Alex shares his story of gambling addiction and recovery

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp

Alex, a 29-year-old from Sydney, Australia, whose story is both confronting and deeply inspiring. After seven years of gambling, Alex’s addiction came to a head the day he was called into the office and placed under investigation for defrauding his employer. What he describes as the worst day of his life became the first day of his recovery. Alex shares how his journey began at 18 with his first experience in a casino. After losing money, he was initially turned off and walked away. But at 20, he was introduced to online sports betting — something that felt normal, accessible, and socially accepted. That’s when the hook set in. What started as casual betting slowly evolved into secrecy, shame, and decisions that would ultimately alter the course of his life. He speaks candidly about the pressures that fueled his addiction — the pressure to succeed, to meet expectations, and the constant need to feel in control. He reflects on the moment everything collapsed, the fear of losing his career and reputation, and the painful but necessary step of finally telling his loved ones the truth. For Alex, recovery didn’t begin with willpower — it began with honesty. Now in recovery, he shares how gambling wasn’t just a financial issue, but a mental and emotional battle rooted in identity, pride, and self-worth. His story is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our worst decisions, but by how we choose to move forward.

This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Mariano shares his gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/

Mariano is an English and Spanish teacher from Peru who struggled with gambling for 18 years and is now almost two years clean. His story starts where a lot of people don’t expect it to start: a free-to-play slot machine on a tablet when he was a teenager. From there it escalated into poker, then in-person slot rooms, then online casinos during the pandemic, and even crypto trading that turned into gambling behavior. Along the way, Mariano chased the same promise that traps so many people: the belief that this could be a way to make money, get ahead, and finally feel secure. But the reality hit hard. Mariano shares the moment he lost nearly everything trading Bitcoin, had a panic attack, fainted, and ended up in the hospital. He talks about discovering online slots, hitting a big win, and then falling into the brutal cycle of chasing—until he burned $3,000 in less than half an hour. He also tells the unbelievable moment he got caught playing online poker while teaching because he accidentally shared the wrong screen, and it cost him his job.

This conversation is about more than losses. It’s about the psychology that keeps people trapped: chasing, desperation, boredom, the illusion of being the exception, and the false hope that the next hit will fix everything. Mariano explains what finally changed: accepting the truth that gambling isn’t a path forward, cutting off crypto because it was a gateway, and building a life with purpose, structure, and accountability—especially after realizing what he wanted to protect most: his future, his peace, and his family. If you’re in the middle of it right now and you feel like you can’t imagine life without gambling, listen closely to this one. Recovery is possible, even after years.

Chaz shares his gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease

Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/

About Chaz: Chaz Donati is a gambling awareness advocate, wannabe endurance athlete, living a simpler and healthier life after a 15 year battle with gambling addiction. He’s hopeful that by sharing his story, others won’t feel like they are alone in this fight. Follow along his personal physical / mental health challenges on Instagram at https://instagram.com/chazdonati

What does it feel like to watch life-changing money turn into Monopoly dollars? In this episode, Rob sits down with Chaz Donati to unpack a sports betting addiction that escalated from small poker nights with friends into high-stakes online betting, bookies, loans, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in wagers. Chaz shares how gambling started innocently with $20 poker games and fantasy football before evolving into constant sports betting action. What began as entertainment slowly turned into a second life built around studying lines, chasing losses, and believing that sports knowledge meant he could beat the system. Eventually the stakes exploded. After a major financial payout from company equity, Chaz suddenly had access to more money than ever before. Within months, hundreds of thousands of dollars flowed through his FanDuel account, and what should have been life-changing money began to feel like Monopoly money.

