ODAAT Gambling Awareness

Will's gambling addiction story about debt, divorce, and recovery. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/NurCWVRYVEY?si=zzmegEOfNIxqmomg 1-800-GAMBLER is the national helpline if you're struggling with a gambling problem. 🙌 Gamban is a gambling-blocking app designed to create real friction between you and online gambling. Gamban blocks access to thousands of gambling websites and apps across your devices, helping remove the instant access that can make urges so dangerous in early recovery. Recovery is about building barriers before the urge hits, and Gamban can help make gambling harder to reach when you need that protection most. You can learn more at https://gamban.com William Hinman, CPRS, RPS Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Peer Supervisor, Outreach Coordinator Will Hinman is a Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (CPRS) and Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS) with the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling. As a Peer for the Center, Will assists individuals seeking to limit, control, or stop their gambling activity all together and helps to remove any barriers to recovery by sharing his own lived experience with gambling addiction and navigating them to treatment and any other resources within the state of MD that may be helpful to them. Will comes from a background of over 25 years managerial, sales, and customer service experience. Now, he utilizes those skills in the Recovery Community spreading awareness across the state of MD on the risks of gambling/problem gambling by providing numerous awareness presentations and attendance at community events. Will Hinman shares his gambling addiction recovery story, from early sports betting and casino gambling to online blackjack, poker, debt, divorce, alcoholism, and the night he hit rock bottom. What started as entertainment slowly became a way to escape stress, grief, and financial fear. After draining his accounts, taking cash advances, and chasing losses at the casino, Will finally found recovery through treatment, Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the support of people who understood what he was going through. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

A man shares how blackjack, cash advances, and debt nearly destroyed his life. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/NurCWVRYVEY?si=zzmegEOfNIxqmomg 🙌 Gamban has just launched a new Discord platform for those looking to chat about gambling addiction and recovery in partnership with the CSGO team Ecstatic! Sign up here: https://discord.gg/mYJYCEN2ch His gambling addiction started with slot machines after a painful breakup, but quickly escalated into high-stakes blackjack, cash advances, massive debt, and chasing losses he could never get back. In this gambling addiction recovery podcast, he shares how an early big win made him believe gambling could become a way to make money. After turning a $2,000 loan into over $60,000, he began betting thousands of dollars per hand, quit his job, and eventually lost $20,000 in just a few minutes playing blackjack. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Parents share how their son’s gambling addiction nearly destroyed their family. 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/NurCWVRYVEY?si=zzmegEOfNIxqmomg 🙌 Gamban has just launched a new Discord platform for those looking to chat about gambling addiction and recovery in partnership with the CSGO team Ecstatic! Sign up here: https://discord.gg/mYJYCEN2ch Link to Ranjana and Vasker's nonprofit they work with to help parents: https://parentsstandingtogether.org/ In this episode, Rob is joined by Ranjana and Vasker, two parents who share the painful story of how their son’s gambling addiction began in college with poker and eventually escalated into sports betting, casinos, financial secrecy, lying, and a family crisis. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Cade shares his story of gambling addiction and recovery 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/NurCWVRYVEY?si=zzmegEOfNIxqmomg 🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/ Cade’s story is one of the most powerful examples of how fast a gambling problem can escalate when left unchecked. What started as casual gambling in college quickly turned into something much darker. Over time, what felt like harmless fun became a daily habit, then a financial strategy, and eventually a full-blown addiction that took control of his life. As Cade climbed the ranks in his banking career, the pressure to succeed and “keep up” financially only intensified the problem. What began as occasional gambling turned into gambling during work hours, chasing losses, and using money meant for basic necessities just to try to stay afloat. Like many people struggling with gambling, he believed he could fix everything with one big win. But that moment never came. Instead, the situation escalated to a breaking point where desperation took over. Cade made a decision that would change his life forever—embezzling money from the bank he worked at. What followed was fear, anxiety, legal consequences, and the realization that gambling had completely taken control. This video breaks down how gambling addiction progresses, how quickly it can spiral, and the real-life consequences that most people never see. But more importantly, it shows that even after hitting rock bottom, recovery is possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, you are not alone. There is help available, and there is a way out. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Nick shares his story of gambling addiction 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/NurCWVRYVEY?si=zzmegEOfNIxqmomg 🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/ Nick’s story starts earlier than most. At just 9 years old, he fell in love with poker. By 15, he was already receiving thousands of dollars in winnings, gaining validation from family, and believing he had found his path. What started as a “strategy game” quickly became something much deeper. In this episode, Nick shares how early success, validation, and the illusion of control pulled him deeper into gambling. From winning over $100,000 online to eventually losing it all through sports betting and casino games, his story highlights how quickly things can spiral. The transition from poker player to full-blown gambling addiction didn’t happen overnight—but once it did, it changed everything. We break down the poker boom, the psychology behind early wins, and how boredom, isolation, and easy access to betting led to escalating behavior. This is a story about identity, ego, and the dangerous belief that you’re different from “other gamblers.” If you or someone you know is struggling, this conversation is meant to show that gambling addiction is real—but so is recovery. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Vin shares his gambling addiction story 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY Vin didn’t start gambling as an addict. He started like most people do… casually. A day at the racetrack, a few bets, and then something happened that changes everything for so many people: he won. That first win didn’t just give him money, it gave him a feeling he had never experienced before. A rush. A high. A level of mental stimulation that completely consumed him. Within months, gambling wasn’t just something he did. It became something he needed. In this episode, Vin shares how he went from a high school English teacher with a stable life, a wife, and a newborn baby… to living a double life consumed by gambling addiction for seven straight years. He wasn’t just betting occasionally, he was gambling every single day. Horse racing, lottery, sports betting, bookies—anything he could find action on, he bet. And like so many people struggling with gambling addiction, it stopped being about winning or losing. It became about being in action. That constant cycle of anticipation, betting, and chasing the next moment slowly took over his entire life. From the outside, everything looked fine. He had a career, he built successful businesses, and he was providing for his family. But behind the scenes, he was lying constantly, sneaking around, and draining everything he built into his gambling habit. He describes it best himself: he was stealing from himself. The money didn’t go toward his future or his family, it went right back into the cycle. And the worst part? He knew early on that it was out of control. This wasn’t a slow decline—he recognized the madness almost immediately and still couldn’t stop. That’s the reality of gambling addiction. It doesn’t wait years to take hold. It can happen fast, and once it does, it rewires how you think, how you spend your time, and what you prioritize. In this conversation, we break down how early wins hook people, why gambling becomes about action instead of money, what it’s like living a double life, how addiction escalates across different forms of gambling, and the impact it has on family, relationships, and identity. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Bryan shares his gambling addiction story 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Right Choice Recovery is a family owned and operated treatment center in New Jersey specializing in helping those struggling to stop gambling. I have partnered with them because I believe they genuinely care about the people who come through their program, and I don't know anyone better to help you find recovery from this disease Check out their program at: https://rightchoicerecoverynj.com/livestreams-community-building/ Most people think gambling addiction looks obvious. It doesn’t. Bryan hid his addiction for nearly a decade while building what looked like a “perfect life” on the outside. Pharmacy school, a six-figure job, relationships, friends… but behind the scenes, everything was falling apart. In this episode of the One Day at a Time podcast, Bryan shares how gambling went from fun bets at 16 to constant, uncontrollable behavior fueled by apps, free bets, and nonstop access. We talk about: How easy it is to hide a gambling addiction The role of boredom and isolation How sportsbooks keep you playing (even when you're broke) The moment everything finally broke And what actually helped him get into recovery If you’ve ever thought “this couldn’t happen to me,” this story will challenge that. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Recovery is possible. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1

