A man has revealed how his £4,000 World Cup ‘betting spree’ left him owing a hefty sum and issues a warning over “harmless” office sweepstakes.
Harj Gahley, at his worst, was £250,000 in debt.
And it was all because of his addiction to gambling, which quickly spiralled out-of-control and cost him his home, marriage and job.
When major sports events, such as the World Cup, were on, he’d ‘go big’ with his bets; to the tune of £1,000-a-pop.
With the games kicking off last Thursday (11 June) Harj is sharing his journey down the ‘slippery slope’ to show people how one simple bet could quickly lead to rock bottom.
“I used to bet a lot, as I was in a high paying job,” the 40-year-old, from Slough, told Need To Know.
“It meant I could afford to bet bigger – go big or go home as I would say.
“For me, it wasn’t the chat about betting around these events; it was the never-ending talk of football.
“Teams, players, managers, form, injuries, who was likely to win, who looked strong, who was overrated.
“Because I was already trapped in addiction, I would take all that information and turn it into betting ideas in my head.
“Weekends would often mean meeting my friends down the pub, watching the football, having a laugh, and, from the outside, I looked like I was just enjoying myself.
“But, really, my addiction was consuming me.”
Harj, a recovery advocate, also says meaningless workplace sweepstakes contributed.
He said: “It feels harmless to most people.
“I used to think in my mind that I should put a proper wager on the team I was drawn.
“It was completely distorted.
“With so much conversation in each part of my life about the World Cup, from friends, colleagues, adverts, TV, social media and the general build-up, it became very hard not to think about betting.”
During the 2014 tournament, he placed multiple bets – with his highest £1,000 on Brazil to win.
He also placed a bet, for the same amount, on Argentina.
And then they lost.
Harj said: “Each game was fuelled by anxiety, hoping to see a win.
“When they lost, I was furious and upset.
“I had no loyalty to Argentina as a team, so I just lost £1,000 for nothing.
“That money could’ve gone on bills or my other mounting debt.”
In total, he reckons over £4,000 was spent over the five-week period.
And while he won bets along the way, he only ended up spunking the money on more gambling.
He said: “A win was never really a win because it only gave me confidence to keep gambling.
“I was trapped.
“The only time I didn’t gamble was when I had no money left.”
Harj is calling on gambling companies to review their advertising tactics during the tournament in a bid to lessen people falling down the hole.
He added: “Gambling addiction can feel like someone has hijacked your brain and is holding it to ransom.
“It’s no longer about who could win the match, it’s become about betting on anything that happens during with live odds and in-play betting.
“You no longer watch the match; as your eyes are glued to a small screen instead of the big one, waiting for a payout.
“It’s dangerous as the game becomes secondary and the bet becomes the main event.
“I think we need to be really honest about talk around gambling during the World Cup.
“For many people, it may seem like harmless fun.
“But for others, especially those already struggling, it can be the perfect storm of emotion, pressure, advertising, access and opportunity.
“Football should be about connection, joy and shared memories.
“But for me, and perhaps many others battling addiction, it became another environment where this was hidden in plain sight.
“When watching football with friends, try to keep focus on the game, not the odds.
“If conversations around betting are becoming difficult, step away and speak to someone you trust.
“If you are struggling, don’t wait until you have lost everything.”
Harj’s addiction began after winning £60 on his first try at Blackjack.
A typical day used to involve waking up and going to the casino or bookmakers.
When online betting became a thing, he’d place a bet before he’d even brushed his teeth.
During one break at work, he lost £9,000.
After seeking help with GamCare, he was able to get back on his feet, pay off the debt, and save his marriage.
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