The vagaries of gambling by a self-confessed addict

05/09/2007

More people in the UK now gamble than ever before, encouraged by the internet and the building of new casinos - and arguably fuelled by the increase in the availability of easy credit. But whilst most simply enjoy the occasional flutter, others develop an addiction as deadly as alcohol and drugs, devastating both individual and family life. Mature Times' reader Brian Halter has written the following, deeply honest piece.

"In many cases, as with me, gambling is a sickness - albeit self-inflicted. And if you are depressed, you are in real danger, because you can lose everything. You may not realise that you are low, and can sell anything just to have a bet. And then suddenly you've lost everything, the Betting Shop is closed and you're skint. You can't believe it's happened again.

You feel like crying. You've hurt the ones you love. Your mood changes, you stare into space, falling into the depths of despair. You've lost what you couldn't afford, and now you can't pay your bills or accounts.

"You see, for some mad reason, to a gambler, money doesn't seem like money when you're gambling. Many of us wish we had lost at an early age when we first started. It often begins as a bit of fun and then gets out of control. Its a vicious circle, because when you're depressed you look for excitement which you just can't explain to others.

"My tip to friends or other punters who might just recognise what is happening to someone else is 'have a word in his ear' - in a nice way. It might be his only chance, because his mind has gone. And soon all his cash. It's worth a try. Yes, it is self-inflicted, but a person is still a person, and if we all helped each other when we see the signs- then that's about all we can do."