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https://kellysredcardconsultancy.co.uk/ On September 30th 2020, Gambling Harm UK worked on their first awareness and education workshop alongside Red Card Consultancy Project

Having only just got back home from a gruelling 130 miles walking in five days, I had hoped to relax a little. However, when the opportunity came up to talk about my story on BBC Radio Berkshire’s lunchtime show, I couldn’t resist. If just one person out there finds me relatable then I have done my job – it could even save a life. During this comprehensive interview we talked about my experience as a gambling addict, how I found recovery earlier this year, and some bits about the formation of The All Bets Are Off podcast and the work we do on there.

Day four of The Big Step is more media, and it doesn’t really get much bigger than the BBC Breakfast News. One has to say that James Grimes has done an excellent job of drawing attention to this campaign. This particular piece was recorded the evening before the start of the event, at a time in which I was feeling much fresher than I am today, that’s for sure. When I got to the hotel last night, I was in absolute agony and didn’t think that I would be out here walking again. However, seeing the faces of so many ‘Experts by Experience’ has really perked me up and kept me going, and they are the primary reason I am chugging along to Leicester. The reaction that we’ve had to this particular video which features James, Steve Ramsey, and I, has been phenomenal. During the recording, I got rather emotional (as the clip clearly shows) when reflecting on those dark times. But those difficult moments have made me the person I am today, someone that I am slowly learning to love and accept.

It’s day one of The Big Step, and I’m approximately 20 miles in, and Lincs FM has just put out a news story that ‘a Lincoln man is fighting for the government to end all gambling sponsorship, advertising, and promotion in football.’ That ‘Lincoln man’ would be me. Although I’ve been living down south for the past dozen or so years, ultimately, I am a yellowbelly and proud. As a child, I actually had a tour of the Lincs FM studio on a school trip. Being so young and innocent back then, I certainly never envisaged some 20 years or so later that I would be part of a feature talking about my life as a gambling addict. Whilst I am a proud Lincolnite, I am even prouder to be in recovery and walking alongside my peers who have been impacted by gambling addiction either directly or as an affected other. Together, we fight to end gambling advertising and sponsorship in football. Make sure you sign The Big Step’s petition by clicking here and following the process.

I had listened to The Happiness Algorithm myself on numerous occasions, so when James Roast approached me to come on, I was chuffed. I got the opportunity to talk in-depth about my life from childhood to now and its challenges. The biggest challenge being myself. I talked about alcoholism, how that lead to gambling addiction, and dark times. I also spoke about the good times. Recovery, learning to share my emotions and the beauty in vulnerability. Click here to listen to the full episode.

Callum Room (Twitter - @CallumRSport) got in touch during the first Covid-19 lockdown, having listened to the All Bets Are Off podcast. He was interested in writing an article about gambling-related harm and what the return of football might mean. I shared my addiction and recovery experiences, including starting the All Bets Are Off Podcast with Ryan, Kish, and Kelly back then. Then I spoke about gambling in football, how it is so normal now, and the ultimate risk, suicide! Click here to read more.

'RecoverMe' is a mobile application to help those who suffer from a gambling addiction. This app was designed with the help of psychologists, psychiatrists, and those others suffering from gambling addiction. As an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur, I could fully appreciate the value of a digital health solution towards gambling-harm could have. And so it was a pleasure to get in touch with the amazing junior doctor team of Tejus and Minal and Adil.

Until April 2019 and the two-pound cap on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, I had never played an online slot machine. Don’t get me wrong, I played an awful lot of online blackjack and dabbled in roulette too, but never had I spun a virtual slot with my own money. But from the very day that I could no longer max-spin £100 on the roulette in the bookies, I began plotting as to where I could find my next regular hit, and that’s what led to my online slots. Although I had encountered problems with fruit machines in my younger days, I was never really drawn to slots. Looking back now, it’s probably because I imagined that the stakes would be too low for me (how wrong that would later prove), and so I just always avoided them, except for the occasional time when I got offered free spins and nothing much ever came of them. A couple of days after the FOBT cap was introduced, I began researching gambling streams on YouTube and came across ‘Chipmonkz Slots’ and some other streamers, and I quickly became enamoured with it all. I saw the sums of money that could be won playing £2-£5 stakes and thought I’d give it a bash myself. I didn’t rush into straight away mind; I wrote a short list of games out that I had enjoyed watching them play before I set off on my maiden voyage. Much like my first interaction with an FOBT, my experience was a positive one – within 35 spins on a £2 stake, I landed a bonus on a game called Danger High Voltage and won over £1800. And from that moment, I was hooked, and soon after, I would soon be spending £10-£20 per spin, and the frequency of it was like nothing I had ever experienced. At £20 stake, 50 spins (£1000) could be lost within two-and-a-half minutes, and although I often spun 4-digit sums at roulette tables, nothing came close to the thrill of hunting for bonuses. Online slots became all-consuming - if I wasn’t playing them myself, I would be watching streamers play them and gaining insights on new games etc. Recently I spoke to writer and editor George Cooper regarding slot steamers and affiliate marketing for an article published earlier today. Click here to see the article.

Kishan, a 5th Year Medical Student at Imperial College London, wrote a blog titled 'Tackling Gambling – The Social Epidemic.' In this article, Kishan makes the case to medical students that gambling should be considered holistically as part of the social history in routine medical care. To learn more, visit https://geekymedics.com/tackling-gambling-the-social-epidemic/.

I took part in this short documentary that addresses the consequences of lockdown and how this can negatively impact individuals who suffer from a gambling addiction. It also features Matt Zarb-Cousin, Henrietta Bowden-Jones, Danny Cheetham, and Martin Paterson. Click here to watch on YouTube.

Exciting news! In April 2020, the All Bets Are Off Podcast released the first-ever episode of their gambling addiction recovery podcast. For more information or to listen in to the podcast, check out: www.allbetsareoff.co.uk/

As a Monzo account holder myself, I was delighted to share my experiences with Kate Hollowood (Twitter - @katehollowood). We hurried up the blog's release to make sure it was published as early as possible during the lockdown. In the blog, I share my gambling and recovery experiences and highlight how Monzo has helped me rebuild my financial independence. Monzo was one of the first banks to introduce a gambling blocker, and I regularly recommend them to others. Click here to read the full article.