The NHS estimates that there are almost 600,000 problem gamblers in the UK, and it would seem as though the situation is getting worse. Just like addictions to substances such as alcohol or drugs, a gambling addiction can destroy the lives of those affected and of those closest to them. And just like these other addictions to toxic substances, a gambling addiction will not simply go away by itself; it must be treated, or it will get worse.
With the rise of internet gambling and fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in almost every betting shop around the UK, the problem continues to grow and more needs to be done to protect those who are most vulnerable
Restrictions on Bookmakers
A former gambling addict is calling for tighter restrictions on bookmakers after spending two decades addicted to gambling and losing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Hussain Vorajee has spoken out about how he often lost thousands of pounds in minutes on FOBTs, and in a desperate bid to beat his demons he banned himself from every single betting shop in Gloucester, where he lives.
At the height of his addiction, he was losing thousands of pounds on online gambling and betting machines in bookmakers around Gloucester. He had to declare himself bankrupt seven years ago, but since he imposed the ban on betting shops six months ago, he has not placed a bet.
Ban on FOBTs
Hussain now wants betting machines to be banned altogether and says that there need to be more restrictions placed on betting shops in Gloucester. He said, “These machines are completely lethal. I just couldn’t stop. I was falling behind on payments, and it was getting to the point where I couldn’t concentrate on anything else. In Gloucester, there are eight to 10 bookies within a few hundred yards. Towns and cities are full of them, and it is destroying and killing lives by the hour.”
Hussain is not alone in his desire to want a ban on FOBTs, or at least, tighter restrictions. A national campaign has been launched to ban them entirely, and another campaign is calling for the maximum spin limit of £100 to be reduced to £2. At the moment, it is possible to lose £300 every minute as the machines can spin every twenty seconds. Hussain spoke of how he lost thousands of pounds in minutes, and added, “I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was just in front of me on a screen, and the next moment it was gone.”
Counselling
Hussain beat his addiction with the help of counselling, and he wants others to know that addiction services are available. He said, “More people should go to these counselling courses and get help towards addiction. I would not advise anyone to even have a free go on the machines as all it would do is pull you back in, and that’s where it all starts. It’s the crack cocaine of gambling. It’s a silent disease. It affects everyone around you.”
As well as counselling, Hussain used the Gamcare self-exclusion service to prevent himself being able to gamble. He registered his details with Gamcare, and they sent them to every Gloucester bookmaker. They will now not serve him for a twelve-month period. Hussain added, “They banned me, which is absolutely fantastic. A lot of people are afraid of doing this sort of thing, but I needed it. The last six months has to be one of the best parts of my life. It’s a very serious addiction. It can start even with a small gamble, and you can lose everything. People should not even put a penny in those machines – they’re too addictive. They should stay away from day one. It’s a national problem. The government need to look at the advertising going on. It’s down to the amount of shops in each city. It’s getting more and more people to go to these places and getting this horrible disease.”
Source:
- http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/it-s-the-cocaine-of-betting-gloucester-ex-gambling-addict-lost-thousands-on-fixed-odds-machines/story-29732583-detail/story.html
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