Personal stories

... in this short amount of time I’ve already noticed a difference. I’m not struggling anymore, I don’t have to lie anymore, I’m not as stressed.

Read Andrew's story

The moment that I’m writing my story here, I’m sick and feel a heavy pain in my stomach because I lost over $10,000 in the last two days. I don’t know how to deal with this situation; I work hard and put all my money into the pokies.

Read Reza's story

I began spending $100 on pokie machines thinking that I would be able to win the jackpot. From then on, it became $200 a week and quickly transformed into $500 and now I'm spending $4000 in money that isn't even mine to play the pokies.

Read Naomi's story

He is always apologetic ... I've given him thousands of dollars to help settle debts. Now I'm facing money troubles as well. It's not easy to deal with, especially with children involved.

Read Coral's story

I've finally sought help and admitted to myself I am a problem gambler after probably my worst loss I have just recently had. I have just blown $9800 on sports betting in two days ... happy new year to me.

Read Kieran's story

Gambled on the pokies mostly when I was aged 21 to 31 and I have nothing to show for. Hit rock bottom and girlfriend left, no debt but had no savings.

Read Ted's story

My gambling started 14 years ago. I had an extremely stressful job and found relief in wagering on slots.

Read Maria's story

I have been gambling on the pokies for more than 20 years. I started off with small bets at my local pub; then gradually over the years I upped my bet to $2–$3 and thought 'wow I can win some big money here'.

Read Alex's story

... at one point decided to come clean with my partner and tell him I had gambled over $3000 of our money a few days before Christmas that I couldn’t win back ... he left me within hours.

Read Lilly's story

... I was introduced to sports betting in 2012; I had a really good year on the punt winning more than $30000. It all went south in 2013, one day it all went wrong, I lost $30,000 savings in one day and after that it just escalated.

Read Bo's story

It probably started late last year when I lost my job and was looking for extra money so I went to my bank app clicked on $20,000 loan and it was in my bank the next day ... When a few weeks went by, I was done to my last couple of $100s.

Read Rhys's story

I unfortunately have a sports-betting addiction. It’s hard to say that, but it’s true. I’m 26 years old and last night was another losing week after a loss of $3,600 in a single week.

Read Junior's story