Harj has shared his story of how his life spiralled out of control
A Brit dad who accumulated £250,000 worth of debt has issued a warning about ‘harmless’ World Cup office sweepstakes. Harj Gahley watched his life unravel as he built up crippling financial debts.
During a single break at work, he clocked up £9,000 in debt – and was even placing bets while brushing his teeth. His gambling addiction rapidly spiralled beyond his control, ultimately costing him his home, his job and very nearly his marriage.
Whenever major events such as the World Cup came around, he would ‘go big’ with his wagers – to the tune of £1,000 a time, reports the Mirror. Now Harj is recounting his journey down the ‘slippery slope’ to demonstrate how one seemingly innocent bet can swiftly lead a person to rock bottom. “I used to bet a lot, as I was in a high paying job,” said the 40 year old from Slough in Berkshire.
“It meant I could afford to bet bigger – go big or go home as I would say. For me, it wasn’t the chat about betting around these events; it was the never-ending talk of football.
“Teams, players, managers, form, injuries, who was likely to win, who looked strong, who was overrated. Because I was already trapped in addiction, I would take all that information and turn it into betting ideas in my head.
“Weekends would often mean meeting my friends down the pub, watching the football, having a laugh, and, from the outside, I looked like I was just enjoying myself. But, really, my addiction was consuming me.”
Harj, a recovery advocate, also maintains workplace sweepstakes played a role. He explained: “It feels harmless to most people. I used to think in my mind that I should put a proper wager on the team I was drawn. It was completely distorted.
“With so much conversation in each part of my life about the World Cup, from friends, colleagues, adverts, TV, social media and the general build-up, it became very hard not to think about betting.”
Throughout the 2014 tournament, he made numerous bets – with his largest £1,000 on Brazil to triumph. He also staked a wager, for the identical sum, on Argentina. And then they were defeated.
Harj explained: “Each game was fuelled by anxiety, hoping to see a win. When they lost, I was furious and upset. I had no loyalty to Argentina as a team, so I just lost £1,000 for nothing. That money could’ve gone on bills or my other mounting debt.”
In total, he estimates over £4,000 was spent throughout the five-week period. And while he won wagers along the way, he simply ended up spending the winnings on more gambling.
He stated: “A win was never really a win because it only gave me confidence to keep gambling. I was trapped. The only time I didn’t gamble was when I had no money left.”
Harj is urging gambling firms to reassess their advertising strategies during the tournament in an effort to reduce people falling down the hole. He continued: “Gambling addiction can feel like someone has hijacked your brain and is holding it to ransom. It’s no longer about who could win the match, it’s become about betting on anything that happens during with live odds and in-play betting.
“You no longer watch the match, as your eyes are glued to a small screen instead of the big one, waiting for a payout. It’s dangerous as the game becomes secondary and the bet becomes the main event.
“I think we need to be really honest about talk around gambling during the World Cup. For many people, it may seem like harmless fun.
“But for others, especially those already struggling, it can be the perfect storm of emotion, pressure, advertising, access and opportunity. Football should be about connection, joy and shared memories.
“But for me, and perhaps many others battling addiction, it became another environment where this was hidden in plain sight. When watching football with friends, try to keep focus on the game, not the odds.
“If conversations around betting are becoming difficult, step away and speak to someone you trust. If you are struggling, don’t wait until you have lost everything.”
Harj’s dependency took hold after pocketing £60 on his very first Blackjack attempt. A routine day would typically see him heading straight to the casino or bookmakers upon waking.
Once online betting took off, he would place a wager before he had even reached for his toothbrush. During a single work break, he haemorrhaged £9,000.
Having sought assistance from GamCare, he managed to turn his life around, clear his debts and preserve his marriage.
