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A Melbourne man is demanding action after gambling away more than $200,000.
Fred, from Caulfield in the city’s south east, is calling for better education about the dangers of gambling.
The 26-year-old footy fanatic was fresh out of high school in 2015 when he inherited a small fortune and developed a gambling addiction.
“It was a kinda really ugly, unhealthy evolution of my love and obsession of sport,” he said.
“I reckon I lost about $230,000.”
Now rehabilitated he’s calling for change, including better education in schools.
“We have sex ed, we have drug ed, where’s the gambling ed? I think now’s the time.”
Tim Costello from the Alliance for Gambling Reform said gambling is Australia’s blind spot.
“We are losing the most in gambling of any nation in the world, 40 per cent higher than the nation that comes second,” Costello, said.
“It’s not only taking over lives, it’s ending people’s lives, people are ending their own lives.”
Now Canberra is paying more attention with the nation’s top sporting codes in the spotlight over the proliferation of sports betting advertising.
AFL boss Gill McLachlan and his NRL counterpart Andrew Abdo will appear side by side tomorrow at the federal government’s inquiry into online gambling.
The counter argument is further restrictions on gambling advertisements could put the free coverage of sport at risk.
Fred is stronger now and is fulfilling his life by motivating others and coaching kids.
“That’s real winning, that connection I get with people, and the smiles,” he said.
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