Responsible Gambling Ambassador Daniel Ward shares his journey with gambling, and why he is telling other country footballers about it.
I am very happy to be part of this VCFL initiative in raising the awareness for responsible gambling throughout regional, rural and suburban Victoria.

I was fortunate enough to play 136 games for the Melbourne Football Club, one of those matches being an AFL Grand Final. It was during this period, when I should have been living the dream, that I began my destructive path to a gambling addiction.

Gambling doesn't start as a problem, for most people it starts out as a fun thing.

I agree, it is a great way to socialise and to relax after a hard day's work, it can make you feel better if you are a bit down, and certainly gives you a good buzz when you win.

For me though, gambling became a problem - and I ended up spending everything I had. Some nights I would run my car out of petrol because I had spent the last $20 on a bet.

When I started to gamble, I never thought that the cost to me would be any more than a couple of dollars that I could easily cover with the money I was making as an AFL player.

Little did I know at the time, but gambling would pull my life apart.

I was a gambling addict. I was a liar. I hurt every person I'd ever loved.

As a player and coach of a country club in the Central Murray Football League I understand just how important a football and netball club can be - not only to the players, but often to the community that they represent.

With the increasing availability of gambling on phones and computers it is getting easier every day for a person to gamble. It is also easier to lose. The risks of problem gambling - even in country communities - has never been greater.

When my gambling was beginning to become a problem I noticed that I spent a lot of time thinking about betting, and I was actually spending more time gambling than with my teammates, family and friends.

I started to avoid paying bills so that I could use the money for bets, and with this, came the lies I would use to cover up that I was gambling.

I also started to place bigger and bigger bets in an effort to chase my losses. I did this until I owed people a small fortune.

If this sounds like you, or one of your teammates, consider talking to someone about it and getting it out in the open.

I strongly encourage all players, members and supporters of country football and netball to keep this message ‘front of mind' during this weekend of football and netball, and for anyone who might feel that they have not got their gambling under full control to call the Gamblers Help Line service.

Daniel Ward


· Talking to a gambler about their problem isn't easy. Talk to Gambler's Help before you talk to them. Call anytime - 1800 858 858. Gambler's Help offers free, confidential support and advice for the family and friends of gamblers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Article first appeared www.vcfl.com.au Monday, May 14, 2012