Safer Gambling Week: 'Making that first step is really hard, but it’s the most important one you’ll do.'

This Safer Gambling Week, we’re shining a light on the devastating impact gambling can have - and the difference that reaching out for help can make.

Sam’s story shows how easy it is for a gambling habit to spiral out of control, but also how recovery and stability are possible with the right support.

From buzz to buzz kill

“I got into gambling about ten years ago… it was an impulsive thing. I enjoyed that buzz and every time I gambled, I got the buzz.

“At first, it was a bit of fun [but] it just snowballed.

“I was gambling on roulette a lot, £50 a stake, so my money just drained in ten minutes.”

“I’d look at my money - it was going in the bank at 12 o’clock at night. By ten past twelve, it was gone. Then it really hit hard and it was like, ‘What have I done?’

“I’d lost all my Universal Credit, including my housing benefit… I got that money in my bank and I just blew it.”

“At my lowest point in gambling, I considered suicide. I saw no way out. I couldn’t pay my rent, I couldn’t pay the bills, and I was scared. It made me really feel fearful… then I slipped into a depression. I took an overdose and someone found me and I got taken to hospital. It was literally just from gambling.”

The turning point

Eventually, Sam opened up.

“I told the care staff in the end and said, ‘Look, this is what I’m doing.’ They started to help me look at different things to put into place to help me stop gambling.

“The amount of debt I ended up building up was over £20,000 - that was three years’ worth of care home fees and the odd credit card or whatever, which I’d used for gambling.”

That’s when Sam contacted us

“I talked to Money Wellness and they went through the process with me. They actually helped me sort it out, as well as the care staff at home. So both sides were joined together and helped me address my financial situation.”

“With Money Wellness, we did an income and expenditure form, and it was written down. Usually, it’s in my head and I’m like, ‘I’ve got roughly this much and roughly that much.’ However, Money Wellness put it down on paper - and I was like, ‘Wow, okay, that’s actually quite a lot of debt. It scared me. So it sort of killed the buzz… and I’ve not gambled since.”

“My life changed in such a positive way. The fact that I’m confident - I’m not hiding, I’m not keeping secrets. It’s such a relief that there’s no more worry about where this is gonna get paid or when this is gonna get paid. It’s there written down.”

And Sam’s message to anyone struggling:

“If you have a gambling problem, I urge you just to speak to someone. Making that first step is really hard, but once someone knows, they’re there beside you. They want to help you. And just having that one person - it’s such a big step, but it’s the most important step you’ll do.”

If you need help

Like Sam, you don’t have to face it alone. Taking that first step can feel daunting, but support is out there - and it can change everything.

At Money Wellness, we offer free, confidential help with debt, and we’ll make sure you get specialist support if gambling has contributed to your money worries.

If you need immediate help for gambling addiction, you can also contact GamCare's National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (available 24/7) or visit their website for more information.