begin, with a simple win.

From there on in, Sharon decided to make pokies her full-time job, and she’d spent the next five weeks after that faithful argument playing, trying to maybe avoid work because pokies were there as a substitute.

By 1995-1996, Sharon did start hearing about people losing their savings, maxing out their credit cards, and even having their homes repossessed. As Sharon’s addiction worsened, her husband left, and she felt relieved, as she didn’t have to sneak around so often.

At the height of her addiction, Sharon argued that her husband didn’t matter. Her friends? Her own children? None of them mattered. Sharon only had one purpose – feeding the beast, but with AU$0.85 cents left in her bank account, that was a monumental task, so she went to her daughter’s room one night and took away her Piggy Bank savings.

Upon exiting the room, her daughter woke up, scaring Sharon and causing her to drop the money. She ran to the garage and sat there until her daughter followed with the pennies she had collected from among the shattered Piggy Bank pieces and gave them over to her mom, who was off to the pokie machines once again.

4. Viktor Gjonaj Who Faces 20 Years in Prison and $19m in Losses

Viktor Gjonaj wasn’t doing too badly in his personal life. Yet, gambling addiction caught up to him. Gjonaj, the founder of Title Plus Title Services and a smart financier himself had no reason to end up the way he did. Yet, his story is one of the worst in a financial sense, as he defrauded investors out of $19 million to fuel his addiction.

And, his drug of choice – the Michigan Lottery. Gjonaj was purchasing as much as $1 million worth of Lottery Daily 3 and Daily 4 tickets, desperately pursuing a win that never came. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider showed no pity on the defendant either who Schneider argued had caused financial harm to many innocent people.

Yet, his lawyer, Steve Fishman, has been arguing his case, describing what happened as one of the worst gambling addiction stories and insisting that his client should get help.

Gjonaj’s story begins in 2010 when he thought he had discovered a sure-fire way to win the lottery, but by 2017, his losses were running in the millions and beyond anything that he could himself cover without stealing money from his clients.

Fisherman argued that the state lottery was fully aware of Gjonaj’s addiction but made no effort to curb it or help him. In other words, Gjonaj’s gambling addiction story is one that could have been easily avoided argued Fisherman.

Gjonaj has little chance of avoiding a prison sentence or having his debt written off. May his story be a reminder of one of the worst things that could happen to you if you leave your gambling addiction to run rampant.

5. Aaron Traynor Who Struggled with Addiction Since 13

Nobody is safe from the “hungry beast” gambling addicts aptly use to describe gambling addiction. The addiction story of Aaron Traynor is not one of the worst you will probably hear, but it’s also an important example of how even people who “have it all” can be easily seduced by the promise of gambling.

Often, it’s not about money, but some visceral ill-comprehended thrill. Traynor’s gambling addiction developed in his early teens, when he was 14 or even 13. He would bet on horses, greyhounds, and football competitions, and things eventually escalated when he started university and began getting college loans.

Apart from getting loans, he also took up jobs to be able to fuel his gambling addiction further. Aware of his problem, he tried to wean himself off, but nothing proved a reliable enough solution. He signed himself up for Gamblers Anonymous and started going to counsel, but his urge to gamble was unquenchable.

“I just wanted to gamble money every single day,” Traynor said, attesting that he must have been losing at least £15,000 a year for at least 10 years. Yet, Traynor eventually succeeded in pulling himself away from gambling, shifting his priorities, and breaking up with a bad habit that cost him a lot of financial and emotional distress.

True, his story may not be the worst recount of gambling addiction you may have heard, but it’s a good way to see that even in the worst of times, we can still find a way out of the darkness.

6. Paul Pettigrew Burns £25,000 a Year Gambling

Paul Pettigrew didn’t have a particularly strong relationship with gambling. Rather, he made his first visit to a casino when he was 18, which is the accepted legal age in Scotland. Yet, what seemed like an innocuous visit would soon turn into one of the worst gambling addiction stories a young man can go through.

While the size of Pettigrew’s losses isn’t so bad, he was a young man who gambled away a considerable amount in just four years, sending £100,000 down the casino drains to feed his compulsive addiction habit from the age of 18 through the age of 22. When he was 21, Pettigrew finally couldn’t have any more of the lying, so he told his parents about his addiction.

To his surprise, his parents understood to the point they got him through counseling and found specialists to help their son overcome the habit, which he did. While the story doesn’t have quite the same gut-wrenching ending to it, Pettigrew was a young man who showed great self-restraint and was in the right place.

