Addicted to Gambling - A Horror Story - THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T CONTROL YOURLSELF!!;-) Hi ALL, Well, let's see, now. I live in UK/London. My gambling history goes back around 6/7 years, now. I'm a shy, private, reserved type of person. So, I would never have had enough self-confidence to do gambling in full public view, on any. Jun 18, 2013 1 The Gambler Who Blew $127 Million Harry Watanabe founded a gift shop, the Oriental Trading Company, in 1932 and made it grow until it became one of the largest players in its market, until 1977 when his son, Terry Watanabe, became its CEO. Later, in 2000, Terry sold his entire stake in the company to a private equity firm.
- Gambling addiction stories from around the world. Here at Yes No Casino we will be scouring the net for the best and worst gambling addiction stories. A lot of these should hopefully act as a warning for others of the dangers of gambling addiction and the impact this can have on the gambling individuals themselves as well as on the family.
- The release of a rollicking, true adventure yarn-The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told—coincides with a new era of sports betting that will change the face of gambling forever.
- In response, we received some of the most bizarre, funny and craziest gambling stories, ever! We selected the best ones for you to enjoy. You won’t believe some of the real-life experiences our readers from all over the world have had.
Updated September 04, 2017 16:45:46
I'm a gambling addict. Three years ago, I was convicted of white collar fraud, after I stole over $130,000 from my employer to fuel an insatiable addiction.
My poison of choice was not poker machines, but online gambling.
Racing, the thoroughbreds, the trots, the dogs — I wasn't fussy, so long as I could get a bet on and fuel that addiction.
The bets would range anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000 a day. I would bet until 3:00am, try to sleep for three hours and bet again for another three hours on online racing in the United States.
I always thought the stereotypical gambling addict was a working-class middle-aged man or woman, sitting at their local club, feeding their favourite pokies machine four or five nights a week.
But I rarely ventured into the local TAB.
Betting while the kids were in the bath
At the zenith of my addiction, I was married with two beautiful young children and working as a finance manager at a local council.
When I was with my family, I was physically there — but mentally, I was miles away, thinking about gambling: when I could next bet, where would the money come from, whether I could back a winner.
I thought about gambling 24/7. I placed bets at home, at work, the shops — basically everywhere and anywhere I could get reception on my phone.
I would be walking with the kids and our dog, yet I'd still be trying to place bets. I would even bet and watch the races on the phone while the kids were in the bath.
A knock at the door
I had been thinking about stealing to solve some of my debt problems for months, but I couldn't do it because I knew the consequences would be dire.
Then one evening, I had a visit from two large men with a baseball bat, strongly suggesting it would be in my best interests to repay a sizable debt that was due that week.
They punched me and threatened to use the baseball bat 'next time'.
I was left bruised and battered from their warning. It was a seriously scary moment; I still occasionally have flashbacks and it sends chills through my body.
That night, I made the decision to steal from work. I felt physically sick and fidgety; my mind wouldn't stop racing. I knew it was wrong, but I did it — knowing I could one day get caught.
The first time is without a doubt the hardest — but once you've done it, stealing becomes easier.
Listen to the program
Earshot meets Leigh, an online gambling addict.
I had nothing to lose. That's how I 'reasoned' it.
However, stealing became another problem to add to my list.
I was constantly worried about being caught. When someone knocked on my office door, when I got a phone call, when my boss called me to a meeting, I was never quite sure.
The fear was slowly killing me, but I couldn't confess, couldn't turn back. I was on a knife-edge with no solution, no way out.
It was a Monday morning when I was finally caught. I was called into the CEO's office and they presented me with the overwhelming evidence.
I was caught red-handed, but I still denied it. I knew my career was over and that jail was not far away.
But at that stage, I had a small sense of relief. No more looking over my back. The lying and deceitfulness could stop.
On the inside
When I was caught and sentenced to jail, the gambling addicts I met in the prison system had similar stories to mine. They were middle-aged, smart, well-educated men from good upbringings, all addicts to racing and not the pokies — certainly not the stereotypical gambling addicts I had imagined.
My addiction cost me everything. I lost my job, all my material possessions including house, car, everything I owned.
But that pales into insignificance to the lost relationships.
Need help or support?
If gambling is affecting your health and you are feeling anxious or depressed, or if gambling is negatively impacting on your relationships, help and support are available.- Call Lifeline on 13 11 14
My marriage disintegrated, I lost access to my children, I don't talk to my family and I'm no longer on speaking terms with most of my friends. I don't blame them.
