By Andria Keirn, Americorps Employment and Self Sufficiency Aide

“Before, I would hide under the bed sheets all the time because I didn’t want to answer the phone, and I hated opening up the mail. It was exhausting keeping track of all the excuses I made about why I couldn’t pay my bills on time,” says John.

Each month, notices of overdue bills piled up and phone calls from bill collectors poured in.

Frequent trips to the pawn shop afforded John enough money to make ends meet until the next time he was in a pinch and needed cash fast. At one point, he sold everything he had – a big screen television, jewelry and memorabilia. When there was nothing left to sell, he stacked up debt, borrowing money from friends and taking out loans.

Why did John, a retired man with a big house and a comfortable pension keep falling short on his bills? Why couldn’t he face the truth about his finances? He had a secret, a damaging addiction that burned holes in his pockets and robbed him of what he had worked so hard to get – he was a problem gambler who spent all of his money on casino slot machines.

“I knew I had to pay the bills, but when I got my paycheck all I could think about was how I needed to gamble for money to pay my bills. It was silly, I already had the money, I could’ve just paid the bills.”

Gambling addiction is a mental health disorder that distorts rational thinking. For John, gambling was an unhealthy preoccupation that controlled most of his time and money. He has been gambling since he was 25. Texas Hold‘Em used to be his game of choice until a few years ago, after the passing of his mother, when a friend took him to the casino to play slot machines.

“Gambling has always been an escape from reality for me,” says John. “When you’re in a casino, you’re in another world, nothing outside matters.” Gambling addiction, like any other addiction, can be a coping mechanism to deal with life’s stresses.

Eventually, John wanted out of the world of gambling that he created for himself. He wasn’t having fun anymore, was losing money, and the casino felt very problematic. He needed to quit, but he couldn’t do it alone. So, he enrolled in ACRS problem gambling treatment program.

Decades ago, ACRS helped John’s mother settle in Seattle after emigrating from Japan. “My mom didn’t speak English. She wanted people to talk to and found that at ACRS.” ACRS gave John’s mother the community and support she needed. So, when it was time for John to get help, he knew ACRS would support him, too.

ACRS’ Problem and Pathological Gambling Program helped John overcome his addiction and take control over his life. Gambling no longer dictates his thinking. He pays his bills early and no longer spends all of his money at the casino. If he does go to the casino, he will make a plan of how much money to spend, what machines to play, when to eat and leave. ACRS helped him “broaden the tunnel vision that only saw gambling” and filled his life with other things to care about. “I feel good about paying my bills now, that’s something I could never say before,” says John.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the largest ethnic group at risk of developing problem gambling behavior in Washington State. Cultural and linguistic barriers, heavy casino marketing, and the stigma associated with mental illness all contribute to this problem.

“Immigrants feel isolated when they arrive here, they have no support network and feel welcomed in casinos, where they are treated like family,” according to Victor Loo, Director of Recovery Services at ACRS. “Casinos target Asian populations with free food, drink vouchers and send shuttle buses to and from Chinatown,” says Loo.

Because mental health issues are highly stigmatized in Asian cultures, problem gamblers are reluctant to admit they have a problem and suffer in silence. The problem gambling program at ACRS provides multicultural services to gambling addicts and their family members. Counselors employ culturally relevant, individualized treatment plans to support problem gamblers and their family members. “ACRS is not afraid to address issues that the Asian community is afraid to talk about,” says Loo.

John is an inspiration to addicts or anyone who is a victim of their own self-destructive behavior. He knew he could not overcome his addiction alone and found the change he needed through ACRS. He helped co-start the weekly problem gambler support group and believes that “broadening the scope of your thinking brings about change”.

Problem gambling addiction can happen to anyone, at any time. If not taken care of it can have debilitating effects on gamblers and their loved ones. The first step in overcoming addiction is admitting you have a problem, then seeking professional help to fix it. Don’t let fear or shame prevent you from asking for help. You don’t have to fight addiction alone. If you are a problem gambler or a loved one of a problem gambler, please contact Harumi Hashimoto at harumih@acrs.org.