'Bailiffs tried to evict me as I went into labour over £35k gambling debt'
A mother shares her story of a £35,000 gambling debt that led to facing eviction while in labor and relying on food banks.Summary
Kerry Walsh, a 26-year-old mother of two, recounts her descent into a gambling addiction that began with scratch cards as a child and escalated into a £35,000 debt. She secretly funded her habit through loans and by misrepresenting her gambling losses to her partner, leading to rent arrears and threats of eviction. The situation reached a crisis point when bailiffs arrived at her home while she was going into labor with her daughter. After hitting rock bottom in July 2024, Kerry sought help from Gamcare and New Beginnings, a women-only support group, and has since remained gambling-free. She now advocates for stricter regulations on gambling platforms, including daily deposit limits, to prevent others from falling into similar traps and emphasizes the ease with which one can develop a gambling addiction.
(Source：The daily Star)