Young Australian who gambled over $200,000 demands government action on sports betting

A sports-obsessed Aussie who beat his gambling addiction after losing more than $200,000 continues to receive spam messages from casinos trying to lure him back.

Fred was fresh out of high school in 2015 when he developed a gambling addiction after inheriting a small fortune.

The AFL fanatic and ardent supporter of the Magpies, from Caulfield in Melbourne’s southeast, estimates he lost about $230,000 gambling on sports.

Now rehabilitated, the 26-year-old is calling for government reform, starting with better education in schools.

“It was a rather ugly, unhealthy evolution of my love and obsession with sports,” said Fred 9News.

The AFL fanatic and staunch supporter of the Magpies, from Caulfield in Melbourne’s south-east, (pictured) estimates he’s lost about $230,000 gambling on sports

“Not only does it take over lives, but it also ends people’s lives. People end their own lives,” he added.

“We have sex edition. We have drug edition, where is the gambling edition? I think now is the time.’

Fred explained that he can resist the temptation, but he is constantly receiving “repulsive” text messages from casinos trying to lure him into gambling.

However, Fred’s call for more education was mocked online, with many claiming the reformed gambler had only himself to blame.

“I need to know when to hold them and when to fold them, Kenny Rogers sang the educational theme,” one person wrote.

Common sense I would have thought. No real direct training needed,” a second person commented.

A third agreed: ‘Why don’t people take responsibility for their own actions and have to blame someone or something else? You made a mistake, learn from it and move on. Next one.’

A fourth person added, “Sounds like a you problem.”

The problem gambling rate among online gamblers in Australia is three times higher than those playing poker machines (photo, image of a man placing an online bet)

Alliance for Gambling Reform campaigner Tim Costello said gambling was Australia’s ‘blind spot’.

“We lose the most in gambling of any country in the world, 40 percent more than the country that comes second,” Costello told 9News.

“If America’s blind spot is guns, then ours is gambling.”

It comes after the House Standing Committee on Social Policing and Legal Affairs announced in September 2022 an investigation into online gambling and its impact on problem gamblers.

Committee chairwoman Peta Murphy MP said a public hearing on April 4-5 will ask sports betting whether they are doing enough to limit the harm from online gambling.

“We will be questioning Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Entain (operators of the Ladbrokes and Neds brands) and the industry association Responsible Wagering Australia on whether the industry is doing enough to limit the harm from online gambling,” Ms Murphy said.

It comes after the House Standing Committee on Social Policing and Legal Affairs announced in September 2022 an investigation into online gambling and its impact on problem gamblers

“Released research … shows that Australians are in favor of tighter restrictions on gambling advertising, and that gambling advertising encourages people to gamble and do so in riskier ways,” she added.

“The AFL and NRL are the main beneficiaries of sports betting, including through sponsorship and advertising, receiving a share of every bet placed on their games.”

“The committee is interested to hear how this ties in with the promotion of their codes as family-friendly and socially responsible organizations.”

The committee received nearly 150 entries from organizations involved in sports betting.

Ms. Murphy explained that the commission will inquire about any regulatory action by the federal government and warned broadcasters, sports codes and gambling companies to expect more restrictions on advertising and promotions.

Committee Chair Mrs Peta Murphy MP (pictured) warned broadcasters, sports codes and betting companies that they should expect more restrictions on advertising and promotions

“It is absolutely clear that not only members of the community are concerned about the proliferation of sports betting advertisements and the increasing involvement of young people in sports betting,” Ms Murphy said.

The problem gambling rate among online gamblers in Australia is three times higher than those playing poker machines.

Australia’s sports betting industry took $50 billion in bets between 2021 and 2022.

The total includes all bets placed by the 32 sports betting and two betting exchanges licensed in the Northern Territory for betting on racing, sports codes, made over the phone or online.