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The thrill and ruin of gambling addiction | You Can't Ask That | Full Episode

ABC Australia

228,027 views

How do you lose $3.4 million and keep gambling? In this eye-opening episode of You Can't Ask That, people with lived experience of gambling addiction share their honest, raw answers behind the questions most people are too uncomfortable to ask.#YouCantAskThat

Stream all seasons of You Can't Ask That on ABC iview: https://ab.co/CantAskThat
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TV Series You Can't Ask That asks outrageous, uncomfortable and shocking questions to uncover the truth behind some of the most marginalised and misunderstood Australians.

Stream full episodes on our YouTube channel, Sundays 12pm.

0:00 Introduction – Gambling
0:28 When did you start gambling?
3:33 How good is the rush of winning?
5:39 Where’d the money come from?
8:50 How could you be so stupid?
11:52 When did you know you had a problem?
14:39 Why didn’t you just stop?
17:13 How much have you lost?
19:31 Didn’t you care that you screwed your family?
22:47 How did you get out?
25:21 Are you a winner or a loser?
27:01 Guest names

If you or someone you know needs help, call:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858
National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007

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This episode was filmed in 2017.

Production Credits:
Directors: Kirk Docker and Aaron Smith
Series Editors: Nick McDougall, Sally Moran
Researchers: Georgie Lewin, Jess Cohen, Ryder Susman, Michael Badcock
Consulting Producer: Jon Casimir
Production Manager: Kieran Bycroft
Executive Producer: Lou Porter
Graphic Design: Shane Sakkeus
Title Music: “Soul Searching” By Amourouge
Format created by: Kirk Docker, Aaron Smith & Jon Casimir

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20 Comments

@karenmbbaxter 1 month ago

I just want to give these people credit for their honesty.

@itchyeyesmcrealize165 1 month ago

Old mate saying he lost 7 grand the day before this .... man, that made me feel so sad

@melj7172 3 weeks ago

As a drug addict (in recovery), Ive never been able to understand gambling addiction, as strange as that seems. This video really opened my mind to fact that it’s exactly the same monster, just a different method. I remember so many times when my rent was late because I had spent almost my whole check on drugs , due to debts owed and what it took to stay high until the next time I had some money. Listening to these people describe their behavior and mentality is a mirror to my own during active addiction. The lies, the shame, the uncontrollable need to use again…the recovery, the therapy, the medication…it’s all so exhausting. The pain in their eyes is the same in mine. I get it now.

@bandicoot678 1 month ago

Congratulations to anyone who can come out the other side of that hellhole nightmare and live to tell the story.

@ssk9732 1 month ago (edited)

How is this business even legal? It’s appalling that we accept gambling just because the clubs “contribute” to the community.
Every one of these people is a huge winner, for continuing to fight this disease. Power to you!

@toastysour 3 weeks ago

I still remember to this day I was about 14 years old, me, my mate and his old man were on a road trip, and we stopped at a pub for lunch. The old boy decided to throw 20 bucks in the pokies and he won like $200 and he stopped and looked at me and my mate and said right boys I'm going to teach you a lesson and he fed it all back into the pokies and said to us. You win sometimes but you'll lose more and that has stuck with me forever and that was almost 20 years ago. Thank you, Terry for teaching me a valuable life lesson.

@johnborron1059 1 month ago

Bravo to these people. I lost my 30's to a poker machine addiction. Every thing each of them said resonated completely with me, was a truth for me. It might be hard for someone who has not had a gambling addiction to understand the depths you sink to, but what they said was crystal clear to this former addict. I tried to take my own life twice, and was convicted of embezzlement. My addiction ended 30 years ago, but to think that the rich and rewarding life I have had since, including my two adult children, who would not exist if I had succeeded in my plans back then just makes me think how devastating the consequences of this industry.
If anyone reading this is experiencing gambling addiction, just know you can get past it. It's not easy, but you can do it.

@ibbehy 1 month ago

i genuinely didnt care or fathom having any empathy whatsoever for these people but i really get it know. this video is so so so important now more than ever

@cornysteph 1 month ago

Really interesting and thought provoking, brave of these people to share their stories. The gambling industry is so predatory and causes so much pain and suffering to people and their families in the name of profit which is just disgusting.

@Prosper85 1 month ago

That hit home "the term problem gambler is an industry term to make the gambler look like the problem and not the product". This should be illegal and this is something I've suffered from personally and its such an incomprehensible disease for someone who has never suffered addiction to know how it feels like. Its such a strong compulsion to chase losses or play to win.

@mattwood1977 4 weeks ago

As a young man, I get bombarded with sports betting ads, even though I don't really watch any sport. I can hardly imagine how hard it must be to be an addict and have to deal with that.

@katec14 1 month ago

$980,000!?!? How do these companies get away with this. Insane!

@Kim_BorRev 1 month ago

Former gambling addict - it’s not about smarts or will power. It’s an addition. Im glad these people have recovered, even if they’ve had slip ups. Be proud you have come through this.

@bramble_b_embersmith 1 month ago

At the start of the video, they all lit up and looked so happy talking about the pleasure and calm the first time they gambled and won. You could tell that was a good memory and good feelings. I hope they all find something healthy to give them that same kind of joy.

@Hossak 1 month ago

I had a family member pass away due to their gambling issues, please take care of yourselves guys - it is a serious thing. I hope all these people find a way through this mess :)

@MichaelHeaton-ug5ex 11 days ago

Gambling is more destructive than drugs and alcohol. I feel so blessed having an aversion to gambling.

@itchyeyesmcrealize165 1 month ago

Man ... this is heavy. Gambling is so evil.

@alexandergeorgenash 3 weeks ago

Everyone is so brave ❤

@amiratme2878 1 month ago

It's so sad that gambling is considered an 'industry' and that there are people working for these companies, trying their absolute best to extract as much money and suffering from other people as possible.

This was filmed in 2017. Imagine how many more people they would have access to for this story today...