ODAAT Gambling Awareness

Jodie shares her story of gambling addiction and recovery 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Gambling addiction is called the hidden addiction for a reason. In this episode, Jodie N shares how a few casino visits turned into a full-blown slot machine addiction that escalated fast, destroyed finances, and led to losing a career, foreclosure, bankruptcy, and eventually serving 602 days in state prison. We talk about the moment that changed everything, why winning early can be the most dangerous outcome, how addiction fuels secrecy and distorted thinking, and what it feels like to hit the desperation stage where money becomes the drug. Jodie also explains what helped her stop gambling before incarceration, how she stayed in recovery while in prison, and what rebuilding life looked like after release. This conversation also goes deeper into purpose after addiction, what recovery can look like years later, and why gambling harm is growing across the U.S. with expansion and nonstop advertising. If you or someone you love is struggling, this story is proof that recovery is possible, and that you’re not alone. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

On today’s episode, reporter and author Danny Funt joins the show to discuss his new book, Everybody Loses, which uncovers the realities of sports betting in America—including a story that hits close to home for me. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY About Danny: Danny Funt covers sports betting as a contributor at The Washington Post. His reporting has also appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and the Columbia Journalism Review. He previously worked as an editor at The Week magazine. A graduate of Georgetown University and the Columbia Journalism School, he lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and son. Book Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Everybody-Loses/Danny-Funt/9781668062043 You will hear how sportsbooks and leagues sold the public on a story about safety and integrity, while building a system that rewards constant play, pushes misleading marketing, and treats the biggest losers as the most valuable customers. Danny shares what he learned from people inside the industry, including how VIP programs work, why meaningful guardrails get blocked the moment they threaten revenue, and why self-policing fails when the incentives are upside down. We also get into the ripple effects on sports itself: athletes and coaches getting flooded with abuse and threats after games, fans burning out on watching unless they have money on the line, and a whole generation learning that placing bets is just part of being a sports fan. Finally, Danny explains where this is headed next, including the bigger push for online casino and the rise of microbetting designed to keep you locked into your phone every few minutes. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction.🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Randy L shares how gambling addiction cost him businesses, money, and nearly his life. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Randy thought gambling could fix his financial stress, but it nearly took his life. In this episode, he opens up about a 10–11 year gambling addiction that escalated from casual casino trips to high-stakes baccarat, online casino apps, and desperate sports bets. At his lowest point, he took out a personal loan to pay debt… then used most of it at the casino and lost it within two days. He describes the warped value of money, the chase, the superstitions, the comps, the binge cycles, and the brutal reality of going from winning five figures to walking out with nothing. We break down what baccarat is, why it feels like you can “figure it out,” and how the casino environment keeps people trapped. Randy also talks about the moment he realized he was out of control, the last bets he made, and what the first months of recovery really looked like: staying busy, working multiple jobs, rebuilding one brick at a time, and learning to value money again. From beginner’s luck to baccarat, debt, and rock bottom, this episode breaks down how fast gambling can spiral and what it took to finally walk away. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Melissa shares her story as someone impacted by the gambling addiction of her partner. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp In this video, I interview Melissa, who shares her personal journey of being married to someone whose gambling addiction profoundly affected her life. Melissa raises awareness about the devastating impact gambling addiction can have on families and relationships. If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling, this conversation offers insight, understanding, and support. 🎧 Listen to Melissa’s podcast, Making Bets in a Burning House, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CqXAxF1psNelUbx2qNSaa?si=1d9b581c898e4f60 In this episode, Melissa shares what it’s really like to love someone with a gambling addiction and how it impacts money, trust, safety, and your sense of stability. Her story is unique because she was affected by the gambling of both her ex-husband and her current husband, and she explains how quickly it can escalate from seemingly harmless sports betting into secrecy, debt, hidden loans, and fear about paying bills. We talk about why family members often stay silent, how shame and stigma keep people from getting help, and the empathy gap that can form between gamblers and the people they hurt. Melissa also breaks down what Gam-Anon is (a 12-step fellowship for the family and friends of compulsive gamblers), what it teaches, and why it is not a place to attack the gambler, but a place to rebuild yourself through boundaries, support, and clarity. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Scott Meyer shares his story of gambling addiction and recovery 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Scott Meyer shares one of the most powerful gambling addiction recovery stories you’ll ever hear. From running a successful accounting firm and raising five children to offshore online casino gambling, financial collapse, prison, and multiple suicide attempts, Scott’s story exposes the real harm caused by gambling addiction. In this episode of the One Day at a Time Gambling Addiction Podcast, Scott explains how casino inducements, online gambling access, and digital slot machines fueled years of destructive behavior. He breaks down how gambling addiction rewires the brain, why intelligence and financial knowledge don’t protect you, and how shame, isolation, and secrecy nearly cost him his life. Today, Scott is in long-term recovery and works as a peer recovery coach helping others struggling with gambling harm. This conversation covers gambling addiction, online casinos, sports betting parallels, recovery, prison, family impact, mental health, and why gambling addiction is not a financial problem but a behavioral one. If you or someone you love is struggling with gambling, this story could be the wake-up call that saves a life. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Owen shares how his gambling streaming led to a gambling addiction 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Gambling streamers often start out believing they’re in control. Many begin by gambling casually on stream for entertainment, sponsorship obligations, or audience engagement. But streaming changes the relationship with gambling in dangerous ways. When money is flowing in from sponsorships, affiliate deals, and viewer donations, losses feel abstract. The stakes get higher, sessions get longer, and gambling becomes tied to identity, income, and validation. The constant pressure to be entertaining pushes streamers toward bigger bets and riskier behavior. Wins are clipped, shared, and celebrated. Losses are normalized, reframed as content, or justified by future wins. Over time, this creates the same psychological traps seen in any gambling addiction: chasing losses, distorted thinking, emotional dependence, and loss of control. What makes streamers especially vulnerable is the feedback loop. Viewers cheer risk-taking. Algorithms reward extreme behavior. Sponsorships often incentivize volume, not health. Eventually, gambling stops being something they do and becomes something they must do to maintain relevance, income, and self-worth. Many gambling streamers don’t realize they’ve developed an addiction until the stream turns off and the money, control, or mental health is gone. What looks like entertainment on screen is often addiction quietly unfolding in real time. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Tracy M shares her gambling addiction story 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Tracy M shares one of the most powerful gambling addiction recovery stories you will ever hear. After gambling for more than 40 years, Tracy’s addiction led to multiple nervous breakdowns, suicide attempts, and ultimately seven strokes that left her unable to walk or speak for over a year.🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

John Schmidt shares his incredible gambling addiction story 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Gambling addiction doesn’t just take money. It takes time, sleep, attention, self-respect, and eventually it can take your entire life off track. And when it gets severe, it doesn’t stay contained to casinos or apps. It spreads into your relationships, your work, your identity, and your decision-making. Today’s guest is John Schmidt, Director of Youth Prevention Services for the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems. John shares the full story of how early exposure to gambling in childhood, sports betting as a way to bond with his dad, and the slow normalization of risk escalated into a full-blown addiction. What starts as habits and “homework” turns into obsession, chasing losses, and living inside gambling logic where every problem feels solvable with one more bet.🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview Matthew Litt, a lawyer who represents gambling addiction clients against the gambling industry. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Matthew Litt's Information: Matthew Litt has dedicated nearly his entire legal practice to challenging the predatory practices of casinos. He’s appeared on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, ABC Nightly News with DeMarco Morgan, and Vice TV’s Out of Bounds, and has provided testimony to the state legislatures in Minnesota, Hawaii, Georgia, and Nebraska discussing predatory gambling issues with a focus on problems relating to VIP programs and VIP hosts. Learn more about Matthew on his website www.BettorLawyers.com. Casinos aren’t just offering entertainment — they’re building real-time systems designed to keep people gambling long after they want to stop. In this episode, attorney Matthew Litt breaks down the predatory tactics used by VIP hosts, “free bets,” deposit matches, and targeted inducements that keep addicted gamblers hooked. We talk about how the definition of a “whale” has changed, why responsible gambling messaging fails, how VIP hosts fuel addiction in real time, and what it takes to build a legal case against a casino. Matt shares the inside details of major lawsuits, the evolution of gambling laws, and the truth about why public policy is so far behind the science. If you or someone you love has been impacted by gambling addiction, this conversation will help you understand the industry’s tactics — and why so many people get trapped. Let’s keep bringing the truth into the light, one day at a time. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Harj from @SochTalksPod shares his gambling addiction story. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Harj grew up in a South Asian household where success meant a prestigious degree, a big job, a German car, and a family by 30. After selling a student social media startup, he suddenly had more money than anyone around him – and a front row seat to extreme wealth. That glimpse of “the next tier” helped pull him into the casino, the bookies, and eventually into a full-blown gambling addiction. In this episode, Harj shares how a £20 night out win spiraled into nearly £100,000 lost in 12 months, years of secret gambling, and more than £250,000 of hidden debt that his wife eventually uncovered on his phone. He talks about gambling in toilets at work, manipulating friends and family for money, and the suicide attempt that left his car destroyed but him somehow alive – and how three words from his young son became the turning point. We dive into the shame and stigma in South Asian communities, why men struggle to open up, and how Harj rebuilt his life, paid off his debts, and found a new purpose helping underrepresented communities talk about gambling and addiction. If you’ve ever felt like you’re living a double life or chasing one big win to fix everything, this conversation is for you. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Christina interviews Josh about his gambling addiction story! 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY In this powerful and emotional episode, Christina from Broke Girl steps in to guest host for Rob on the One Day at a Time Gambling Awareness channel — and she brings a deeply meaningful conversation with her friend Josh. Josh began gambling at just 16 years old, growing up in Oklahoma where casinos line the highways and slot machines feel like a normal part of life. What started as entertainment quickly escalated into a full-blown addiction. By his mid-20s, Josh had experienced financial devastation, homelessness, and the crushing shame that comes with gambling harm. At one point, he was secretly living inside the warehouse of his corporate job, sleeping under his desk at night and pretending everything was fine during the day. Josh opens up about how stigma — especially among young men — keeps so many people from asking for help. He also shares how being part of the queer community shaped the way he viewed success, identity, and perfection, making it even harder to admit he was struggling. But everything began to change when one coworker discovered the truth and showed him compassion instead of judgment. That moment of connection became the beginning of his recovery journey. Today, Josh has over four years free from gambling. He moved across the country to New York, rebuilt his life, developed new passions, and recently got engaged — something he once believed he didn’t deserve. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Kiki shares her brave story of recovery from both gambling and cocaine addiction. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp When Kiki used cocaine, she had to gamble. Scratch cards, online bingo, slots – it didn’t matter, as long as it shut her brain off. What started as a way to escape pain turned into a devastating cross addiction to gambling and cocaine that nearly cost her life. In this episode, Kiki shares how her gambling began at 16 with scratch cards, escalated after a miscarriage into online bingo and high-speed slot games, and eventually left her isolated in a dark room, pawning her belongings, borrowing and stealing money, and living on one meal a day. She talks about sitting at a train station planning to end her life, the letters she wrote to the train driver and passengers, and the moment she decided to call GamCare instead. Kiki also opens up about rebuilding the relationship with her daughter, going through rehab at Parkland Place in Wales, joining Gamblers Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous, and finding support through Bet No More and Epic Restart Foundation. Today, she’s 17 months clean from both gambling and cocaine, working as a peer mentor and speaker, and fighting to bring more ethnic minorities – especially Black women – into gambling recovery spaces that often don’t reflect their experiences. If you’re struggling with gambling, cocaine, or both, you are not alone. Recovery is possible and you deserve help. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview Mark K about his gambling harm story and the work that he's doing to help others still struggling. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp About Mark: my name is Mark Kempster and I am a recovering gambling addict and now passionate gambling reform advocate here in Australia. I went through a 10yr addiction throughout my 20's and early 30's and loss around 100k across that time. I now work with the Alliance for Gambling Reform here in Australia and am part of a national campaign to get gambling advertising banned here in Australia. Link: https://www.agr.org.au/ Mark grew up as a fun-loving, sporty kid in Australia. By his early 30s, he felt like a broken shell of a person, lucky to still be alive. What happened in between was a decade-long gambling addiction fueled by sports betting, horse racing, and an Australian culture where having a beer and a bet after the game felt completely normal. In this episode, Mark shares how he started betting around 16 in local footy clubs, how sports betting apps exploded in Australia in the late 2000s, and how having “a bookie in his pocket” turned $10 pub bets into an addiction that cost him over $100,000. He talks about waking up and checking his bets before saying good morning, gambling all day at work on his phone, being bombarded with gambling ads and inducements, and becoming an angry, distant, dishonest version of himself. Mark also opens up about missing the first two years of his son’s life mentally, the Cox Plate and AFL grand final day where he lost $3,000 chasing losses, and the next morning when his partner discovered his betting history on their son’s second birthday. That intervention forced his secret into the light and became the catalyst for change. Today, Mark is five years clean from gambling. He’s working with the Alliance for Gambling Reform, speaking out about Australia’s predatory gambling advertising, VIP schemes, bonus bets, and why this should be treated like cigarettes and alcohol: as a serious public health issue. If you’re in the middle of a sports betting spiral—or you love someone who is—this conversation will show you you’re not alone, and that recovery is possible. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview Lisa Walker about her gambling addiction story. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Lisa's Link to New Beginnings: https://www.betknowmoreuk.org/support-information/new-beginnings When Lisa Walker hit a royal flush and won over £127,000 in a UK casino, everyone told her it would be life changing. They were right, but not in the way anyone expected. That jackpot pulled her into a 16 year gambling addiction that took her house, her savings, and left her homeless with her two children. In this powerful conversation, Lisa shares how early arcade games and fruit machines as a child set the stage, how fixed-odds betting terminals and trips to Las Vegas accelerated the spiral, and what it felt like to lose roughly half a million pounds over the years. She talks about the shame, secrecy, and stigma women face around gambling, why she felt ignored when she asked for help, and the day she finally walked into Gamblers Anonymous on April 2, 2018 and everything changed. Today Lisa works with Bet No More UK and runs New Beginnings, a women-only program supporting both people with gambling problems and those affected by someone else’s gambling. We discuss online gambling in the UK, aggressive advertising, why women are gambling more in secret, and what needs to change. If you are chasing losses, hiding bets, or supporting someone who is, this episode is for you. Check the description for links to New Beginnings and other support options in the UK, US, and beyond. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview The Gambler's Wife about her story as an affected other of her husband's gambling addiction.🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNYAbout The Gambler’s Wife: I help spouses and parents recover from financial betrayal caused by gambling addictions. Through honest storytelling, support sessions, and a guidebook for financial betrayal recovery, I provide practical guidance and a community for those navigating the fallout and reclaiming their lives.HerLinks: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegamblerwifeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegamblerwife8Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578178348272Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegamblerwifeEmail: thegamblerwife@gmail.comStan Store (where you can purchase the guidebook and book financial betrayal support sessions): https://stan.store/thegamblerwifeThe gambling addict is affected, but the toll on the spouse and family is devastating. In this episode, I sit down with The Gambler Wife, a content creator and wife of a recovering gambling addict, whose marriage has broken down and is now heading for divorce after years of hidden gambling and financial betrayal. She shares how she discovered tens of thousands of dollars in secret debt, a cashed-out 401k, a hidden home equity loan, and even a bank account and credit card opened in their four-year-old son’s name. Overnight, she had to become a private investigator, accountant, therapist, and full-time mom — while her world was collapsing. We talk about the trauma of financial betrayal, what it really feels like to take over the finances and become the “bad guy,” the pressure of co-parenting with someone who lied and hid debt, and why she says the financial betrayal hurt even more than infidelity. She also explains why she chose to start sharing her story online, the lack of support and clear guidance for affected others, and the financial betrayal support guide she created so other spouses do not have to navigate this alone. If you are the partner or family member of someone with a gambling problem, or you are the gambler who has hurt someone you love, this conversation is for you.🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

I interview Uri E about his gambling addiction story 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 check out Right Choice Recovery if you need gambling addiction treatmet today! Https:/.rightchoicerecoverynj.com He hit a six-leg parlay at 13 years old and thought he’d found the cheat code to life. Instead, it became a death sentence for his finances, his mental health, and nearly his family. In this episode of the One Day at a Time Gambling Addiction Podcast, Uri shares how a “fun” high school habit in Canada turned into years of chasing parlays, live-betting every game, and eventually losing and winning six figures in a single night on online blackjack and slots. He talks about VIP treatment from DraftKings and FanDuel, free $5,000 reloads every Monday, and what it’s really like to be gambling in the shower, on the highway, and every spare second of the day. Uri also opens up about the moment he knew he couldn’t keep going: maxed-out cards, broken promises to his wife, screaming at his kids after all-night gambling sessions, and the crushing shame of watching his family suffer while he kept chasing losses. He walks us through coming clean to his wife, inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment at Right Choice Recovery in New Jersey, going to his first Gamblers Anonymous meeting, and why deleting the apps, installing blocking software, and self-excluding were non-negotiable steps in his recovery. If you’re struggling with sports betting, online casino, or slots, this story is for you. You are not alone, there is real help out there, and life can get better one day at a time. ⸻ This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview Kate S about her gambling harm story. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 If you're struggling with finances because of a gambling addiction, see if you qualify for free financial counseling through Gamfin: https://gamfin.org/rob Kate grew up in Sydney and first encountered poker machines in everyday social venues, not casinos. A few early wins lit the fuse. Years later, after moving to Canberra, a chance visit to a club while pregnant re-triggered everything during a perfect storm of stress. She burned through $30,000 in a month—money meant to start building the family’s first home. In this conversation, Kate describes the mental torture of preoccupation, why it felt impossible to “just stop,” and how shame was weaponized against her. We unpack the design of pokies and slots, losses disguised as wins, and the illusion of control. We also zoom out to Australia’s massive per-capita losses and the social costs, including crime and intergenerational harm. Her turning point came in 2012 after a life-or-death crisis and a conversation with her child that reconnected her to hope and humanity. From there, Kate rebuilt, became a recovery coach, wrote I Bet I Can Change Your Mind, and launched The Hope Project to educate schools, workplaces, and communities about gambling harm as a public-health issue. If you or someone you love is stuck, you are not broken. This happened to you—and help, truth, and recovery are real. Kate's Resources mentioned: • Kate’s book: I Bet I Can Change Your Mind • The Hope Project (and book link): thehopeprojectaustralia.com.au

I interview @NothingsOffTheTable about his gambling addiction story. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp LJ’s story is what compulsive gambling really looks like: early wins, escalating bets, and a life shrinking to debt, lies, and desperation. He went from turning $200 into $9,000 at 15 to losing hundreds of thousands and still owing hundreds of thousands more. When he lost, there was no way to pay unless he was robbing someone, stealing, or inventing stories to get cash. Each relapse pushed him closer to prison, insanity, and death. In this episode, LJ breaks down sports betting with bookies, hiding addiction behind success, cocaine-fueled gambling binges, a newborn he couldn’t be present for, and the Thanksgiving week when suicidal thoughts forced honesty. Then the rebuild: Gamblers Anonymous, a pressure relief group, 90-day moratoriums, payment plans, lifetime self-exclusion, financial transparency with his fiancée, and finding purpose through service and a recovery podcast. If you think you’re the “exception” who wins, listen to why compulsive gamblers always lose—and how recovery makes life stable again. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER (US) or your local helpline. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

I interview Kitty Martz about her gambling addiction story. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Check out Right Choice Recovery: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com Right Choice Recovery Center in Dayton, NJ, is a licensed addiction treatment center offering evidence-based treatment for substance use, alcohol addiction, as well as compulsive gambling. Our clinical team specializes in dual diagnosis care, addressing mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD alongside addiction. We provide intensive recovery programs, with treatment tailored to individual needs. Right Choice Recovery accepts most major insurance plans and is licensed with the state of NJ and also holds a JCAHO accreditation, ensuring accessible, confidential, and comprehensive care across New Jersey. Gambling is being reshaped by phones, prediction markets, and personalized ads—and the harm is scaling with it. In this episode, Rob talks with Kitty Martz, Executive Director of Voices of Problem Gambling Recovery (Oregon), about where gambling is headed and who is most at risk. We dig into the always-on nature of mobile betting, how operators frame “it’s on the player,” why regulation and consumer protections matter, and the social costs communities already feel. Kitty shares why women’s experiences can be different (unpaid labor, safety, accessibility at home), how AI-driven targeting and loot boxes hook users, and why “responsible gambling” means different things for players, operators, and regulators. If you care about prevention, policy, and recovery, this conversation maps the road ahead—and what it will take to change it. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Ben B shares his gambling addiction story and how it cost him his relationship. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY In this episode of the One Day at a Time Gambling Addiction Podcast, Rob sits down with Benjamin Batista, a 25-year-old from Pennsylvania who made his last bet just one month ago. Benjamin’s story captures the heartbreaking truth of how quickly gambling addiction can escalate—from casual poker games with friends to losing thousands on online blackjack. He opens up about the emotional damage that came alongside the financial loss: lying to his partner, hiding debt, and feeling himself transform into someone he didn’t recognize. What makes Benjamin’s story especially powerful is how recent it is. He shares what it felt like to hit a $32,000 win and still lose it all just days later, the final breaking point when his girlfriend left, and how he finally decided to get help. Now in recovery, Benjamin has self-excluded from gambling apps in Pennsylvania, joined weekly support meetings, and is rebuilding his life with the help of his faith, family, and community. He also opens up about how his relationship with God changed through gambling—how anger and desperation eventually turned to gratitude and peace once he started living in recovery. His honesty offers rare insight into the mind of someone freshly out of addiction, showing that recovery isn’t instant—it’s a daily commitment. If you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle of gambling, or you’re watching someone you love struggle, Benjamin’s story is one you won’t forget. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1