What happens when gambling becomes deadlier than drugs?

In this raw, unfiltered episode of Nothing’s Off the Table with Louis Ruggiero, Chicago native Joe Cannon opens up about his 12-year gambling spiral — from $50 bets to risking $150,000 on a single game, chasing losses across five bookies, and losing $580,000 in just 10 days.

Joe’s story isn’t about money — it’s about survival.He shares how sports betting apps like FanDuel, DraftKings, and Caesars prey on vulnerable young men, how the dopamine rush mimics drug addiction, and how gambling drove him closer to suicide than opioids or alcohol ever did.

From hiding bets while holding his newborn daughter’s bottle…To sitting in a Chicago apartment wondering if the pipes above him could hold his weight — Joe’s brutal honesty will shake you to your core.

This episode exposes the dark truth about America’s gambling epidemic, the predatory tactics of major sportsbooks, and the silent crisis destroying millions of families behind the bright lights of “responsible gaming” ads.

Watch now to hear:

How gambling addiction destroys lives in silence

The moment Joe’s family found out and saved his life

Why self-exclusion isn’t enough to stop the spiral

How to rebuild your life after losing everything

Why recovery is possible — no matter how far you’ve fallen

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices