Gambling Recovery Journey

My gambling journey started when I was 16 years old. At the time, it was on and off. I gambled whenever I had money and access to a casino. It didn’t feel dangerous then—it felt manageable, occasional, and under control.

At 20, I moved to a town with no casinos. To gamble, I had to travel nearly two hours. That distance helped more than I realised at the time. The effort, planning, and delay acted as a barrier, and my gambling reduced significantly.

At 23, everything changed.

Online gambling arrived—and it changed everything.
Suddenly, gambling was no longer something I had to travel for. It was available anytime, anywhere, right in my pocket. That convenience removed all barriers, and my gambling escalated fast.

Within one year of discovering online gambling, I lost my house and my pregnant wife. That was the lowest point of my life.

After that, I stopped gambling for almost two years.
I didn’t join a fellowship. I didn’t work a program. I didn’t ask for help. It was pure mindset. I convinced myself I had beaten gambling—that it was easy, that I had won.

What I didn’t know then was:

• Gambling addiction is lifelong
• It is progressive
• Recovery requires ongoing work
• Stopping is not the same as healing

At 26, I started gambling again.

Within a year and a half, I was completely gone—financially, emotionally, mentally. Worse than before.

This page will document my full story.
I will share every detail:

• Triggers
• Relapses
• What helped
• What didn’t
• What I wish I knew earlier

I’m writing this for honesty, for accountability, and for anyone who feels trapped and alone.

Please stay tuned.