GAA players ‘embarrassed to reveal gambling addictions’

An inter-county manager who also works as an addiction counsellor says the true scale of the gambling problem in the GAA has not yet emerged as players are embarrassed to admit it.

Justin Campbell, the Roscommon and Connacht hurling manager, has appealed to GAA players with gambling problems to ask for help.

Campbell, who was nominated recently for the Galway hurling job and played senior for the county in the 1990s, works as an addiction counsellor in the Connacht region and sees the gambling problem at the coalface.

He has encountered several GAA players with gambling issues and has tried to help them with their problems.

The issue was highlighted recently by Galway county committee chairman Noel Treacy, who has vowed to tackle the scourge of gambling and its advertising, but Campbell says the embarrassment of admitting there is a problem is what’s keeping players from seeking assistance.

“Secrecy keeps addiction alive. I think if you break the secrecy and become really honest with yourself, admit the game is up, that I need help with this, that I can’t carry on with this,” says Campbell.

“Sometimes, county players are put up on a pedestal on some level because of their ability to hurl or play football, but behind the scenes it may be a different scenario. They could owe thous-ands, they can’t turn to anyone because they feel embarrassed and ashamed.

“For some reason they can’t stop gambling and it takes over their lives. Unfortunately it goes to crisis before they actually turn and look for help. It’s the addiction process taking over.

“The first step is to share it with somebody that there is an issue. Look in the mirror and be totally honest with yourselves. Is this having a major effect on your life? If it is, can I tell somebody that I trust and that will get me some help? Getting that professional help is crucial.

“Even if you tell someone, your GP or someone close to you, your coach or manager, that help will be got for you. Be brave enough to say, ‘I have an issue or problem, can you get me help?’

“We’ll take it from there then, we’ll get them the support they need.”

Campbell claims gambling has been glamourised and made attractive by firms who bombard sporting events with up-to-the-minute betting adverts.

He says: “The difficulty for players is the amount of coverage and advertisement that’s out there, it’s almost attractive to be betting without actually looking at the risks involved. It’s almost like advertising alcohol, it’s great fun and all that, but tell that to someone that’s lost a house or lost a relationship, or has nothing left after it, or feels suicidal from it.

“God forbid the day that players start betting on their own results, whether to win or lose. Then we’re into a different scenario completely which would be very dangerous for the association.”

Campbell praised the GAA and GPA for helping players in distress, but believes there is still plenty to do for clubs and counties to ensure players get help.

In Galway, for instance, he hopes to see a health and wellbeing officer in every club in the county, but for the meantime says the big thing for those with gambling issues is to admit they have a problem and ask for help.