Fresh concerns from former Stockport gambling addict as Euros kick off
David Quinti, from Stockport, recovered nine years ago after loosing £30,000. He is now warning others about the signs of addiction
With the start of the Euro's 2024, a former gambling addict from Greater Manchester is warning others about the signs of addiction.
David Quinti, from Stockport, recovered nine years ago and is now an ambassador at the charity GamHive. He once lost over £30,000 betting.
David said there was a certain time in his life which made him stop betting: "There was one trigger point for me, where my son, he saw me on a roulette wheel once, and just said 'why are you doing that, stop...' and that was a sucker punch for me, and really made me think and two weeks after I stopped."
Speaking on the Euros, David said: "If there was a big tournament on, it just meant I continued to do more damage and gamble more.
"Normally in the summer, the football season would stop, and then I would tend to try to find something else, but it would be more difficult, so I'd think more before I gambled... Where as all this does, it gives more incentive to bet more."
"People should enjoy it for what it is, it's football, but when you're gambling you don't really enjoy the football... It's just gambling, it's just about winning money back.
"It's seen as the invisible addiction in many ways because people carry on and don't see it. If you weren't feeling well, you'd go and get help and this is similar.
"There's a tonne of support out there now, more than there used to be when I was trying to find that help all those years ago.
"Reach out and someone will speak to you and someone will help you, and give you that advice!"
A new study from The University of Warwick reveals an insight into sports betting behaviour. The research, by Professor Elliot Ludvig, reveals that bettors are inclined to place larger and more risky bets when they have the option to 'cash out' before the outcome is determined.
Research, funded as part of The University of Warwick and Monash alliance, finds that the availability of a 'cash-out' option in sports betting significantly influences how much people are willing to bet.