Gambling addiction in the digital age: a recovering gambler's perspective

A FEW YEARS ago, horse betting and casinos were popular modes of gambling but that changed after the onset of Covid-19, said Merlin Rangasami, a recovering compulsive gambler.

The online gambling scene, he said, began to make strides.

“Even after the restrictions on travel and going to public spaces were lifted, people still felt it was easier to gamble on their cellphones. Online gambling therefore became dangerous because you could do it at any time, anywhere and the person closest to you would not even know," added Rangasami.

“You could go to the bathroom and gamble your life savings away. In secret, people are gambling at their workplaces. You do not have to drive to a venue to take a bet. It is in the palm of your hand."

He said that as the chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal Gamblers Anonymous, a number of young people had joined the organisation seeking help, many of them female.

Rangasami said the problem with gambling was that it was socially acceptable in the Indian community.

“People do not look at it as a problem. People may think you are gambling for fun and do not know the seriousness of this. The gamblers in a casino are generally 70% Indian."

He joined Gamblers Anonymous in June 2015. 

“In Gamblers Anonymous, we are all recovering compulsive gamblers. We are all trusted servants of the group and we are equal in the program. 

“My life was in shambles before joining the program. I was financially drained of all money that would come into my hands. I would try and gamble to make more money to sustain my life. My wife was fed-up and she was ready to leave with my children. Being a compulsive gambler, I was also a compulsive liar and a compulsive borrower.”

He said he owed money to everyone that he could borrow from. 

“I attempted suicide a few times and never bothered about who would take care of my family. I came to a point that I was so numbed with gambling that it did not bother me whether I made money or lost money. I just needed to gamble to feed my addiction. 

“When I joined the programme, it was difficult for the first two years. There was no chance of me making money by gambling. I still had a lot of debt and with no stable income, I had to start making arrangements to pay these debts. We learn in Gamblers Anonymous that we need to work hard to pay our debt.”

He said recovery got easier for him after two years.

“You join the program to help yourself stop gambling and then you learn to maintain your recovery and help the suffering gamblers. Helping the newer members is a reminder that it is still bad out there. The most common thing we hear is that people feel gambling is an easy way of making money to improve their lifestyles. Little do they know that once you cross the line into irresponsible gambling, only disaster follows."

He said if someone was struggling with gambling addiction, they should join the programme. 

“Gamblers Anonymous has made a difference to thousands of compulsive gamblers. It can help you stop gambling and improve the quality of your life as well." 

Contact KZN Gamblers Anonymous on  083 783 5715.

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