Alex shares his story of gambling addiction and recovery 🤝 How I Quit Gambling: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY 🙌 Gamban is an awesome blocking software for your devices to get rid of access to gambling websites and apps. If you're struggling to stop gambling, this could be exactly what you need to help leave it behind for good: http://gamban.com/getapp Alex, a 29-year-old from Sydney, Australia, whose story is both confronting and deeply inspiring. After seven years of gambling, Alex’s addiction came to a head the day he was called into the office and placed under investigation for defrauding his employer. What he describes as the worst day of his life became the first day of his recovery. Alex shares how his journey began at 18 with his first experience in a casino. After losing money, he was initially turned off and walked away. But at 20, he was introduced to online sports betting — something that felt normal, accessible, and socially accepted. That’s when the hook set in. What started as casual betting slowly evolved into secrecy, shame, and decisions that would ultimately alter the course of his life. He speaks candidly about the pressures that fueled his addiction — the pressure to succeed, to meet expectations, and the constant need to feel in control. He reflects on the moment everything collapsed, the fear of losing his career and reputation, and the painful but necessary step of finally telling his loved ones the truth. For Alex, recovery didn’t begin with willpower — it began with honesty. Now in recovery, he shares how gambling wasn’t just a financial issue, but a mental and emotional battle rooted in identity, pride, and self-worth. His story is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by our worst decisions, but by how we choose to move forward. This channel is dedicated to spreading awareness about gambling addiction and helping individuals better understand the risks of excessive gambling. Through powerful storytelling, educational content, and real-life experiences, we aim to shine a light on the dangers of gambling and provide tools for recovery. Whether you're seeking help, supporting a loved one, or simply looking to learn more, our mission is to create a safe space for open conversations about gambling addiction. 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatgamblingawareness.com/resources 👀 Do you have a gambling addiction? Watch this to find out: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPmaejpuzCcnfWaFOaPt2mSu&si=_pg9d3S7ddsnX-xb 1️⃣ First day trying to stop gambling? Start here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQirxbLdrgPneNZshy-heKIhm9ftfqpwm&si=RgIHxiIJjC0Wi7yr 🧐 Recently Relapse? Watch This: https://youtu.be/QB2eJmU86Bk?si=vsTdyeXYhO4Kj1qz 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1