Had it not been for his parents, Pettigrew might have ended up in a worse situation. Today, he is committed to helping others overcome their addiction.

7. Matt Blanks Who Lost £700,000 in 10 Years

We all have different definitions for what constitutes the worst gambling addiction stories. For the most part, far-reaching financial ramifications are often is of the easiest ways to spot a story that should serve as a warning to us all. Matt Blanks’ flirtation with gambling quickly turned disastrous as he burnt through £700,000 in 10 years.

The money included a £100,000 inheritance from his grandmother and £200,000 of his father’s savings, a gross misuse of money gathered over the years. Much like most other gambling addicts, Blanks’ story started slowly. It involved a monumental 33-to-1 win on a horse he managed when he was 15 years old and his grandfather took him to the races.

With his parents splitting, Blanks started going to the race tracks more often than before. Yet, it wasn’t until he was 15 when he blew up a £1,000 inheritance from his grandmother that he realized – he had to make the money back, and that’s how the chase would begin, costing him hundreds of thousands of pounds just a decade later.

He convinced his father that he had a system that would allow him to outsmart the bookies, and win more. Yet, after spending £150,000 in two months, Blanks had nothing to show for it. With the debt piling on and up, he felt inconsolable guilt and shame, and he struggled with sharing his story.

Matt Just Wanted to End it All

Yet, gambling addiction didn’t necessarily stop him from having relationships. By 2013, Blanks had a partner and they had two children, but his gambling habits were still spiraling out of control.

He had 15 gambling apps installed and he would hide the bank statements to make sure that his partner didn’t know. She even thought Blanks was having an affair. Eventually, she found out and confronted Blanks who promised he would get help, but never did.

Things took a turn for the worse and Blanks felt that the world would be a better place without him in it. He tried to take his own life but was unsuccessful, and it was at that point he reached out to everyone and got the help he needed.

Blanks hasn’t placed a single bet since 2018. His addiction stories could have easily been one of the worst, and in many ways it is, but he still found a way forward.

8. Ted Ngoy Who Went Bankrupt and Rich Again Twice

This is not the typical worst gambling addiction story you hear. At its core is the determination of a young man to be with the woman he loves, and the subsequent challenges the couple faced in the United States, away from their home country.

This is the story of Ted Ngoy, today known as “The Doughnut King”, but originally a refugee from Cambodia who snuck into the heavily-guarded villa of his ex-wife, Suganthini Khoeun, the beautiful daughter of a high-ranking government official, and spent 45 days hidden in her room.

Upon discovery and insistence from Suganthini’s parents that they break off, Ted agreed and immediately produced a knife and stabbed himself. While in the hospital and recovering, he found out that Suganthini had hurt herself too.

Facing this sort of determination, Suganthini’s father allowed the lovers to be together and a wedding came a bit later. Yet, Cambodia was thrown into a civil war in 1970, forcing Ted and his family on an exodus to the United States.

A New Life in California

Arriving in California, Ted’s innate business flair sparked as he saw people line up to buy doughnuts time and again, combining them with coffee. He quickly approached a lady at a doughnut shop and asked her if a $3,000 deposit would be sufficient to purchase a shop.

She advised him to sign up for Winchell’s – a doughnut company – training program instead, and it’s a good thing he did. Ted quickly learned all he had to know about the business of running a doughnut shop, including baking but also accounting.

He opened his first shop and worked tirelessly after a year of training at Winchell’s, and followed that with many more successful openings and leasing shops to other refugees.

Working 12 to 17 hours a day, with the family’s all hands on deck, Ted’s business began to take off, with Suganthini at the counter, and the story would have ended here, was it not for Las Vegas, the place that would prove Ted’s downfall – for a while.

The Downfall of Ted, the Gambler

He was immediately drawn to casinos starting with modest bets to the tune of $10 and $20 at a time. That, though, quickly turned into $5,000 or $7,000 per game, with Ted leaving his home, doughnut empire, and family to be able to play more and more.

It was a disaster, Ted now admits. He would borrow money from people he had leased his shops to. And then, upon being unable to repay them, he would just sign over the shops.

His pursuit of peace forced him to sign up for Gamblers Anonymous, a support group for people who are compulsive gamblers, but as Ted put it almost anecdotally: “I cry. Everyone cries. Then we go back gambling.”

He even spent three months as a Buddhist monk in Thailand coming back emaciated and a reformed man, or so he thought until he flew into Las Vegas to play again and again. Explaining his own experience with gambling, Ted admits that it wasn’t the money, but rather the feeling and thrill he got out of it.

