The number of women desperately trying to reclaim their lives from a ‘silent addiction’ to online gambling has increased by more than 80%, according to an addiction charity.
Research by addiction charities has revealed an 84% jump in women wanting to quit gambling, with struggling mothers saying gambling is making them suicidal.
Carly McGuinness, 33, bet for up to 15 hours a day and woke up at night to check her bets. When she won £150,000 in her online slots game, she lost a fortune by betting even more instead of buying a city council with it.
She has been in recovery for a year now, as her addiction led her to want to “orphan my children and take my own life.” “I was exhausted and felt like the worst person in the world. My depression and anxiety were caused by a hidden addiction,” Carly said.
Carly, from Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and Jane Smith, 57, from Basildon, Essex, have both rebuilt their lives thanks to rehabilitation courses run by gambling charity Gordon Moody.
Over the past four years, demand for the company’s services has increased 43% year over year, and applications from women, who make up a quarter of referrals, have increased 84%.
Jayne is a mother of four and grandmother of 11, but her gambling meant she couldn’t afford to pay her rent. She said: “I’ve become a monster, a liar, and an asshole that no one can understand.
“There’s so much shame and stigma surrounding women’s gambling that things like this don’t happen to us, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. It’s a silent addiction that almost took my life. But I’m living proof that with support, you can recover.”
If you’re struggling and would like to talk, Samaritans runs a free 24/7 helpline on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch.
