I became so hooked, I even gambled at a friend’s funeral
39
KERRI,
WORKING for a charity supporting drug and alcohol addicts didn’t stop Kerri Nicolls from getting hooked on gambling – and she didn’t recognise her own addiction until years later.
Kerri, 39, said: “Just over 10 years ago I decided to put a £1 bet on a football match – and won. I was pretty much hooked from then.”
Kerri was then offered a ‘free’
£200 credit with Bet365 and went on to download several betting apps on her phone.
“I was taking out loans and maxing out credit cards, hiding my losses, always desperate to claw them all back,” Kerri said.
“I was so hooked, I even gambled at a friend’s funeral.”
In 2013, she persuaded her partner to take out a £12,000 loan to help her clear her ‘student debt’ – but it was just a ruse to get more money to gamble with.
Within two years, she had accrued £45,000 of debt and was forced to admit she had a problem. Her dad agreed to pay off the money in the form of a loan – but Kerri was offered more credit so continued gambling, betting £5,000 a time on sporting events worldwide.
When the truth about her addiction eventually came out, Kerri’s relationship collapsed and she moved back home, where she suffered from suicidal thoughts.
Her mum insisted Kerri visited her GP, who referred her to a crisis team. She also then joined Gamblers Anonymous, started a peer support programme at Gamcare and sought help from Gordon Moody.
In 2019, Kerri, from North Devon, got a job as a peer support worker with the charity.
“I know how coming forward as a woman with a gambling addiction can be hard,” she said. “I felt I’d never be able to stop but I’m stronger now and happier than I’ve ever been. Sure, I lost over £100,000, but now I have a new partner, a job that’s rewarding beyond measure – and I’m alive.”