J.R
Gateshead
Co-Chair
"Illegal gambling destroyed my life, at a time that I was most vulnerable. During a messy divorce, I signed up to Gamstop after noticing my gambling was no longer just a £20 deposit, within days, I was barraged by 'Not-On-Gamstop marketing and lost £391,000 in 6 months, including all of the divorce settlement. When i complained, They either ignored me, or threatened me. I tried to self-exclude, but was just moved between brands each time."
Their Stories
Miles
Leamington Spa
I began using black market casinos to get around the bonus buy ban in the UK, I watch a lot of streamers and followed their content. I quickly began to experience serious gambling problems and tried to self exclude from websites, but couldn't.
Louis
Manchester
I used to play cash poker daily at casinos across the UK, It started to become difficult to use my own money to gamble with AML and KYC, so i found myself playing at illegal land based venues where I could loan money, I got myself into serious trouble and had to sell my house to pay debts. To this day, I believe these illegal venues are rigged.
Helen
Liverpool
As a keen Everton Fan, I set up an account with *****.com, I started to realise I had a gambling addiction and tried to self exclude, I had no idea ***** was not legal in the UK, So self excluding is impossible.
Sean
Northwich
I started gambling at 16 with Crypto Gambling on *****.com, Setting up an account was easy, no questions. I was being paid to boost gaming accounts in Crypto, so I had a wallet to use. I'm now 19 and my entire friend group is addicted to gambling on Crypto Casinos. I don't know anybody my age who uses normal (licensed) websites.
ALWAYS CONNECTED
Engage
Over 100 members of a Peer support group, led by trained professionals in Peer support.
Support
Weekly group meetings and events to talk, support and grow with people who have been through the same.
Action
Engage with Policy makers, MP's and regulators to impact real change.
Illegal Gambling must be prevented
At the Illegal Gambling Advisory Board, not only do we provide Peer Support services for those impacted by Illegal Gambling, we work alongside Regulators, Government and Policy makers to prevent it's growth in the United Kingdom.
The voice of lived experience will form a core part of policy. Have your say.