A MUM has told how she won six figures playing poker but it completely ruined her life.
Lisa Walker bagged a £127,000 jackpot in February 2001 – a win which turned her into a compulsive gambler.
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The Peer Aid support worker says her obsession with gambling began at just age eight.
She told The Sky News Daily podcast: “About eight years old. I was taken on holiday to Southend-on-sea where there’d be penny arcades and I used top bet 2p, 5p.
“When I became a teenager I’d go to the bingo hall and put a bet on the grand national – perhaps I’d make 20 quid on a £2 so it wasn’t seen as a problem.
“As the years went on I did find fruit machines, roulette tables and everything else that went along with gambling
“But it wasn’t until I reached the age of 29 that I became a compulsive gambler where I couldn’t stop.”
Lisa won a jackpot of £127,000 at Rendezvous casino, a day she described as “the worst of her life”.
She explained: “I had a huge win. I won a six figure sum – life changing money.
“But unfortunately looking back it was the worst thing that ever could have happened to me.
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“That was the day that everything changed because once I won that money I thought I could win it again.
“It led me to really get into gambling. I gambled probably everyday.”
“Some weekends I’d gamble maybe 10-12 hours in the casino from morning to night.”
It’s thought she spent half a million pounds on her habit – destroying her life.
She explained: “My children are 26 and 27 now and when they were 10 and 11 gambling cost me my house. I ended up homeless.
“Gambling cost me my marriage – I split up with my husband and it led me to some deep dark places.
“Five years ago I got married in Vegas. I left my wedding party to go and gamble.
“That’s what I did all night. I took out a loan so I could gamble and have the funds to do it.”
Things got even worse when she got back to Essex from Vegas.
She said: “The next day – the day after my wedding I started my marriage with a lie.
“We got back from Vegas and I had to pay this £2,000 back. It was very high interest aswell because I was bankrupt as well at the time.
“So I reached out to my son who was 21 at the time and said I needed money – he transferred the money to me thinking I was going to pay the loan off.
“I didn’t – I went to the bookmakers and within 25 minutes I had spent the £2,000.
“That’s when I knew I had hit rock bottom.”
How can I get help for gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction can be extremely serious, and has been linked to suicides from people who have spiralled into debt.
If you or someone close to you is affected by gambling addiction, there are a number of places where you can seek help…
- National Problem Gambling Clinic: NHS specialist clinic for problem gamblers (in England & Wales only, for those aged 16+).
- GamCare: The UK’s main support and counselling organisation, who also run the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133).
- Gamblers Anonymous: A charity who use the same 12-step approach as Alcoholics Anonymous.
- GamAnon: A support group for family and friends, run by the people behind Gamblers Anonymous.
- Samaritans: A 24-hour service for those feeling suicidal (116 123).
Childline: A free helpline for those up to the age of 18 (0800 1111).
