GAA star admits to 200K gambling problem

GAA star admits to 200K gambling problem

Offaly football star Niall McNamee has admitted to spending over €200,000 on a chronic gambling addiction.

The Rhodes man took to the pages of today’s Irish Independent to speak about the issue, revealing that he currently owes around €80,000 because of his reckless betting.

“This is me. This is my gambling addiction. Today I am in recovery,” said the Rhode forward, who only decided to face his problem two months ago following his father voicing his concern with him.

McNamee also tells the paper how new Offaly football manager Gerry Cooney helped him. Cooney is a counsellor at the famed Rutland Centre and he advised that McNamee seek help for his problem.

McNamee went public to end the rumours surrounding his situation and, he hopes, to help others.

He outlines the details of his descent into addiction. He admits to losing €1,000 in half an hour in some bookies and owing large sums of money, in the region of €25,000, since at least 2007.

He also took action to avoid gambling in his home town and would travel to Tullamore, Newbridge or Mullingar to place his bets, hoping to hide his problem from those who knew him.

One of the most talented forwards in the country, McNamee admits that gambling affected his game.

“My football has obviously been affected over the years. It mightn’t have been affected directly but my head just wasn’t on it.”

McNamee has now ended five weeks of treatment but he knows he faces a tough battle with his problem.

“I need to give this new way of life, without gambling, 100 per cent,” says the 26-year-old.

We wish him all the best.