A Family Torn Apart by Gambling Addiction

This is the story of my friend, Yousuke Taniguchi, who fell into the depths of gambling addiction.

Yousuke got married five years ago and had a happy family with a two-year-old son.

However, this autumn, his divorce was finalized, marking the end of their life as a family.

What led to their divorce?

It was Yousuke's gambling addiction, which resulted in a staggering debt of 1.3 million dollars.

The Bottomless Pit of Gambling

It was exactly a year ago when Yousuke was diagnosed with gambling addiction.

His downfall began with online horse and bicycle racing, introduced to him by his colleagues at work. Initially, it was mere curiosity, but as he experienced the thrill of winning, he gradually became addicted.

At first, the amounts were small. He lost 

3,000 JPY the day before yesterday, 8,000 JPY yesterday, and 5,000 JPY today.

His bank account balance kept dwindling. When he checked his transaction history, the reality of his frightening actions hit him. He blamed himself, but the next day, new thoughts emerged: "Maybe I didn't bet correctly," or "I can win it back through gambling."

He kept justifying his actions and continued gambling.

He also ventured into illegal online casinos, drawn to their convenience. He became obsessed with the idea that he could recoup his losses with just one lucky break.

The absence of betting limits also trapped him in a cycle of gambling. On some occasions, he wagered as much as 100,000 JPY in a single bet.

He even started playing slot machines, and his debt snowballed.

Before he knew it, he had accumulated a debt of 1.3 million dollars.

Soon, he started borrowing money from acquaintances, friends, consumer finance companies, and loan sharks. He secretly took cash from his wife's wallet and frequently visited his parents to steal money from his mother's purse.

He intended to repay them once he won back his losses through gambling.

But it was a vicious cycle.

The more he struggled, the deeper he sank into the quagmire.

Eventually, debt collectors started calling his parents, sister, and wife's workplace.

Contemplating Suicide

Yousuke felt cornered, and every morning when he woke up, his thoughts immediately turned to his debts.

Whenever he drove, he found himself wishing someone would rear-end his car.

He knew such thoughts were wrong but couldn't get them out of his head.

Even so, he couldn't quit gambling and eventually contemplated suicide. One day, he waited on a train platform, intending to throw himself in front of an incoming train.

As the train approached, he held his breath, closed his eyes, and leaned forward.

Then, suddenly...

"What are you doing?!"

A loud voice startled him, and he was pulled back from the platform's edge.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

He turned to see a middle-aged man in a suit.

"Don't do it. I know you were trying to end your life just now because I've been there myself. People who are trying to take their lives are visible to those of us who've been in that dark place."

Yousuke broke down and sobbed uncontrollably.

A Family Meeting

After this close call, Yousuke and his family had a serious discussion, and three decisions were made:

1. Seek medical help and confront the addiction
2. File for bankruptcy to eliminate the debt
3. Get a divorce and live separately from his wife and child

Why did it have to come to a divorce? It was because of the involvement of loan sharks, who charged exorbitant interest rates and employed illegal debt collection methods. Even after declaring bankruptcy, the harassment didn't stop, and the family felt their safety was at risk due to the threats and intimidation tactics used by these lenders.

Life After Divorce

Yousuke sought medical help and was diagnosed with gambling addiction, which came as a shock to him. However, as this addiction had no cure, he had to check into a rehabilitation facility. Unfortunately, during his stay, he relapsed and started gambling again. Even now, he hasn't been able to break free from his addiction.

Currently, he attends group therapy for his addiction once a week and strives to quit gambling. Hopefully, the support and understanding of his peers in treatment can provide some solace and aid in his recovery.

If he had acknowledged his illness earlier, he could have received proper treatment and had more options for recovery.

After the divorce, he lives separately from his ex-wife, and he is allowed to meet his child once a month.

He continues to ignore the loan sharks' calls, but they have even shown up at his workplace. His boss and colleagues are supportive, and he takes precautions like leaving through the back door to avoid being found. However, he lives with the constant fear that it's only a matter of time before they catch up with him.

Conclusion

It is said that there are approximately 1.96 million people in Japan who are suspected of having a gambling addiction.

This issue is not someone else's problem; it can happen to anyone.

While gambling addiction is considered an incurable disease, treatment can help individuals distance themselves from gambling.

It's essential to remember that breaking free from an addiction is not something one can do alone. It is a disease, and one's personality or character traits are not factors in developing it. We must understand this and not stigmatize those suffering from it.

Although it's a challenging condition for others to notice, early treatment can help minimize the severity of the addiction. Yousuke's story serves as a cautionary tale, and I hope it raises awareness and prevents others from falling into the same trap.