Early exposure to gambling can shape a person’s relationship with risk, reward, and coping. Terry shares how his childhood experiences grew into gambling harm and how he found a path to recovery and helping others.
I’d like to begin this story by exploring the issue of gambling harm and its devastating impact on individuals and society.
How gambling became part of my life
My story has carried a lot of shame and stigma, but today I work in peer support. That experience now feels like a responsibility – because my history allows me to help others in a way few people can. My gambling habit, something I suspect I inherited from my father, started at a very young age. I had a burning desire to keep playing until I won - whether it was the best of three or best of ninety-nine - and that urge drove me to gamble more and more, even when I knew it was becoming risky.
If you’d like to understand the different ways people begin gambling, you can read about the common pathways into gambling. You can also explore the reasons people gamble.
I remember my biggest win on Caufield Cup Day in 1985. My father and I took a Quadrella together with 50 cents each - he had to place the bet because I was still too young. After my shift working at the supermarket, I came home to find the first three legs had won. I listened to the final race and heard it came in second. The next day I picked up the paper and my face lit up like a Christmas tree. Half the pool had gone into a jackpot, and the other half was paid out to my father and me.
Growing up I had very little. The only time I remember getting a Christmas present was the year my father won a raffle. So when I won two grand it felt like a fortune. I used the money to buy a car and a stereo. Less than two years later, I moved away to attend university. I studied and worked part-time, but spent most of my time at the casino. The campus sat right next door, making it hard for me to stay focused on my studies.
Reaching a breaking point
In 1988, I barred myself from the casino because I wanted to stop gambling, but I kept working at the TAB. Being there felt like an alcoholic working in a bar – surrounded by temptation. Because I needed the money, my desire to gamble only increased and before long, I was driving two hours to another casino.
That period of my life was incredibly difficult. My gambling led me to some periods of homelessness, and everything eventually came to a head on the 6th of May 1989, when I was charged under the Racing and Gaming Act for betting while working. That day alone, I’d placed well over a hundred bets. I had bets on forty-two out of the forty-three races. I was able to identify every single bet because 80% were mine. After that, I suspended my studies and found a full-time job. I did the hokey pokey and turned my life around.
If you’d like to understand the different types of harm gambling can cause, you can read more about gambling related harms.
Turning things around
My last bet was on a Carnival fun ship in February 2017, and even though there was no money involved, it was still reality check. The gambling industry knows exactly how to entice people with the promise of something for nothing. They invited me to come learn blackjack and offered a free drink – and who doesn’t love free things? I already knew how to play blackjack; I used to play it for sixteen hours straight. I won $13,000 in play money and the dopamine hit was huge. That moment was a wake-up call, and it became the reason my sister and I I chose to join the financial counselling sector together, so we could help others. She has also lived through gambling related trauma and now celebrates being gamble free for 2280 days.
If you’d like to understand how financial counselling can support people experiencing gambling harm, you can learn more about it here. You can also read about the stages of change to see how people move through the process of recovery.
If you’re thinking about making a change, you can read about the stages of change.
Understanding the gambling industry
The gambling industry has practically perfected the psychology of gambling, especially the idea that a near miss can feel as good as a win for someone experiencing compulsive gambling. Gambling addiction is not a moral failing. Willpower alone cannot stop gambling just as it cannot be used to cure an illness. It is a condition that requires treatment, understanding, and personal support. Other health conditions receive appropriate care, why not this one?
Gambling is an activity that's everywhere, and it's often portrayed as harmless entertainment. It can seem as simple as having an ice cream at the movies - but you can’t lose your home by eating too much ice cream. The reality is that gambling is highly addictive and can cause significant harm to individuals and their loved ones.
If you’d like to understand more about how gambling works and why it can be addictive, you can learn more about gambling.
Signs someone may be experiencing gambling harm
If you or someone you know is experiencing gambling harm, there are some signs to look out for – things like secrecy, chasing losses and neglecting responsibilities. The most important thing is to have an open and honest conversation with the person and reassure them that they will be supported through their recovery process. There is help available through many services in the community. The first step is simply acknowledging that there is a problem and reaching out for help!
If you’d like to understand more signs of gambling harm, you can read about the signs of a problem. Also if you’re unsure where your gambling sits, you can assess your gambling using the PGSI.
It is important to offer help without judgement and vitally important to remember that everyone's experiences and challenges are unique to the individual. Judgement and shame don’t support recovery; they only make it harder for someone to reach out.