In this conversation we discuss:

• How early wins create the illusion that you can make money gambling

• The dangerous cycle of loans, bookies, and chasing losses

• How sports betting becomes a daily routine and mental obsession

• The impact of gambling legalization and nonstop advertising

• Why live betting makes losses spiral even faster

• What recovery actually looks like, including counseling, self-exclusion, and rebuilding your life Chaz speaks openly about hitting a breaking point, losing nearly half a million dollars on FanDuel, and the long process of rebuilding after gambling addiction. Stories like this show how quickly gambling can escalate and how difficult it can be to walk away once it gets going

Jordan shares his gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/

Jordan Freeman is a 25-year-old recovery advocate, speaker, and founder of Blueprint Recovery Coaching. He is approaching five years free from gambling and now supports young adults and families navigating gambling and substance use recovery. Jordan is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work at NYU and trains clinically at a specialized gambling disorder clinic, where he works with individuals struggling with behavioral addiction. He is passionate about helping others rebuild their lives with structure, accountability, and long-term purpose. Gambling didn't start for Jordan in a casino. It started in a basement. Ping pong. Pop-a-shot. Video games. Sleepovers where everyone kept tabs on who owed who money. It looked harmless, even normal, but the pattern was already there: needing something on the line, chasing the rush, and feeling that adrenaline hit even as a kid.

In this episode, Jordan Freeman shares how those early wagers turned into sports betting in high school, then escalated in college where gambling culture was everywhere. Straight bets turned into parlays, player props, and eventually online blackjack and live betting because waiting for results started to feel unbearable. What began as social turned into something secret. And once it became secret, it got even more dangerous.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Paul shares his gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/

About Paul: He had a gambling addiction for 11 years and has been just over 3 years gamble free. Paul now advocates for awareness within Nuerodivergence, Gambling and Young People and highlighting the need that starting the conversation may not mean that person needs professional help. He also went on a weight loss journey at the same time, and lost 55kg naturally in 2 years, feel free to follow him on social media using the following links. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashi5293?igsh=MXV0anV6ODNtY3FtcQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14Ncn48xtqy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Samantha shares her story of gambling addiction and recovery

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com

In this episode, we’re looking at a side of gambling that usually gets a pass because it’s hidden behind stock charts and financial jargon: day trading. While it's often marketed as a career move, for many families, it turns into a nightmare of secrecy and broken trust. I’m joined by Samantha, who knows this cycle all too well. As the former partner of a day trading addict, she’s now using her experience to help other loved ones of traders realize they aren’t crazy for what they’re seeing and feeling. Samantha gets honest about why it’s so hard for partners of trading addicts to get help when society doesn’t always call trading what it actually is--gambling. Samantha’s message is clear: it’s time to stop doubting yourself, trust your gut and start protecting your own financial future. What we cover in this talk: The red flags: Three specific signs that trading has turned into a serious gambling problem Why your intuition about your partner's financial secrecy is right: How to handle the confusion when the financial stories you’re told don’t match the reality of your bank account Opening up to your network: Why talking to your friends and family is the first step in breaking the shame and getting your life back If you’ve been feeling lost, confused, or alone because of your partner’s trading, please listen to this.

Connect with Samantha on TikTok where she shares resources for partners of trading and sports betting addicts: https://tiktok.com/@friendyoucallatmidnight

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Janelle shares her gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com

About Janelle: I started gambling at the age of 10 years old and by the time I was in high school I was a full blow gambling addict. By the time I was in my early 20’s I was living in Las Vegas addicted to stimulants and gambling every dollar I had while working as a chef on the Las Vegas strip. As life went on the drugs and the alcohol faded but the addiction to gambling never went away. Today I sleep much better having gotten therapy and developing coping skills to help ease the day to day urges! Janelle’s story is one of the clearest examples of how early gambling exposure can turn into a lifelong battle. She placed her first bets at 10 years old, and by middle school she was gambling every day after school. By high school, she describes being fully addicted—chasing the rush, needing to stay in the game, and finding ways to get money just to keep playing.

