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Stories: Matt

Matt is Service Manager at Peer Aid, a scheme that uses lived experience and mentorship to help those suffering from gambling addiction. Matt began gambling aged just 11, losing more than £700,000. The turning point in his addiction came after he tried to take his own life.

How did you start gambling?

My first experience of gambling was when I was 11. I spent most weekends with my grandfather who would bet on horses every week. One weekend he asked me to pick a horse which then went on to win, despite the 33:1 odds. He gave me £30 as a treat. From that moment, gambling became a part of my life.

How much did you spend on gambling?

I didn’t realise how bad my gambling had got. When I eventually realised how much trouble I was in, I’d lost over £700,000.

What impact did gambling have on your life?

It wasn’t just money that I lost. I also lost relationships with loved ones that will never recover and gambling had become embedded in my life and personality.

At what point did you realise that you needed help?

My lowest point came when I tried to take my own life. That is what made me want to make a change.

Where did you go to for help?

I reached out for help and started talking to people. Signing up to GAMSTOP was a total lifesaver for me. Having to exclude from each individual gambling site made it almost impossible to stop, but GAMSTOP changed all of that for me.

Do you have any advice for anyone struggling with gambling?

I would recommend taking a rounded approach. However bad things seem, there are always people out there who you can talk to and reaching out is so important if you are to recover long term. GAMSTOP is a vital tool in allowing you to have breathing space to ensure that when you have an urge or impulse that you can’t place a bet in that moment. That makes all the difference.

My message to others is that there is always hope. Help is out there.

Follow Matt's journey

How are you doing now?

My last bet was in 2018. I’m now using my lived experience to help others as Service Manager at Peer Aid, a scheme that uses lived experience to help those suffering from gambling.

Other stories

Over 485,000 people have used GAMSTOP to take back control of their gambling. You can read about the experiences of real people who have found self-exclusion helpful here.

Hannah struggled with her partner's gambling addiction for years, until together, they sought help. Her partner is now in recovery, and Hannah has turned to her passion for theatre to share her story, hoping that those who see her show will learn more about gambling harms, helping to break the stigma.

Adam, had a gambling addiction between the ages of 18-23. He now documents his experiences on social media, hoping that sharing his story will help others in a similar situation.

Harj, had a gambling addiction for over 10 years, starting from the age of 23. He has been working with the gambling charity Red Card for 2 years as a Non-Executive Director.

Stories: Declan

Declan had a gambling addiction for 10 years and is now working as a teaching assistant and carer as well as doing some outreach work with the charity ‘Gambling With Lives’, raising awareness amongst youth groups and sports clubs about gambling-related harm.

Jack began gambling in 2012 and registered with GAMSTOP in 2020 after his addiction began to spiral out of control. He was losing 75% of his wage as a steel worker each month to gambling sites, but after two years of self-exclusion, he has successfully overcome his issues. He discovered a passion for professional ultra-marathon running and recently finished second in the toughest long-distance run on the planet, the Montane Spine race.

Stories: Stacey

Stacey spent 8 years addicted to gambling and is now committed to raising awareness amongst women like herself, who have struggled with gambling in silence. She has written a memoir called The Girl Gambler and spends much of her spare time highlighting the issues of problematic gambling via TikTok. Stacey is one of over 110,000 women registered with GAMSTOP.

Matt is Service Manager at Peer Aid, a scheme that uses lived experience and mentorship to help those suffering from gambling addiction. Matt began gambling aged just 11, losing more than £700,000. The turning point in his addiction came after he tried to take his own life.

Bray spent years as a student with a gambling addiction and is now studying to become a mental health nurse, hoping to use his experience to help others with mental health and addiction issues. He also volunteers as a Peer Supporter for the charity Betknowmore, where he helps individuals who are struggling with their gambling.

Hannah struggled with her partner's gambling addiction for years, until together, they sought help. Her partner is now in recovery, and Hannah has turned to her passion for theatre to share her story, hoping that those who see her show will learn more about gambling harms, helping to break the stigma.

Adam, had a gambling addiction between the ages of 18-23. He now documents his experiences on social media, hoping that sharing his story will help others in a similar situation.

Harj, had a gambling addiction for over 10 years, starting from the age of 23. He has been working with the gambling charity Red Card for 2 years as a Non-Executive Director.

Stories: Declan

Declan had a gambling addiction for 10 years and is now working as a teaching assistant and carer as well as doing some outreach work with the charity ‘Gambling With Lives’, raising awareness amongst youth groups and sports clubs about gambling-related harm.

Jack began gambling in 2012 and registered with GAMSTOP in 2020 after his addiction began to spiral out of control. He was losing 75% of his wage as a steel worker each month to gambling sites, but after two years of self-exclusion, he has successfully overcome his issues. He discovered a passion for professional ultra-marathon running and recently finished second in the toughest long-distance run on the planet, the Montane Spine race.

Jack began gambling in 2012 and registered with GAMSTOP in 2020 after his addiction began to spiral out of control. He was losing 75% of his wage as a steel worker each month to gambling sites, but after two years of self-exclusion, he has successfully overcome his issues. He discovered a passion for professional ultra-marathon running and recently finished second in the toughest long-distance run on the planet, the Montane Spine race.

Jack began gambling in 2012 and registered with GAMSTOP in 2020 after his addiction began to spiral out of control. He was losing 75% of his wage as a steel worker each month to gambling sites, but after two years of self-exclusion, he has successfully overcome his issues. He discovered a passion for professional ultra-marathon running and recently finished second in the toughest long-distance run on the planet, the Montane Spine race.

What more can I do?

GAMSTOP is just one of the tools you can use to help control your gambling. There is a lot of other free guidance and support available.

Register

Registering with GAMSTOP is free, quick and easy. Watch our short video to see what the GAMSTOP registration process looks like.

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