Why so many of us will risk so much. . . on a game of chance

Why so many of us will risk so much. . . on a game of chance

On the face of it, Tony O'Reilly has a good life. The 36-year-old is a senior manager with An Post and has a loving wife and 10-month-old daughter.

But the Kilkenny man was living with a dark secret that has threatened to destroy all he holds dear. His gambling addiction had spiralled so far out of control that he went missing last week, but resurfaced three days later after he was found to have placed a €40,000 bet in Belfast.

This week, his family admitted his gambling had intensified to unmanageable levels in a matter of months. It is thought he wagered several million euro in betting transactions including those placed online and by telephone.

He is helping gardai with their enquiries while An Post conducts an internal audit into a suspected €1.7m fraud on his branch in Gorey, Co Wexford.

The fact that a responsible, unassuming family man like O'Reilly could become so enmeshed in debt has proved to be a sobering reminder about gambling's addictive qualities.

"Addiction to gambling has become far more prevalent than many of us might imagine," says Dr Fiona Weldon, clinical director at one of the country's top addiction rehabilitation facilities, the Dublin-based Rutland Centre.

"We've seen a 300pc rise in people seeking help for gambling as a 'primary addiction' over the past three years. Addiction to gambling increases in a time of recession and the problem is exacerbated by the proliferation of online betting sites.

"Previously, if you wanted to gamble, you'd have to go to a bookies or a casino. Now you can sit at your desk and gamble on your computer or do it anywhere using your smartphone."

Like addiction counsellors nationwide, Dr Weldon sees at first hand the devastation caused by gambling: "It's very sad to see people -- often young men -- who are enslaved by their addiction.

"I've met people -- men aged 24 or 25 -- who are €350,000 in debt. They've gambled their car, house everything.

"Often the first time their partner discovers the extent of the problem is when they discover all the money has been removed from their joint bank account or the mortgage provider notifies them of non-payment."

For those who fall into significant debt, a way out can seem non-existent.

"Normally, these people try to gamble their way out of debt, but it almost never works and even if they do make money, they tend to gamble their winnings," says Dr Weldon.

"Sometimes, they can find themselves in such a dark place that they think the only way out is suicide. Many of the people we'd see at the clinic would have attempted suicide.

"What's particularly striking is just how innocuous their obsession with gambling started. Often, they were in their teens when they began betting among their friends and it quickly got out of control. And it's clear that people are becoming aware of the gambling industry at an earlier age. It's quite common to turn to criminal activity to fund the addiction."

Dr Weldon has also noted an increase in women seeking help. "In the past, women who wanted to gamble may have felt uncomfortable in the traditionally male environment of the bookmakers. Now they can gamble anonymously online," she says.

"The genders tend to approach gambling quite differently -- men often see it as a recreational activity, whereas women tend to gamble on a less interpersonal basis. In some cases, females see gambling as a form of escape.

"Gambling addition has been linked to mental health problems. It can be extremely difficult to 'come off' an addiction to gambling, but it can be done.

"Often addicts have become so desensitised that they don't see the harm they have caused to loved ones.

"Their recovery can happen when they take ownership of their problem and when they become fully aware of how much damage their actions have done to their family and friends.

"Sometimes, avoidance strategies can be employed, where we urge patients to get rid of computers or phones or anything that facilitates online gambling. But the battle gets harder all the time because of the prevalence of betting opportunities."

- John Meagher