Jess's story

I'm 27 and my mother has been gambling for as long as I can remember. It has gotten so bad, to the point where she has stolen from her work and been arrested.

Even though I no longer live at home, I have 2 younger sisters in early high school that I need to worry about. As I don't want them to miss out on anything or experience the hurt I did growing up, I feel obliged to financially support them – which puts a massive burden on me.

My mum isn't a bad person, or a bad mum, she just can't stop and it has literally ruined our lives. I wish she never started gambling and I wish that there was a way the local pubs/casinos could ban her from their establishments.