All Bets Are Off

In this, the penultimate episode of season four, Chris meets Chris. Today's host Chris Gilham speaks with professional darts commentator Chris Murphy about his personal experiences of gambling harm, including relapse, attempted suicide, and his recovery journey. 

Chris is also the Communications Manager and Gambling Education Facilitator at the mental health charity Sporting Chance, which helps professional sportspersons suffering from addiction. 

In July 2021 Dan Cuss, more commonly known by his 'Juron' pseudonym through his popular footballing/FIFA YouTube account with over 60,000 subscribers, released a video detailing his battles with gambling addiction (click here to view). As a follow-up to this, we invited Dan to discuss his own struggles, gambling-related harm in general, and to hear what it's like as a young person growing up in a world in which gambling products are so readily available and liberalised. Undoubtedly, Dan's story has and will continue to encourage young people to reflect on their relationship with gambling and perhaps ask themselves: am I beginning to develop a problematic association with gambling as opposed to having just a bit of fun.Please go and support Dan by checking out his videos and subscribing to his YouTube channel. 

Dan Potts and Renée Robey from Healthwatch Essex sit down down with Chris Gilham to talk all things addictions in this the latest edition of the All Bets Are Off podcast. Today we learn a lot more about their engagement project ‘Addiction: Gambling, Drugs & Alcohol'that has been conducted throghout 2021 & much more.

Host Ryan welcomes guest Annie Ashton. Annie, from Leicestershire, is petitioning to put an end to free bets and inducements after her husband Luke tragically took his own life in April this year. In today's programme, we talk about Luke and Annie's relationship. From what was a childhood crush to re-connecting on Facebook a few years later and the life that they had built for themselves and their children. We also hear a little bit about Luke's relationship with gambling and the Luke's Law campaign that Annie is crusading to bring to fruition. At the time of recording the petition was on just fewer than 6,000 signatures. However, just three weeks later when publishing the episode this figure had risen to over 15,000. To sign Annie's petition please click here. This episode is created in the loving memory of Luke Ashton. 

In today's programme, we hear from Christina, the Founder of The Broke Girl Society, and take in her addiction story and the work that she is now doing to raise awareness of gambling-related harms and support those in need, especially women. 

Please go and listen to The Broke Girl Society podcast by clicking here. You can also follow her story, and that of many others via social media: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

After a mid-season break, we're back with the re-commencement of season four. In today's episode, we welcome Ian Richards who, as a child, was sexually abused. Ian and podcast host Ryan met a few months ago on The Big Step and became close having discussed their respective chilhood traumas and the similaraties of how this impacted them both and the events that ensued. 

In today's show we welcome Dr Steve Sharman, a Research Fellow within the School of Psychology. His research  primarily focuses on the influence of within-game constructs on gambling behaviour, and virtual reality. Later in the programme TalkGEN's Chris Purnell aka CJ gives us a therapy of his lived experience and indicates gaps in research and the reasoning as to why he's so passionate about working in the sector.

This episode is dedicated to our Scottish listeners as we welcome Darren Crocker a.k.a @Rule_ette_Out on social platforms. Now six years gamble free, Darren likes to utilise his lived experience to share practical advice and thoughts which, he hopes, helps others going through a bit of tough time. We cannot recommend his Instagram videos enough - go and check him out... once you've listened to the podcast!

In part two we are joined by Warren Hughes, Gambling Education Project Manager at Fast Forward, a Scottish youth work charity focusing on drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and peer education. We hear all about what they are doing in their bid to prevent gambling harm in Scotland, the feedback that thy have received from young people and parents, and plans for the future.

Today we welcome the founder of QuitGamble.com, Anders Bergman. The Swede talks us through his story of how he worked for the gambling industry before having a change of heart and wishing to help those suffering gambling harms and implementing a well-structured methodology via QuitGamble, including a comprehensive programme designed to simplify things for individuals that have a problematic relationship with gambling.

Today we are joined by the author of The Girl Gambler, Stacey Goodwin. Stacey's gambling addiction started at the age of 18 years old when she landed what she thought would be an innocent part-time job working at a betting shop. Little did Stacey know just how much her life would take a dramatic turn and an 8-year addiction would ensure. 

Stacey burst onto the recovery scene recently having grown a large following over on TikTok in which she talks through her story, offers advice based on her lived experience and interacts with her followers - go and check out her videos @thegirlgambler.

You can purchase Stacey's book The Girl Gambler on Amazon, UK listeners click here to purchase.

Our first episode of season 4 pays homage to The Big Step’s campaign walk from Scotland to Wembley Stadium which starts on Friday 4th June.

We are joined by two integral members of the team that have helped to organise the event, Tom Fleming and Emily Beck. Alongside them, we speak with Chris Hulse who will also be taking part in the gruelling 300+ mile walk in its entirety.

Later in the show, we welcome the man charged to get the event on camera, investigate journalist Alexi Phillips.

