'Gambling felt like my comfort blanket - it was taking over my life'

A man says he spent years of his life “living just to gamble” after losing £250,000 to fund his betting addiction.

Colin Brown, 42, from Leven in Fife, said his habit began when he was 15, when he spent his paper round money on amusements each week, and worsened through his teens.

As a semi-professional footballer, he would bet on his own matches and other teams in the league, feeling he had a good understanding and inside knowledge of the key players.

However, things took a dark turn when he began taking money from his mum to support his growing gambling habit.

His mum knew he had a problem, and so took over running his finances. However, Colin would visit the bank to withdraw money to continue to gamble.

Once he got his first job, he found new ways to fund his gambling by taking out loans and credit cards.

He said: “At 20, I spent endless hours in bookies, playing roulette machines and fixed-odds betting terminals.

“When the UK reduced the maximum bet on those terminals to £2, I turned to online gambling, losing three and a half thousand pounds in one spin on roulette.”

By 18, his mum had suggested he attend a local support group, but it didn’t work for him as he felt he needed a role model to look up to in recovery.

‘Money was irrelevant – was chasing the feeling’

His gambling addiction badly impacted his relationships and work life.

“I felt like I was living just to gamble,” he said. “I just spiralled out of control.

“The addiction had taken over me.”

At 28, he quit his job and sought a fresh start abroad, but old habits followed. As soon as he landed in New York, he was desperate to find a casino.

“Here I was walking across Times Square, looking up at all these skyscrapers, and all I could think about was how am I going to find a casino,” Colin said.

After his stint in America, where he worked at a summer camp, he then moved to Rhodes and later Lapland, still gambling whenever he could.

Colin’s gambling continued to affect his personal life.

After deciding to buy his first property with his then-partner, he gambled away the house deposit.

He won it back, but the harmful gambling persisted once they moved into their new home.

His partner tried to help, but they later decided to sell the house.

Though he barred himself from online gambling, he began placing bets through friends and a private gambler.

“Gambling felt like a comfort blanket, but it also made me feel more alone than ever,” he said.

“Money was irrelevant. I was chasing the feeling.”

Colin hit rock bottom a second time in autumn 2023, losing £1,000 on virtual cricket—a moment that became a turning point in his journey to recovery.

He downloaded an app to track his feelings daily and began to confide in friends about his gambling.

This time, he wanted to tackle his addiction differently; he delved into self-improvement through podcasts on happiness and addiction, meditation, and cold-water therapy.

New levy imposed on betting operators to tackle problem gambling iStock

He found support through sharing his story online on social media and YouTube, and meeting others in the same boat.

“If I share it, it builds protection for me,” he said.

People with gambling issues are more likely to be turning to the activity this festive period than last year, according to new research.

In a recent survey commissioned by gambling support charity, GamCare, three-fifths (59%) of those who experience problems due to their gambling say they are more likely to gamble at Christmas than other times of the year – up from 37% last year.

Advisers on GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline are highlighting how the festive period can be a testing time for those struggling with their gambling, as well as family and friends affected.

Last December, the Helpline saw a 39% increase in calls and online.

A new government levy on casinos and betting operators’ profits announced in November will raise £100m to help tackle problem gambling.

The government will also introduce stake limits for online slots of £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18 to 24-year-olds.

‘I want to break the stigma around addiction’

Colin has been invited to deliver talks at schools and workplaces to raise awareness about the dangers of gambling.

He said the normalisation of betting in sports is a growing problem, especially among young people.

“I try not to watch any sports now – gambling has taken that away from me,” he said.

“In the end, I was betting on sports I didn’t care about. I wasn’t interested in which team won – I was only focused on my bet.

“There are many young people like me who see betting as fun because it’s advertised that way. I truly believe my talks will be impactful and make a difference.”

Colin urges people struggling with a gambling problem to reach out for support.

“We’ve all got problems. If you speak about them, people who matter to you won’t judge you.

“Open up to people close to you and don’t be embarrassed. if you share, people will understand.

“I want to be a good example of how you can get through this – I want to break the stigma round addiction.”

Colin is now partnering with GamCare Scotland to raise further awareness of the support services that are available to those in a similar situation.

Lisa-Marie Patton, service manager at GamCare Scotland, said: “Colin’s story is an example of how quickly issues with gambling can take hold of someone’s life, but also a fantastic example of how talking about it more can help turn things around.

“Sometimes you have to try different methods of support, but don’t give up hope until you find the right one for you.

“It’s fantastic to see the steps Colin is taking in his recovery from gambling harm, and we hope it has a positive impact on others who are in the same shoes to reach out for support.”