Eventually, they were down to a single shop. They decided to sell it and their son, Chris, went to pick up the money – $85,000 stashed in the trunk of a car that was registered as stolen because Ted had fallen behind on payments.

Chris was pulled over and taken to a police station. When he was released, there was no money in the trunk. “It’s a very, very sad story,” Ted said speaking to an interviewer. So, with nothing left for him in the United States, Ted decided to pack up and leave back for Cambodia.

Ted in Politics

His reputation preceded him. Back in the United States, he was an ardent Republican, and he had met with various politicians, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush. Retiring in Cambodia, Ted decided political life was precisely what he needed. Quickly, he decided to renounce gambling and deny his addiction and started canvassing for a seat in government.

He fell short as his campaign supporters wrongly misinterpreted his sentiments and thought that Ted was against the royal family – which he says he was not. Yet, Ted’s qualities were undeniable so he was appointed as an official advisor on commerce and agriculture. Life would not be easy from here on in.

Ted put a lot of effort into helping his country get back on track and he got in touch with his contacts from overseas to bring more investment to his country, which was ravished by poverty and some political strife. He spent $100,000 of his own money, time, and “everything,” to see Cambodia follow in the footsteps of Taiwan and help create a better future.

As Suganthini had to fly back to the United States for the birth of their grandchild, Ted was left behind in Cambodia overworked and stressed. And so, he had an affair. Overwhelmed with the guilt he admitted what he had done to his wife, who immediately filed for divorce, heartbroken at the news.

Ted’s Second Coming and Moving Away from Gambling Addiction 

Ted had to move out of Cambodia not soon after 2002, broke and facing political persecution and with his overseas Republican friends having forgotten all about him. He landed in Los Angeles with all his money, no more than $100, and not the respect or support of his family to back him up.

What started as an innocent gaming session in Las Vegas has led to a roller-coaster of events that pushed a happily married man to have an affair. It was a humbling experience, Ted said and added that “many times, I try to commit suicide because I hate myself, […], because I hate the gambling, […]I hate that I treat Christy so badly, treat my children so badly, because of the gambling, so I hate myself”

For four years he was a pariah in the United States, but he started going to the church where his son was a pastor. Ted became a devoted Christian and decided to fly back to Cambodia. Still not a penny to his name, he moved to Thailand where he was contacted by an old contact of his who needed Ted’s assistance with a real estate contract.

Ted negotiated the deal and earned a hefty commission, which was followed by many similar opportunities Ted earned through his business acumen, good-naturedness, and honesty. Discovering his new success, he married again and had four more children.

A New Beginning for Ted

He was eventually contacted by an LA filmmaker, a Cambodian immigrant Alice Gu who wanted to make a movie about The Doughnut King and was keen to find out why so many doughnut shops in California were owned by Cambodian immigrants.

For Ted, the movie was a healing experience. He has become successful once again, but more importantly, he had a chance to travel back to the United States and mend fences with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He never stops apologizing and reminding people about the dangers of gambling.

“When you hook up with gambling, your life is finished,” he cautions. Is this one of the worst gambling addiction stories? We certainly don’t think so. If anything, Ted has made it back into the world of recovered addicts, but he’s done so through hard work, an unfalteringly good nature, and the love of many people and relationships he has helped cultivate over the years.

9. Jack Richie and the End of a Young Man’s Life

Gambling can instill in anyone caught in its grip a sense of insurmountable guilt and shame, feelings that when paired together may incline us to commit horrible things. Borrowing money or going into debt is bad, yes, but ending one’s life before it has even begun is a far more dispiriting thing and one that, unlike financial debt, cannot be fixed.

This is precisely what happened with Jack Richie, a young 27-year-old man who ended his life because in the five years he struggled with gambling, he did so on his own. And yet, Jack’s story us about the fact that often when in the grip of gambling addiction, people do not fear financial loss so much as they fear what comes after it.

A feeling of inescapable dependency and constant agitation that makes you come back for more. What happened to Jack Richie is certainly one of the worst gambling addiction stories, not because he incurred £30,000 in debt, but because he felt voiceless and helpless in the face of a habit that he should have been treated out of.

Jack is not the first person who’s taken his life over gambling and gambling debts. Yet, as governments try better, there is hope that he may be one of the last ones at least.