In this episode, we talk about how gambling became an escape from depression, how wins warped her relationship with money, and how the addiction slowly turned “borrowing” into stealing. She opens up about taking money from her mom’s safe as a teenager, the mental gymnastics that convinced her she’d win it back, and how lying and manipulation can feel invisible when you’re trapped in the cycle. We also get into why certain environments make gambling feel unavoidable: growing up near Atlantic City, living in Las Vegas where machines are everywhere, and later moving home and discovering Pennsylvania skill machines—where you can gamble for hours in everyday locations like bars, gas stations, and convenience spots with almost no social friction.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

LJ lost millions to gambling addiction. From VIP casino treatment to rock bottom, this is his unfiltered story of how gambling nearly cost him everything—including his life.

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com

Nothing took his soul like gambling did. In this episode, LJ comes back on the podcast to share some of his craziest gambling addiction stories from years of high-stakes sports betting, casino gambling, and the brutal cycle of chasing losses. You’ll hear how casino comps and a host relationship made the addiction feel free and glamorous at first, how easy it is to fall into bigger bets when you have access to money, and how quickly entertainment turns into financial holes, lies, debt, and desperation. LJ breaks down the mindset that keeps a compulsive gambler trapped: the belief that the only way out is to keep gambling, win it back, and fix everything. We talk about the 50k weekend that disappeared in a single night, the insane rush of turning 600 into 35k at 5AM, and why that high doesn’t save you, it resets the goalpost. We also get into superstition, sleep deprivation, and the way gambling hijacks your brain until normal life feels flat, dull, and pointless.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Justin E shares his story of gambling addiction and recovery.

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatement center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease

Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com

Justin E has 17 years clean from drugs and alcohol, and over 4 years clean from gambling. In this episode, he breaks down something most people never get warned about: cross-addiction, and how the same disease can quietly change costumes. He explains how gambling didn’t start as desperation for him. It started as something innocent, a pastime, a familiar environment he told himself he could control. Then it escalated. Poker turned into higher-action games. Casinos turned into routine. And the first real red flag wasn’t a massive financial loss… it was a lie. That’s the moment Justin knew the pattern was back. Not because he was evil or broken, but because addiction always drifts toward secrecy, isolation, and rationalization. He talks about the mental battle on the drive to the casino, why the atmosphere pulls you in, and how online poker (especially on your phone) can accelerate the spiral in a way people underestimate. We also dig into why GA stories can feel darker than other rooms, why meeting attendance is a non-negotiable for so many people, and the idea that recovery has no true plateau: you’re either progressing or drifting back toward old behaviors. Justin makes a powerful case for honesty, daily self-audit, and building structured recovery into your routine so that gambling doesn’t become the substitute that sneaks in after you “beat” something else.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Jeff shares his gambling addiction story

🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY

🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatement center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com

Interested in joining Jeff's group? Send an email to: [email protected]

Jeff Wasserman is a former practicing attorney who has faced and addressed gambling addiction, leading him to a path of recovery and service. Today, he uses that lived experience to help others find hope and healing. He is the Judicial Outreach and Development Director for the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, raising awareness of gambling addiction among judges, lawyers, and others in the legal system. Jeff earned certifications as an International Gambling Counselor (ICGC-I) and Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS). In 2019, he founded the Problem Gambling Support Group (PGSG), a peer-led online community that offers daily recovery meetings and provides vital support for young people navigating gambling harm in today’s pervasive gambling culture. Jeff has been a presenter or keynote speaker for the Arizona Department of Gaming, Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling, Montana State Bar Association, the National Council on Problem Gambling, the American Bar Association, the Delaware State Bar Association, and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. His insights have been featured by NPR, Reuters, NBC News, and local television and radio outlets in the Wilmington and Philadelphia areas. He also co-hosts All In: The Addicted Gambler’s Podcast.

Jeff shares how his gambling started casually at Belmont Park, escalated through law school trips to Atlantic City, and eventually shifted from social blackjack to the high-limit slot room for one reason: escape. We talk about the mental “zone,” why shame makes people hide, how addiction can override logic (even for a lawyer), and why comparing your losses to someone else’s is one of the biggest traps that keeps people from getting help.

🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources

👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb

1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr

🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz

😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1