How ‘fun’ £2 bet turned into a nightmare for Perth gambler

Oct 2 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE first-ever Gamblers’ Anonymous meeting is to be held in Perth on Tuesday, October 6.

Thereafter, they will take place every Tuesday night – in the Caladh Centre, 6 Milne Street, from 7.30-9.30pm.

A spokesman said: “This is an open public awareness meeting and is a rare opportunity to hear first hand from members of Gamblers’ Anonymous – and their sister fellowship Gam-Anon – of the devastation that gambling caused to them and their families.”

Below is a typical story of how an ordinary person can become hooked on gambling.

“My name is xxxxx. I never gambled until I was about 27. Up until then, I had led a pretty normal life – I was married with three kids and, although sometimes things were tight, we had what I would say was a fairly happy family home.

“But that was soon to change. I can remember my first bet – it was £2 on a horse, just to be part of the gang. A little bit of fun, or so I thought at the time.

“But that bit of fun was soon to turn into a nightmare – not just for me but my family as a whole.

“For the next two years my gambling was to progress to levels that I could never forsee. I started lying, cheating, stealing, became very evasive when asked questions and could never account for the times that I was never where I was supposed to be.

“When money was tight, I would steal from my work to finance my gambling. I thought I was invincible but my bubble was soon to burst.

“I was caught stealing and subsequently charged by the police for theft. For that, I was sentenced to community service.

“When I walked out of court that day I promised myself and my wife that I would never gamble again.

“She asked me at the time to go to Gamblers’ Anonymous (GA). But I knew better. I didn’t need help.

“I could do it by myself. But how wrong I was. Within a week I was back gambling.

“All the old habits came back into my life but this time – and for the next 15 years – the stakes got higher and higher.

“Money was my god and the ways to get more were my goal every day. It started with bank loans then credit cards and when I maxed them out I became involved in illegal activities just to finance my next bet.

“Again my bubble was to burst. All the avenues I used for cash had closed – the well had run dry!

“GA was again mentioned to me by my wife but this time it wasn’t an option – it was a requirement if we were to remain in a relationship.

“I didn’t really want to go but went just to keep her happy and keep a roof over my head.

“I attended my first meeting several years ago and although at first I didn’t want to be there, I was soon to realise through the identification from other compulsive gamblers that I was in the right place.

“During my time in GA – and my wife’s in Gam-Anon – our lives have totally turned around.

“It took us nearly seven years to pay the debts that I had incurred during my gambling but together we got through the hard times and today we once again are a normal, happy family.

“And that is all down to the friends we have made through the fellowship.

“Gone are the lies, deceit, stealing and cheating. Today it is an open honest relationship and although it has its ups and down, like all normal people, our life can only get better.

“All I have to do is stay away from a bet a day at a time – that isn’t much to ask of a man who tried to destroy everything closest to him.

“The only requirement for G.A. membership is a desire to stop GAMBLING.”

See www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk