34-year-old Lonehill resident Nonhlanhla Robert has opened up about her long battle with gambling addiction, a habit she says started when she was only 19.
Sharing her story on a Fourways community group, Robert said she decided to speak out publicly in the hope that feeling embarrassed about it would stop her from returning to the slot machines and betting apps that once ruled her life.
Read more: Addicted gamblers invited to workshop
So far, it is working. “The first time I gambled, I had only R20 and I walked away with R8 000. I didn’t know then that it was the start of an addiction problem that would take over my life.”
What started as harmless fun quickly turned into a destructive cycle that affected her relationships, emotions, and hit her finances hard. “When I won, I was the happiest person, but when I lost, I’d become aggressive, and take it out on people around me. I started losing friends and family because of how I acted.”
Over the years, Robert’s gambling habits took her to places like Montecasino and Gold Reef City, eventually leading to online betting apps, where she would chase her next win.
Her biggest win came when she hit R50 000, money she says she initially used for a good cause. “I used about R26 000 to pay my daughter’s school fees and buy her necessities, but the rest went back into gambling. I always believed I could win more, and every time I won, I’d gamble again.”
Also read: Gambling addiction: What you should know
After years of losses and regret, she decided to break the silence, by posting about her struggle on Facebook.
What she didn’t expect was the flood of private messages from people sharing similar experiences. “So many people reached out to me saying they’re also struggling. That made me feel motivated to stop. I don’t want to go back. I want to feel embarrassed enough that I never gamble again.”
Robert says she now wants to seek professional help, and use her story to encourage others to open up about their addictions. “It’s not easy, but being honest with myself is the first step. I want to take back control of my life.”
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