Winning big
With a ‘semi-professional’ dad, Fred knew about the highs and lows of gambling. But it took stealing from his mum and her threat to call the police for him to open up about his gambling addiction and start chasing healthier wins in life.
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Footy, friends and fun
When AFL Women’s player Karen Paxman was a girl, playing Aussie rules footy wasn’t an option, but she believes the rise of AFLW is sending a strong message to girls: just go for it, on the field and beyond.
Listening to the storytellers
Professor Anita Heiss will address our Gambling Harm Conference 2020 on the theme of Indigenous storytelling and its complex connection to identity and self-determination.
A winning strategy, eventually
Having bet on horses since he was 17, Bill says winning streaks always end the same way: losing big. But his final winning streak ended when he was also stricken with grief. Today, helping others, he feels better than ever about himself.
Reaching out to young male gamblers
Mario Bird found gambling at 16 and says it was a match made in heaven. Now, after a hard-won recovery, he wants young men, in particular, to know what it can do to your life.
From betting on the races with Dad to professional punter: my journey
What started out as a childhood hobby led me to the dream job where I could live and breathe betting and racing. But along the way it consumed my life.
Re-making meaning: social connection after gambling harm
Gabriele Byrne used her lived experience of gambling harm to help transform the lives of others, with a firm belief that social connections are the key to avoiding relapse.
‘Rolling with resistance’: managing difficult client behaviours
A professional development workshop for financial counsellors considered ways to manage challenging client behaviours while also negotiating complex financial arrangements.
What is Lottoland?
The Uber of Australia’s lottery industry is using an online sports bookmaker licence to offer Australians lottery on steroids.
Clearing the fog of gambling addiction
After nearly 30 years of a destructive pokies addiction, Ann has drawn the line, with support from her family and a group of ‘lovely, caring’ people to whom she’s bared her soul, but never met.
Sharing stories on the path to recovery
Paul Fung lost his education, career and close family relationships to gambling, but hitting rock bottom finally encouraged him to seek help and turn his life around.
Why boys are susceptible to the siren song of online and offline gambling
Leading psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg knows peer pressure and the need for instant gratification make teenagers a prime target for betting companies, and suggests ways to help them resist the temptation.
After a fall at work and losing my job, the pokies became an escape
Fleeing war in Lebanon 32 years ago, Nabil came to Australia to start a new life. After marriage and five kids, an unfortunate turn of events saw him seek comfort in gambling.
Prisoners of shame no more
Profound shame about their gambling and its impact on their family’s reputation is stopping many gamblers in the Australian-Vietnamese community from seeking help - and leading some to jail.
Helping people realise they aren’t the only ones
A strict childhood and difficult marriage left Elizabeth with little self-confidence. Free at last at 50, the pokies seemed a safe place for a woman her age to go. She now volunteers for Gambler’s Help.
The allure of gambling for international students
Coming to Australia to study can be highly stressful, and gambling may seem a fun, new way to escape. Chinese Gambler’s Help supports students and others in the Chinese community to know the risks and recover from harm.
I’d trade a premiership medal to undo the hurt and damage
Two-time AFL premiership winner Brent Guerra had a big win on the races in 2011. It made him feel on top of the world, but ended up being the worst thing that has ever happened to him.
If my friends knew how much they’d spent on gambling, they’d be shocked
Tyrone Mitchell grew up with gambling around him, and now it’s all his friends want to do at the pub. He wants his community and his mates to realise what they’re losing and to break the habit.
A gran’s plan for recovery
Carolyn went to prison before she sought help for her gambling addiction. She now says it was probably the best thing that ever happened to her, and urges others to seek help early.
Why doing nothing about sports betting marketing is taking a gamble with our kids
When eight-year-olds can name four or five gambling companies without drawing breath, sporting codes, broadcasters and governments must take responsibility.