Those who have never played in casinos and never faced the consequences of gambling addiction may consider it an imaginary problem. However, with the popularity of offline and online gaming clubs, such an issue is rapidly gaining momentum and those suffering from the disease should pass a long path to full recovery.
This story is about Jordan Lea, a person who overcame a heavy addiction, going through this thorny path from beginning to end. He played in all kinds of gambling establishments. And every time he thought, “Here it is, Mr Bet, which will allow me to hit the jackpot today”. By his example, the guy shows how serious the disease is and how difficult it may be to pass the treatment.
How Did It Start for Jordan Lea?
He was a normal boy just living his life when he realized that he would like to try his luck in a casino. It all started when Jordan was 14 and then, the boy didn’t even realize how serious his little hobby would become. And since that time, he has faced numerous concerns connected to the gambling addiction that developed almost instantly.
It all started in online gaming clubs… Jordan Lea borrowed lots of money, being confident that he would win a fortune and return everything. However, the desired victory didn’t come, and the problems only got worse. He began with the usual slots, and having failed, sat down at the poker table. Once he had a great win for around $7,000, being sure that it is really huge. And immediately after, he bet $1,000 and eventually lost everything.
After that, he inherited cash and immediately went to the casino. Then, he spent five days in a gambling establishment without leaving it. And what was not surprising – he had lost everything on the fourth day. After that, he sold his phone and laptop to continue playing. His behavior was completely unhealthy and was a classic manifestation of addiction, but, of course, he did not pay attention to it.
Besides the inability to stop playing casino games, Jordan used drugs and drank too much coffee, which significantly influenced his moral and physical condition. In this regard, he had additional problems with the law.
Imprisonment and Suicide Attempts
Being aware of numerous issues in his life, Jordan avoided leaving home besides the time he was spending in the gaming halls. However, multiple instances of fraud from his side couldn’t go unnoticed. Problems with addiction, drug use, and huge debts have eventually led him to court. He awaited his sentence for three years, during which he repeatedly thought about committing suicide.
He expected that he would be sentenced to many years and had prepared for it. However, the judge was quite favorable to him. As a punishment, he received 300 hours of corrective labor, which helped him not to play for some time. His gambling career started in 2005 and continued until 2018 when Jordan finally began understanding that he has real problems. He mentioned that during that time, gambling addiction wasn’t so common and most players weren’t aware of all the possible consequences of such entertainment, seeming so harmless in the beginning.
He still continued visiting casinos and spending cash. Many people have already noticed his gambling addiction, so it was becoming harder and harder to receive money. That’s where the turning point has arrived. Jordan mentions that he is really grateful to his partner, who did not deserve such issues in her life, but did not refuse him and did everything to correct the situation.
Jordan was lost and he had nothing. However, one day he realized that he could change everything, and then it was the time. He began working as a manager, but Covid-19 changed his plans. He lost his job and was forced to stay at home again, but he vowed to never repeat past mistakes.
Project That Helps Numerous People Treat Gambling Addiction
When Jordan Lea started working and returned to normal life, he has already come up with the idea of Deal Me Out. Due to multiple debts, he couldn’t afford it. However, the pandemics gave him courage. He thought about all people staying at home all day long, feeling the temptation to try gambling and get an additional source of income. His main aim was to prevent users from a hard disease that he faced himself.
He began his project with some lectures and workshops to prevent people from making his mistakes. One of his most significant aims was to share his experience with kids. Since he became addicted in his teens, he knew firsthand that the younger generation is very vulnerable to this problem. So, he came to schools and other establishments to show children how harmful such entertainment could be.
He also collaborates with a lot of organizations, caring about gambling responsibility and the safety of users during their stay in a casino. It is worth noting that nowadays, reliable online gaming clubs have implemented the policy of blocking the account in case a player exceeds the limits. It is one of the most effective ways to avoid addiction.
What Is the Project’s Aim?
Jordan highlights that gambling cannot be 100% secure, and nobody is immune from the unexpected. He compares playing casino games with smoking or drinking alcohol, which cannot be considered harmless at all. But he highlights that the fewer people do it, the less harm they make to themselves and for their friends and family. And if those with gambling addiction don’t understand that they ruin their lives, they should think about their close people.
He notes that he doesn’t have the aim of closing this industry or in any way discrediting it. However, he wants responsible gaming regulations to become more common so that players can have fun, not problems. By his example, Jordan Lea shows everyone that it is possible to get rid of such an addiction, but it is much better to just avoid it.