10. The Accountant Who Miscalculated £125,000 in Gambling Losses

A 42-year-old accountant from Birmingham, at the time when the accident took place, was left with £125,000 in gambling losses that she incurred after failing to be restrained by casinos in the United Kingdom. The name of the victim will remain anonymous, but her story is a reminder for us all.

The pervasiveness of online gambling has made it exceptionally easy for anyone to fall prey to the habit of gambling, and not just recreationally or as a form of leisure, but compulsively to the point where few other options are left available.

For a successful white-collar individual, being the victim of a £125,000 gambling loss should not have been the case. After all, the victim was a trained professional whose specialty was numbers. Yet, gambling addiction always finds a way to convince us otherwise.

Sure, this accountant’s story is not the worst, but it certainly shows how easily we can be tempted to take the wrong path.

Conclusion

Are these the worst gambling addiction stories? We believe they are, but then again, gamblers have hundreds, if not thousands, of similar stories they have never mustered up the courage to share.

In our list, we have made sure to discover both the good and arguably bad and show examples of recovery, as well as a psychological breakdown of what it means to be addicted to gambling.

From Michelle’s near-death gambling rollercoaster to Ted’s ups and downs to Jack’s tragic end, there are stories that we should all heed and remember. They all bear some small moral we ought to share so that others come prepared.

After finishing her master's in publishing and writing, Melanie began her career as an online editor for a large gaming blog and has now transitioned over towards the iGaming industry. She helps to ensure that our news pieces are written to the highest standard possible under the guidance of senior management.

30 Comments

  • Tim
    June 13, 2021 at 11:51 am

    I have undergone similar experiences, still struggling with my gambling, hope I come out on top.

    • Babatunde Adio
      July 8, 2023 at 9:04 pm

      I have gambling addiction for the past 10 years and I’ve lost over #10,000,000

  • LaDawn
    June 27, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    I am wanting help for my gambling, I am ready to stop because the guilt and fear I have over what I’ve done is overruling any desire to gamble anymore. I have redeposited my unemployment checks 10 times in the last five months and I’m terrified of being arrested and being taken away from my disabled adult daughter that I care for. My story is long and sad, I don’t know where to turn for help and that is why I’m posting here. I hope someone who has been through a similar situation may have some advice as to what to do right now. I want to repay everything and take responsibility for what I have done. I’m terrified of being arrested and sent to jail. Those checks have not come through yet but they will and I don’t know what to do then. I just know I can’t take the stress of what I have done to the point of my panic disorder getting worse and I just need help. Anyone reading this who may know the right steps or able to help me can send me an email. Thanks for listening

  • M Reid
    August 24, 2021 at 8:49 pm

    You have to learn to forgive yourselves. And that’s the hardest thing to do (I know) was

  • Millah
    September 5, 2021 at 9:40 am

    It all started with the first win 8years ago, that seemed soo innocent at first. You standing with a gravel in the one hand and slowly starting to dig a hole. You don’t realize this at 1st until you are soo deep in it… But that still doesn’t stop you from digging… You know it in your heart that if you don’t stop soon, the hole you find yourself in would just become bigger and bigger, until your loved ones end up in it too… Lying becomes second nature.. Without a blink of an eye you tell your loved ones tadel tales… Soon you find yourself on the brink and try to switch the lights off permanently… With no success, you see the pain and suffering this causes.. But you still continue on digging.. Looking in the mirror and not recognizing the person looking back, trust is lost and damage done beyond repair … Your old self is screaming for HELP!!!! from within… But no one can hear her……

    • Bobby gee
      October 9, 2021 at 9:30 pm

      It is so hard to stop, however,keep trying and you can get there, my problem was I would get addicted to other things just to stop gambling,I used to think I was doing so well, I wasn’t, I really think the addiction is worse than you can explain to non addicted people.at the age of 53, been gambling since I was 16,I’m so much better in myself,but it will never go away,I just find a way to handle it better, I may not have a bet for a month,but I go through the motions everyday, looking at results,e.t.c. I’m so glad I’ve tried to become a better person,but I do know it is an illness,and I will always be iLL,I’m very happy in my life considering.

