Any case examples that I share here are completely anonymised. Names and some case details are altered, disguised or changed to protect my clients’ absolute right to privacy.
If you or someone you love is dealing with a gambling addiction - this Case example may help you.
When we think about gambling there might be a couple of pictures that come into our head.
The first might be a James Bond style character, who visits casinos at odd hours. The second is perhaps someone who places too many bets on the horses.
However, people who gamble don’t usually fit a comfortable stereotype. Gambling like most addictions, is often hidden, unexpected and invisible. Therefore, the following case study, should not come as a surprise, but it did to the client's family who discovered their mother had become an online bingo addict.
Jeet approached me with a real concern about the debts her mother Mo had run up in a short time.
She was extremely upset that during the enforced pandemic lockdown her mother had become addicted to online bingo games. Mo fell into the vulnerable category and was therefore isolating by necessity.
It transpired that Mo had begun, innocently enough by responding to an advert on her iPad to play free online bingo. It seemed to her to be a much more interesting and fun thing to do rather than watching yet more depressing news on the TV.
But then she moved on to some paid games, her credit card was connected to the account and before she realised it - her pleasurable lockdown outlet had begun to run up large debts.
Jeet asked if I would speak with her mother.
There is more information about addictions, including gambling here
Addiction is always a negative disruption
It affects lives and happiness
The outcome, whether you have an online gambling addiction, drugs, alcohol, shopping, sex, whatever it is it can lead to negative adverse effects.
You may lose your job because you decide to play bingo or you can begin arguments with your friends and family about your obsession.
The solution is to seek help.
That's why talking to someone is so important. It can solve an issue before the problem begins to bite into your own or your family's well-being.
I can hardly believe that I allowed myself to get thousands and thousands of pounds into debt.
I did try to stop playing but I would get pulled back to it because it gave me a sense of hope.
I’m so grateful to Jeet, my wonderful daughter who noticed what I was doing and to my son who has paid off my debt.
But most of all I’m grateful to Belynder because I know that thanks to her I would never do anything so stupid again. I’m not a stupid woman. I’m just a woman who through loneliness and fear did a stupid thing.
Belynder is kind, understanding and a little bit firm. She made me realise that I shouldn’t blame myself but that I did need better strategies to deal with these awful times that we are all living in.
Mo, Leicester.