Husband took his own life after gambling

[LukesLaw]

I tried posting this on a gambling thread but I cannot see the post and I have posted it on a bereavement thread. I just need everyone's help but I am sure you will undertand why when you read it. Sorry for the long post.
Gambling: My husband took his own life 3 months ago. We had an amazing life and we loved each other so much. We were always together unless we were at work and we have 2 lovely children together. We were childhood sweethearts and I honestly did not see this coming. I am devastated beyond words and feel completely lost without him. I love him so much.
After he had taken his life, the police gave me his phone back and when I went through it I discovered that he had been gambling (a lot) and had got loans to pay for his addiction. He had only been gambling a few months- since he was furloughed- but it got hold of him enough for him to completely lose control and unfortunately do what is the worst mistake he ever made. He didn't want to die, he was a proper grafter and a family man. He loved life. We could have sorted it together but he must have felt like it was his problem and he was taking it with him. Of course, this is not true.
After looking into his betting account, I found that he placed a free bet and then won some money, which he put back in and won some more. He then carried on but the losses soon outweighed the wins. When he lost and ran out of money on his account, another free bet dropped into his account and the cycle repeated. I am obviously angry as hell.
I have started a campaign to ban so called 'Free Bets' (THEY ARE NOT FREE, they are designed to keep you putting money back into the system) and I am hoping I can help prevent the same thing happening again to other men, women, young adults. If any of you can help me by signing,
I would really appreciate it. This is the one thing that is keeping me going at the minute because I don't know what else to do. If you google Luke's Law, my twitter and facebook stories come up as well as the petition.
I will post it here but I am not sure if its allowed so it may get deleted.
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587806

I'm so sorry about your husband and well done for trying to prevent another family going through the same. I know a friend of my brother had major issues with gambling but thankfully with family and friends support he is now married with a family and no gambling, I remember my brother driving him to support groups etc. Our lovely president here in Ireland recently was recently giving out about the advertisements for online gambling continuously shown every evening particularly during any sporting events, he's never shy about his feelings so hopefully he'll address it again.

Signed OP.

There are countries where gambling of any sort is prohibited. Sorry for your loss.

Signed

Signed, I agree that this needs a review

@scorpio32

I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss, and I've signed the petition.

I'm also a compulsive gambler and at my lowest considered suicide, but fortunately made a phone call to a friend instead. It was the best decision I've ever made.

People don't really understand just how insidious this addiction is - when you're in the grip of it you feel compelled to gamble. There's no joy in it, winning or losing has almost no emotional effect. You're either trying to win back what you've lost, or win some more gambling money. Free bets can have a massive impact and should definitely be banned.

I've not had a bet since 2012, but the consequences of my actions will be with me forever - I've had to come to terms with that.

If this campaign helps a single gambler then it will be worth it

Same here Hope you are well now

@Vitallyli

There are countries where gambling of any sort is prohibited. Sorry for your loss.

I think this used to be the case in the UK at various times in history notably the early 20th century.

I am so sorry for your loss. Signed.

I'm also married to a self excluded (ex) gambler. Definitely the lowest point of our lives when it spiralled from £1 daily bets to daily £100s.

Online gambling is pervasive and addictive. It is like allowing crack cocaine to be advertised during the breaks in Masterchef.

It should be highly regulated and not advertised on TV at all.

The UK is the odd one out here. Most countries do not allow it.

Oh my. This is very sad.

I’ll sign now.

Genuinely so sorry x

Signed. Greed and profiteering from peoples weakness or vulnerability, whether temporary or otherwise should be cracked down on. So sorry OP and I have nothing but admiration for you in taking positive action at such a tough time for you and your family.

Good luck on your quest to draw attention to this issue. Multi million pound companies are hooking innocent victims into gambling with free bets, I hope you get the support you deserve.
So sorry about your loss, he sounds a lovely man, hopefully Matt's law will be a fitting memory and go some way to ease your pain.

The government should do more to protect people.

Signed!

Signed

Signed, I’m so sorry to read your story. God speed to you for this, you are absolutely right and it makes total sense to stop these awful ads. Best of luck to you op 💐💐

For every addict of anything there is always that first go. If banning free bets stops some people having that 'first' then that will be some people who may have become addicted stopped before they ever started.

Banning advertising/sponsorship stops putting gambling in front of people. I hate the way that gambling is pushed at people:

• Play online bingo to be part of a fun group
• Bet on the game to make it more exciting
• Join an online casino and be sophisticated

I dont know if it is still the same but daytime television used to be full of alternating adverts for online bingo and payday loans. Obviously aimed at women stuck at home on their own.

Night time television is full of adverts for online casinos aimed at men sat up late at night so they can imagine they are urban sophisticates (even if the reality is they are sat in their pants eating takeaway pizza).

Stopping the advertising stops that selling of an illusion to people who may be feeling bored/lonely. This is different from selling alcohol /tobacco in that the gambling product is instantly available and without having to speak to anyone.

Even if they introduced cooling off periods - you can set up an account but have to wait 48 hours before you can utilise it - would be a start.

Signed. for you op. I admire you for working so that some good might come out of this terrible tragedy

Signed, so sorry for your loss, hopefully enough signatures will be collected for something to be done about this

Sorry for your loss. I understand your point about free bets. The online gambling companies spend enormous amounts on design psychology, machine learning and advertising to maximise their revenue. It's the reasons they take billions of pounds from gamblers. £469m salary and dividends in 2020 for one Chief Executive of one company taking their personal earnings to over £1bn didn't happen by chance.

So sorry for your loss 😢
I've signed the petition. Good luck x

Hi @LukesLaw just to let you know that we've moved this thread over to the petitions folder for you. We'll take down any duplicates.

Signed x sorry for your loss I cant imagine how devastated you all must be. My husband has also developed a habit with these sites (he doesnt know that I know) and I have often thought how much worse it is that its so ready available (on a phone at any time) that these company's are allowed to entice people to gamble is disgusting

I'm so, so sorry for your loss I've signed your petition and shared it on Facebook and also watched your video on Facebook - you seem so lovely.

I really hope you can get this banned!!

Signed, I'm very sorry for your loss, I can't even imagine what you're going through