    • Anastasia
      December 30, 2021 at 8:50 am

      Absolutely true. And heart breaking 😢

  • Unknown
    September 21, 2021 at 8:39 am

    Gambling has been a tough situation for me.
    Whenever I don’t have money, I often steal my siblings savings to gamble till the point I lost everything

  • Anonymous
    November 24, 2021 at 11:19 am

    I started gambling at 17 driven by greed for money. The habbit grew very fast, I had no time to focus on my studies, my family and myself. I would say 97% of my daily living and expenditure was gambling. Not until I reviewed myself and got this idea. I sat and allowed myself to mourn and told myself that I am not the worst and I forgave myself. I committed to work for 1.6 years paying off my loans. My advice is DON’T ever try to chase your losses, you’ll worsen your status and lose your family and friends

  • Kelly Pham
    January 10, 2022 at 3:54 am

    I’ve been gambling since 21 now 45. I would often win then lose it all back within the same year . It’s a depressing feeling. I’ve tried to quit so my times but relapse.

    • Mick
      October 10, 2022 at 11:33 pm

      Hi yes. Ive had a horrible gambling addiction. For 15 years. Ive lost so much. I think the only way. To stop for me was. To. Stop drinking. And basically stay away from. Those. Places where gambling happens. And. If this helps. I went and got. A. No cash. Advance credit card. It is a life saver for. Me. I put my pay in thete. Every. Fortnight. I can use. For everything. Except i cant gamble. Its working for me. If this can help. Someone. I will be happy cause i know the hurt that comes from gambling.

  • Tangeni Namupala
    April 7, 2022 at 6:13 pm

    I started gambling while I was not employed. When I got a job gambling addiction increased and I am not able to control it. I tried to quit but I always failed. My life in mess of dept from friends and financial institutions. I need help.

  • Vivaswan
    April 24, 2022 at 6:21 pm

    right now i am facing the same situation. my gambling habit has become so bad that i stole and sold my mom’s gold and lost all the money im under huge debt i feel like to end my life. i told everything in my home now, my mom beats me every single day . i regret all this . worst addiction in my life is gambling.i dont even have a job i dont know from where to get the money . please someone help me through this tough time . LOOKING FOR SOME HELP and ADVICE what to do next

    • Tom Hodkin
      April 29, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      Hey can we get to talk please

  • Tom Hodkin
    April 29, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    Right now I feel like taking my life. It’s horrible how I feel and I feel so useless. PLEASE if you can see this as soon as possible please save a soul.Gambling is a killer thanks to it am at the verge of death

    • Stacia
      January 1, 2024 at 1:51 am

      I’m so sorry 😞 when I read through the comments I ran across yours and I could just hear your pain and anxiety
      I don’t know what to say about what you have done but I do know God and he is the Almighty and will show you the right way through this! Give it to him!! ALL OF IT!!
      God loves you regardless!
      I am going to continue to pray for you and your daughter! Definitely 💯 STOP doing anything to make the situation worse
      GAMBLING IS A DISEASE AND ITS A DESTRUCTIVE WORLD-WIND!!!
      Please hold your head up!!!
      I’m here whenever you want to gamble I would like to be someone you can text or call 📱 to help you get through that withdrawal of wanting to go gamble; the anxiety, wherever you might be in the addiction (I’m not sure) but I get the challenges your facing as far as the want to gamble!
      Your friend, Stacia

  • Pat
    June 1, 2022 at 10:19 am

    I gamble every penny i earn, i can never hold a job down for long periods of time. I used to be so happy with an outgoing personality when i was younger, but gambling has robbed me of all of this. All i think about now is a quick non painful way of commiting suicide away from this way of life i have ended up in.

    • Tim
      June 15, 2022 at 5:07 pm

      Pat, know that you’re not alone. The depression I feel because of my gambling is beyond words…and it clouds everything in my life. I used to be eternally optimistic, not so much anymore. My childhood was full of sexual abuse. I thought I was past it all and I would be fine. After the loss of relationships that I thought were forever and the passing of my parents, gambling is my escape. It stops the thoughts/pains in my head. I’m so fortunate in other aspects of my life, but I can’t see it all the time. I do have suicidal thoughts, but really don’t think I would ever act on it. I think back to the young person I was…I barely recognize myself anymore.