To support The Big Step please follow the link below: -

Sign the open letter to support the call to suspend gambling adverts during the European Championships this summer - [CLICK HERE]

Sign the petition calling on the government to end gambling advertising, sponsorship and promotion in football – [CLICK HERE]

To donate - [CLICK HERE]

Welcome to the penultimate episode of season three of the All Bets Are Off podcast. In today's show, we welcome Hampshire & London Sprint cricketer Chris Wood and former cricketer Patrick Foster, who both work for EPIC Risk Management.

Although the theme of the programme is cricket, the majority of today's discussion specifically draws on Chris' and Patrick's (Patch to friends) addiction to gambling, their subsequent recoveries, and the work that they are now undertaking to try and prevent others from following a similar path.

Enjoy the show!

This week we welcome Kye Trott and Lewis Holloway from The Peoples FC, a charity YouTube football club from south-east London who was awarded the sponsorship package that we offered-up earlier on in the year. Although not gambling addiction specific, The Peoples FC are a club famed for raising awareness of mental health, and we really wished to introduce them to the community before the end of season three.

During the episode we discussed a bunch of things, including the reasonings as to why the club was formed, what they've been doing since football has been interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, the work that they do in the community, and how great it is to be working together.

We released today's episode to coincide with the release of the new kit with the All Bets Are Off logo which is now available to pre-order.

Later in the programme, Ryan and Chris discuss the family fun day scheduled for Saturday 17th July.

We understand that this episode may not be for all of our listeners and so as per the warning at the top of the show, if you are uncomfortable with discussions between a gambling addiction recovery podcast and a gambling operator then this recording isn't the one for you.

However, we believe that it's good to have a healthy debate and discussion with operators especially those that are setting a high bar in terms of ethics and sustainability, and that has set an ambitious target to reach zero revenue derived from harmful gambling by 2023, as is the case with Kindred Group. 

In today's show, we speak with Maris Catania (Global Head of Player Sustainability at Kindred Group) and UK General Manager, Neil Banbury.

Please note that this episode contains discussions around sensitive topics such as suicidal ideation and substance abuse.

The purpose of today’s show is to try and inspire those that may be amid a relapse, struggling to overcome a blip, and/or for those of us that may be fearful of a regression. To help us in this quest we welcomed two disordered gamblers in recovery, both with very different stories to tell.

Part 1: Richie Paxton

Part 2: Stephen Gillatt

Should the press hold the gambling industry to a higher standard of account? Do sports desks need to have an honest reflection on their relationship with the gambling industry? New Statesman journalist Rohan Banjeree gives his views on this and more in our Gambling In Journalism, Media & Advertising podcast. 

In the second half of the show, we welcome the founder of Underdog Sports Marketing, Ged Colleypriest. Having previously headed up the sponsorship department at talkSPORT Ged's company Underdog Sports Marketing works with sports clubs and brands with a view to creating more sustainable sponsorship and advertising strategies as opposed to being reliant on revenue from the gambling industry. Today he shares his experiences with us.

As many of our listeners will know, we absolutely love our football here on the All Bets Are Off podcast, and a series really wouldn't be a series without having at least one episode that centres around gambling in our nations number one sport. 

In today’s show, we welcome John Peel (Director at Lewes FC) and Nick Hutt (co-owner of Billericay Town) to talk about gambling in football. We were keen to draw upon John and Nick’s experiences in non-league football and how the betting industry impacts clubs - directly and indirectly - lower down the pyramid. 

We hope that this discussion can play a small part in football reverting to type and being as beautiful as it once was, free of betting logos emblazoned on everything. Long live the beautiful game... without betting sponsorship, promotion and advertising. 

The All Bets Are Off crew come together for the final recording of what has been a breakthrough year. There are no guests this time out; just Ryan, Kishan, Chris and Tracey sharing their thoughts and memories from 2020, whilst also looking ahead on what's to come in 2021 both from the podcast and TalkGEN.  

We would like to thank each and every guest that has appeared on the podcast ever since its inception eight months ago. Needless to say, we would like to extend this gratitude to all of our listeners who continue to listen and share the podcast. 

We'll be back in four weeks time for season three! 

Just two weeks after the finale of season two, the All Bets Are Off podcast is back with a bumper-packed Christmas Special edition. 

The team are joined by all of the following guests:

Henrietta Bowden-Jones: Director of the NHS funded Centre for Behavioural Addictions, overseeing the work of both the National Problem Gambling Clinic and the Centre for Internet and Gaming Disorders

Sharon Collard: Professor of Personal Finance and Research Director / Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol

Minal Jain and Tejus Patel: co-founders of the RecoverMe app

It's an actioned packed-one that's for sure... Merry Christmas everyone!