During my year in jail, I had enough time to reflect on all the damage it had caused and when I was to be released I knew I couldn't go back to that lifestyle.
You get far too much time to reflect in jail. I was constantly thinking about the kids, but I didn't decide to quit gambling because of them. The constant stress and 24/7 of thinking about gambling had destroyed me: physically, emotionally, and financially.
I knew if I didn't stop gambling it would kill me.
Get help before it's too late
I write this not because I find it a cathartic experience, but because I hope that it helps others to seek help before it's too late. Or for family and friends of addicts to intervene and offer support.
For people 'on the edge' or thinking about committing fraud, the solution is simple: get help.
Seek support before you hit rock bottom. The help that suited me the most was from my psychologist, one-on-one extended chats — but for others it may be Gamblers Anonymous.
For the family and friends of addicts: please don't give up on them, it's a horrendous disease and they need all the support you can give.
Life in 2017 is certainly not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than it has been.
I've got regular access to my children, I'm rebuilding lost relationships, I've found some temporary work — and I haven't had a bet since 2014.
Topics:gambling, internet-culture, family-and-children, fraud-and-corporate-crime, law-crime-and-justice, australia
First posted September 04, 2017 12:14:41
By: Harper Whitefield1. The gambler who lost $127 million
In 2007 the gambler Terrance Watanabe lost $127 million in a one-year gambling streak. Even for the city of sin Las Vegas itself this is absurd. Most of this money was lost in the casinos Caesars Palace and Rio casinos, these two casinos are both owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. This one gambler provided more than 5% of the company's total revenue.
In April 2009 the casino's sued Mr. Watanabe, 52 years old, because of an unpaid credit of $14.7 million. Watanabe refuses to pay this last part, after paying already $112 million, because he claims the casino personnel promised him to give back some of his loss and also encouraged him to keep playing while he was intoxicated. Interesting fact is that he was earlier thrown out of the Wynn Las Vegas casino because of excessive drinking. Because Mr. Watanabe was extended blackjack limits up to $50,000 per hand he once lost $5 million in one day. Right now he faces up to 28 years in prison for not paying his debt at the casino, he already pled not guilty.
2. Man wins lottery twice on 1 day
A man from Boston did the impossible, and he did it twice at one day. Phillip Brunelle won $1,000 price with a scratch lottery ticket in july 2009. Instead of bracing his luck he decided to buy another ticket in the afternoon. This second $5 ticket revealed the win of the $1,000,000 Money Mania. So after winning a $1,000 in the morning he added a $ 1 million in the afternoon. The odds for this top price are 1 in 3,024,000. He stated he went back to buy another ticket because he is greedy. Now this 29 year old photographer is planning on opening his own photography studio in Fall river.
3. Man wins $166 million but does not get paid
Imagine playing the $4 slot machines when suddenly all the bells start ringing and the screen in front of you flashes $166,666,666.65! This is what happened Bill Seebeck on a Sunday in Tampa in November 2009. He thought he won a $166 million jackpot and his life just changed. Except it was not true. Casino officials explained that this machine was malfunctioning and he would not get paid. The maximum jackpot of the slot machine was set at $90,000 and he would not even get that. In a later news message the Hard Rock Casino said it had come to an agreement with Mr. Seebeck and they were hoping to see him on future visits. How much money he got paid eventually was not disclosed but he probably did not become a millionaire from this.
4. Man sells everything he has, puts $136,000 on Roulette table
Ashley Revell has gotten famous worldwide when he was 32 years old and decided to sell everything he had, including his house, his car and even his cloths and put the money on the roulette table. Selling all his stuff got him a total sum of $135.300. In a matter of seconds his faith was decided and he won (the number was 7, red), he walked out of the casino with $270,600. His plan was to either start over again after losing or win and be able to play the World Series of Poker. It was his dream to become a professional poker player. With the media coverage he also made money, he used the total to setup his own poker and casino website (Poker United).
5. Las Vegas 'Robin Hood' gambling to help the poor!
An unknown hero is behaving like the modern Robin Hood of Las Vegas. One year ago this man, a high stakes blackjack player, put his skills to use to help out a family in debt. This year he is looking for a new situation where his money can really do good.
This Robin Hood selects a family in serious financial trouble and then goes to Vegas to try and win enough money to help these people. In 2008 he selected a family where the daughter had brain cancer which put the whole family in debt for $35,000. He took care of it and handed them the money in a Las Vegas casino. Right now he is looking for new applicants through his website where people can submit their stories. The amount of money needed should be in between $25 and $50,000 and should really be life-changing.