    • Nonso
      July 24, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      Chat my up on +2348028220080

  • John
    June 26, 2022 at 1:57 pm

    Trying to stop gambling. I’ve had this horrible addiction 48 years and banned myself from all bookmakers in my local area but for the first six months of my ban I’ve still continued to gamble. All my gambling was done in bookmakers shops and I’ve attempted to end my life because of this disease. I’ve tried Gamblers Annonymous but this didn’t work for me. I have not gambled for 9 days but I know the urge for a bet is always there. I need help. John

  • Su
    July 31, 2022 at 1:49 am

    I was in a horrible relationship with someone has paranoid personality disorder or schizophrenic.He created a lots of problems and brought pains and sorrow to my daily life . I fell depressed and went back to the casino , I lost over $40000 dollars with 6 weeks. I tired to chase but ended up lost more . I felt shame , guilt and sad

  • D
    July 31, 2022 at 6:12 am

    I must first and foremost thank you all for sharing your stories. You may know how they save souls.
    For me, even yesterday, I sold the last property with the intention of paying off some of my debts accrued through a 2 year gambling, but after receiving the money, I surprisingly lost it all again through online betting (Spin and Win). I have crying as usual since. How could this happen? It was difficult paying my debts, I got the money and yet lost it all. I just want to end my life. After loosing my marriage because of this bet, and loosing my last hope to settle my huge debts, what else is meaning to life? Tomorrow, I may not be here to be able to read your stories. BYE

  • Kenneth Kinnaird
    August 30, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    Gambling responsibility that’s what all these bookmakers say? However let’s be honest if they really cared they would not allow you to bet hundreds of pounds right away more so if you are new to their websites but they let you take the money first and tell you things later, online gambling is the plaque of Britain they make out they do everything under the gambling responsibility when they don’t example your new to that betting company but you have just put in £500 then in seconds it’s gone press the deposit button and it a £1000 pounds same again in five minutes then again and again until you realize that the £11000 you had in your bank is now gone then the email the next day are you gambling responsibility and you need to sent bank statements and proof of address? but why after the horse has bolted? that’s just to make it sound that they have done everything right when in fact it should all be done right away say for the exit you are losing £300 then keep depositing one after another that at least let them know you look as if you’re chasing your losses and they can press a button and stop you in your tracks? then at least they have tried but know they always do or ask things when the horse has bolted and they don’t give a shite about your well-being although they make out they do the whole system is a disgrace and the number of companies advertising gambling along with football clubs is disgusting definitely these gambling sites can do a lot better but they don’t 😂😂😂

  • Ronald
    September 15, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    I totally agree. The bookies could stop this. My son (19) opened up to me 3 months ago. Lost £7000 in 10 days. We’ve put blocks on his phone. He’s blocked gambling transactions from his bank. We speak about it most days. Hopefully, he’s on mend. Knows he can’t go on slots again. But… on one day he made 8 deposits to Ladbrokes. Surely the bookies can see this. Surely they should be thinking red flag here. But no. They only want money. Put the responsibility on the person. Whilst yes there is personal responsibility there is also a responsibility on the bookies too. When the fun stops stop. A catchy slogan but they don’t want that. They just want your money. All lip service.

  • Mick
    October 10, 2022 at 11:41 pm

    Just adding to my last comment. A no cash advance credit card is great. If you have. A. Pub gambling. Problem. Like. Pokies and. Keno. I put. My pay in every. Fortnight. Apart from a little savings. That goes. Into one of those. Hidden away accounts. Then you can use your card. For. Everything. Except. Pub. Gambling.

  • Mick
    October 10, 2022 at 11:52 pm

    Cash. From. My experience. If i walk into a pub. With money in my pocket. Or a debit card. I will. Walk out with no money in my pocket and a thousand down in bank. Thats if i have money in bank. NO CONTROL

  • Frank
    May 19, 2023 at 1:32 pm

    I destroyed. My life been battling for 6 years
    I have lost every penny I had, at one point I was very financially stable with large savings account
    My parents passed and Covid came , I have no family and I fell into gambling to get an endorphin kick and hide from my depression and loneliness
    I have been suicidal at times and I am trying to fight my way out but I can’t forget or forgive myself
    My self esteem is ruined and I don’t recognize myself
    I try to sell myself at job interviews but feel like a fraud , I destroyed my life
    Praying for strength, I know I am in trouble

  • Jack
    June 13, 2023 at 7:31 am

    I’m a 48 year old attorney. I generally work 80 hours a week in a high stress environment. I make on average a quarter million a year. I have $94 in the bank and debts in excess of $400k. Gambling has taken everything from me. I have nothing to show for my hard work and all I have to look forward to is years more of hard work, just to get to zero. It’s a hopeless feeling and nothing can fix it.

  • Nivan
    July 10, 2023 at 9:56 pm

    I have tried stopping gambling but the urge makes me gamble and I hate this feeling

  • Michael
    July 14, 2023 at 7:27 am

    I’m currently also having my own painful experience of this disease called gambling addiction. Would I ever get the needed help???? Guess DEATH is the best solution I have left, may God be with my soul.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *