Betting addiction stole my son’s life
I WAS sorry to hear of the tragic case of 25-year-old gambling addict Chris Bruney, who took his own life after losing £119,000 in just five days (Mail). Instead of shutting his account, an online casino ‘groomed’ him by offering free bets and giving him £400 in cash bonuses. My beautiful son Zachary took his own life in 2012 at the age of 28, owing £250,000 in gambling debts. He was bipolar, on medication and had difficulties in his personal life, making him the type of vulnerable young man who is so easily snared by the lure of the gambling world. Zack was not groomed, but he struggled with self-discipline. Time and again he would lock himself out of gambling websites, but being tech savvy, he soon found a way back in. The push-pull of his addiction caused great suffering not only to him, but to his friends and family. Many did not know what was going on until it was far too late. In the last paragraph of his sevenpage suicide note, Zack wrote: ‘I am so in debt it has become a lead weight around my neck. I’m going to lose my flat and my car, my credit cards are up to their limits, the overdraft has been exhausted.’ There is no point in reiterating the usual platitudes about the evils of the gambling world and how they can be redressed. How many more precious lives will be lost before desperately needed restrictions come into force? At Zack’s funeral it was standing room only — that’s how much of a loss he was to all who knew him. Every night since his passing, I have lit a candle for my son.
FIONA CRAWFORD, york.
I AM angry that gambling firms are allowed to advertise on TV. I had a successful career and worked hard, but after a friend was paid £50 for recommending me, I became addicted to gambling. The online sites quickly made me a VIP member and gave me bonuses and weekend trips. I spent every spare penny I earned on online bingo, but that wasn’t enough. I am embarrassed to say I stole more than £500,000 from investors in the company I worked for in a doomed attempt to claw back my losses. I was sentenced to four years in prison. I am worried that people who are bored at being stuck at home during the lockdown could be tempted to try online gambling. Too many have become addicted and lost everything, even their lives. The Government should take action and ban gambling adverts.
PatriCia lOmaS, address supplied.