Gambling investigation:
Alarming new stats show that the number of problem gamblers has tripled in the past three years. We speak to Tara Mooney, who gambled away her life as she knew it…
“It started as fun… but I lost everything”
When Tara Mooney first visited a W bingo hall with her sister, she had no idea that it would spiral into an addiction that would wreck her marriage and see her lose her home.
Over 10 years, Tara’s obsession with slot machines and online gambling sites meant she spent over £250,000 and ended up in £108,000 of debt.
And Tara is not alone, as shocking new figures from the Gambling Commission show that the number of gambling addicts in the UK has risen to more than 400,000, with a further two million people at risk of developing a problem.
Women account for 25 per cent of addicts, with the rise of online gambling meaning that females under 35 are more likely to begin gambling at a younger age compared to their older counterparts.
Consultant Psychiatrist and Addiction Specialist Dr Henrietta Bowden Jones says there are a number of factors influencing why women turn to gambling. She says: “For some, it’s a genetic predisposition they’ve inherited from parents who have gambled, while others turn to it after traumatic periods in their lives. I see a lot of mothers who gamble in an attempt to make some money for the family on the side who then fall into a downward spiral. Other women turn to it when they’re struggling with loneliness.”
On top of this, the availability of gambling online has contributed to an increase of players across the board – but may also have encouraged more women.
Dr Henrietta says: “Whereas women may not have wanted to be seen in bookies, more younger women are turning to online gambling. It’s available 24/7 and, if you’re feeling stressed, it’s just a click away. Carrying a mobile phone with access to gambling sites is the equivalent of an alcoholic carrying vodka in their pocket.”
For mum-of-three Tara, from Slough, her spiral into addiction began in 2003, when she started playing on slot machines at a local bingo hall.
She says: “It was great fun and I didn’t see any harm in it. At first, my sister and I would go once a fortnight and I’d spend £20 on the slots at a time. I’d rarely win anything, but three months in I won £500. Then, the following week, I won £1,800 – I was so excited. After that, I started going every day and would spend £120 daily. I loved the buzz it gave me.”
Single mum Tara soon turned to credit cards to help fund her addiction. She would spend eight hours a day gambling, playing on the slot machine in her work canteen and going to betting shops when she’d finished her shifts as a bus driver, earning £500 a week.
HIDING THE PROBLEM
Tara, now 48, says: “For months I’d win nothing and then another win would give me that high again. I was racking up credit card debt and would go without food to save money for
❛I’D GO WITHOUT FOOD TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE SLOT MACHINES❜
the machines. I was in denial that I had a problem, I thought it was a bit of fun and that I could stop at any time. But as time went on, I’d feel on edge if I couldn’t play. I managed to hide it from my teenage children and family by lying, saying I was doing extra shifts when I was actually gambling.”
Then, in 2008, Tara married fellow bus driver James Trow, 34.
She says: “I promised myself I’d get my gambling under control, but it was impossible. I’d told James I liked to gamble, but I never revealed the true extent until after we were married. It caused a lot of arguments.”
Around the same time, Tara started playing online when her children were in bed.
STEALING
She says: “It was so convenient. The websites reel you in with free bets. Hours would go by in what seemed like minutes. I stopped seeing my family and friends; nothing else mattered. I was exhausted because I’d be up all night gambling. I always felt anxious and sick.”
In the end, Tara’s obsession drove James away.
She reveals: “He said I didn’t give him enough time, which was true – by then I only really cared about gambling.”
After her divorce in March 2009, Tara started stealing money from her work float as a way of funding her addiction.
Then, in April 2010, her two-bedroom house was repossessed as she was £12,500 behind on mortgage payments.
She says: “I lost everything I’d worked so hard for.”
Losing her house forced Tara to finally confide in her relatives and friends. She says: “My family were horrified and begged me to get help. My children were so understanding.
“I also confessed to my boss about the money I’d stolen and he was amazing. Instead of firing me, he said I could slowly pay back the £950 I’d stolen.”
CLEARING THE DEBT
By then, Tara also had credit card debt of £86,000 and loans of £12,000, but she was able to speak to the banks about a reasonable repayment plan. She also went to Gamblers Anonymous, where she talked about her problem and got tips on how to control her addiction.
She says: “I made a list of my outgoings and would only allow myself to spend whatever was left. I gradually weaned myself off gambling – at first it was once every few days, then once a week, once a fortnight and eventually once a month. I’d only use the money I had left over so I couldn’t build up any more debt.”
After suffering a stroke in 2015, the credit card companies agreed to write off much of Tara’s debt when she provided medical proof she was unable to work. Tara now only has £6,000 left to repay, with her sons helping her pay back £220 a month.
She says: “It’s been really hard, but I’m starting to feel in control of my life again.”
She adds: “I’ll always have a gambling problem and there’s temptation everywhere, but with the help of my family I’m managing to stay on track.
“We need to talk more openly about gambling so people feel able to come forward. I’m lucky I’ve had another chance and I refuse to let myself down again.”