Weymouth man who lost £250k to gambling urges others to seek help
1.4 million people are at risk from 'gambling harms'
A man from Weymouth who lost hundreds of thousands to gambling is urging others to seek help.
It's feared 1.4 million people are at risk from gambling harms in the UK. Gambling has soared back to pre-pandemic levels recently.
Alex Macey is a former cop who spent most of his salary on gambling. He said:
"I was in a cycle of payday gambling. Joined the police when I was 2, got a better wage, the gambling went up.
"Getting my wages, gambling it on the machines, at the bookies and online as well.
"So I went through that cycle and it's quite a solitary sad existence."
A new campaign encourages adults to contact The National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS) for a range of free, anonymous support services to combat gambling problems.
Over half (57%) of people struggling with gambling admit that they need help tackling their gambling related issues. Last year alone, the NGTS helped over 8,500 individuals, however GambleAware believe that over 160 times more people could benefit from accessing treatment.
The campaign coincides with the publication of new data from GambleAware’s annual Treatment and Support Survey, which highlights both the significant and varied impact gambling has on people across Great Britain, as well as some of the motivations for accessing help.
Almost a quarter of people (23.3%) signal that concern regarding their mental health is the main factor for seeking support to tackle a gambling related issue, with 21% saying that anxiety over finances is the motivation for them to pursue support.
Dr Hilary Jones:
“Despite impacting a significant number of people, gambling harms are often poorly understood and under-reported. This is partially because the impact harmful gambling can have on people’s lives is incredibly varied, complex, and too often hidden. Being one of the estimated 1.4 million experiencing harms from gambling could mean you may be struggling with a number of consequences which go far beyond just financial debt and could include both mental and physical health.”
Alex stifled his addiction five years ago. He's since lobbied MPs to make sure more is done to improve people's rights to 'self-exclude' from gambling companies, effectively barring themselves from their service.
He said:
"I battled through it and in 2017 I tried joining up the dots myself. Investigated what went on with my own gambling, realised I'd been exploited by certain gambling companies that didn't adhere to the rules that were there.
"There's two things I would say, if you're in this world of getting into trouble with your gambling, acknowledge it. Go online and look out for the help that's there. Talk to someone.
"Secondly, for other people who have no idea about gambling or gambling addiction, do some research and try to recognise the signs someone might be doing this. They might be on their phones at work all the time, gambling."
If you're in need of help, you can find out more here.