Former gambling addict urges others to seek help

Matt Burgiss said he started his recovery by talking to loved ones

A former gambling addict from Kent who used to bet thousands of pounds a day has encouraged others to speak out about their problems.

Matt Burgiss, from Chatham, started gambling at 15 and his addiction snowballed until he tried to take his own life in 2016.

He said: "I got to the point where I was gambling like 16, 17 hours a day online. I had hidden my addiction from everyone around me."

Mr Burgiss now works for GamCare, a charity that helps people impacted by gambling harms.

Mr Burgiss was in a coma for three weeks after trying to kill himself

The development manager said: "I know I did lose a lot of money, and that is a big harm, but I think the more hidden harm is the emotional side of it and how it affects your mental health.

"You can lose small amounts of money and it still be detrimental to your mental health.”

Mr Burgiss started his recovery by talking to family and friends about his addiction and this "forged a path forward".

He said: "I never believed when I was younger, when I was 18, 19, 20, that gambling would be something that could potentially cost me my life, and it very, very nearly did.”

A Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) spokesperson said its members supported 110,000 jobs and generated billions of pounds in tax.

Members also contributed tens of millions of pounds each year to help prevent gambling-related harm, BGC added.

Those looking for help can visit the GamCare website or call its National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for free information, support and counselling.

If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.