Over a quarter of gamblers in Yorkshire hide the habit
Over a quarter of adults in Yorkshire who struggle with gambling, hide the habit.
Over a quarter of adults in Yorkshire who gamble, hide the habit, according to new research out today.
It reveals almost 30% of adults with a gambling addiction keep it a secret from their employers and work colleagues, especially those who work in finance and accountancy.
More than a third of those surveyed said they worry about their work colleagues finding out about their gambling problem.
Tom started gambling at the age of 18 and lost numerous jobs as a result of his addiction.
He told Hallam FM:
"It was fine at first, no problems, just used to put a few bets on and then it became a problem probably in my early 20s when I started spending money that I didn't have basically so I was getting myself into debt and started stealing from my employer to gamble again.
"It just cost me everything, I couldn't hold a job down. I went to University and I didn't attend my classes as I was just going into the bookies and I would just be gambling at any time I could really. It obviously affected my job and it just dominates your life and nothing else around you matters, your family, your friends.
"I thought it was for a better life, I was going to get this big win and buy a house, cars, that was my dream to basically build a better life for me. It's just like a dream world and by the time you are in it you have lost that much money then you lose more trying to get yourself out of it and it just spirals."
Tom said he even resorted to stealing from his employer to fund the habit:
"It's almost like you are borrowing from your employer and think you will pay it back when you win but then of course you don't win and I lost numerous jobs from stealing from employers.
"It is very easy to hide a gambling addiction, especially online because it is on a computer so you can hide it, it's not like any othger form of addiction. I hid it from everybody, I was a secret gambler and didn't go into the bookies with anybody and certainly didn't tell anybody when I was gambling online."
The report calls for businesses to take more action to support staff who may struggle with problem gambling and for employment support programmes to do more to identify the early signs of gambling addiction.