For our final episode of the season we are joined by Chair and Vice-Chair of the Gambling Related Harm APPG, MP's Carolyn Harris and Ronnie Cowan. The Review Show also includes Business Correspondent at the Daily Mail, Tom Witherow. Later in the programme we have a Q&A session with Chair of the UK Gambling Commission, Bill Moyes. 

The penultimate episode of season two of the All Bets Are Off podcast focuses on the armed forces and veteran community. 

On today's show we're joined by three army veterans: Drew Crainie and Nick Phillips, formerly of the British Army, and from across the pond we have Dave Yeager, who served in the US Military. 

Although research is limited, like many of the communities that we feature on the podcast, armed forces personnel and veterans are disproportionately affected by gambling harms in comparison to the general population. In fact, armed forces veterans are more than eight times more likely than non-veterans to exhibit problem gambling.

During the episode we explore each of the veterans' personal stories, and discuss whether or not the environment, stress and trauma's of army life had an impact on their gambling behaviours. 

The incredibly brave Julie Martin joins us today to talk through her story of being married to a gambling addict, and the impact that this has had on her and their children. Julie has suffered many years of trauma as an affected other, including mental and physical abuse. Undoubtedly, this episode is one of the most emotive we've ever recorded. 

Later in the show we're joined by Steve Watts, the founder of GamFam, a charity that primarily focuses on gambling addiction and related harms as an affected other.

Given that around a quarter of our listeners reside in the United States of America, the All Bets Are Off podcast wished to pay homage to our recovery friends, and those contemplating recovery, across the Atlantic Ocean. We believe that this particular episode comes at a time when the landscape of the gambling industry over in the US is evolving rapidly each and every day.

In this episode we welcome three individuals that each have lived-experience of gambling addiction, Jake Fincher, Brian Hatch & Paul Buck.

1st guest: Jake Fincher - comes from the Southern state of Georgia and dissects his longstanding battle with gambling addiction and how it drove him to the brink of taking his own life, and how he later found recovery through Gamblers Anonymous

2nd guest: Brian Hatch (Co-host of All In: The Addicted Gambler's Podcast) - now residing in Connecticut, Brian opens up about his addiction to land-based casino's, he has now been gamble-free since July 2014, and over the past few years has racked up well over a century of episodes as co-host of his own podcast alongside Jeff Wasserman

3rd guest: Paul Buck (CEO of EPIC Risk Management) - EPIC Risk Management have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of the gambling education and harm-prevention sector in the UK, and have recently launched their model over in the US market - in this discussion we find out the reasons why and what EPIC are wanting to achieve

The All Bets Are Off team are joined by George Cooper and Kerri Nicholls to discuss the disproportionate levels of gambling harm among the LGBQT+ community.  

Lonely and isolated, George's gambling addiction began in late 2016 following the breakdown of a personal relationship. Later in the show, Kerri reveals that gambling was normalised in the football changing room environment that she was a part of. During today's episode we explore the coming out and draw-on some similarities between this process and speaking openly about an addiction to gambling.

Following the success of Women's Week in season one; the All Bets Are Off Podcast again shine the spotlight on gambling harm among women. 

In this episode we briefly catch up with two of our former guests Jean Mulleary and Lisa Walker, whom following their introduction on the podcast around five months ago, became good friends and now work together.

This week's host Tracey Gritt welcomes Nicole Hannah onto the show. Nicole shares her lived experience of gambling addition and tells us about the underground world of the gambling scene, which involves drug-dealers and unrepentant loan sharks.

Tracey is later joined by founder of Level Ground Therapy, leading UK therapist in gambling addiction in women, author and consultant Liz Carter to discuss her role and learnings within the sector.

The panel welcome a couple of guests from abroad in this special edition of the All Bets Are Off podcast which focuses on gambling addiction related matters from around the world. 

First-up we speak to Anna Bardsley regarding the problems that her native Australia has with the pokies and the tireless advocacy for positive change that she had embarked on over the years. Later in the show we chat to Collins Muhinda, the face of the BBC Africa Eye documentary Gamblers like me: The dark side of sports betting, as we discuss the rise of sports betting in Uganda.

The All Bets Are Off podcast kick-off series two with our Gambling Harm Among The Student Population episode. Our first guest is Bray Ash, a recovering gambling addict who once gambled his whole student loan within 24 hours. In the second part of the show we welcome the founder of Deal Me Out, Jordan Lea. Within this section we learn more about the tactics of land-based casinos and how they attempt to snare university students.

Ryan is once again joined by Chris & Kelly for the third episode of the 'All Bets Are Off!' podcast. This episode explores Mental Health that little bit more - both as an active disordered gambler and into recovery. The usual panel are joined by guests Ben Holmes (part 1) and Owen Baily (part 2). 

Ryan is joined by Chris & Kelly for the second episode of the 'All Bets Are Off!' podcast. In this episode we discuss just how fair (or unfair) gambling companies really are - why would they ban profitable players? In the second part of the podcast we go onto talk a little bit about social media advertising in the gambling sector among other things.