Former Celtic hero John Hartson today released a video on social media cautioning sports fan on the dangers of gambling. Hartson himself suffered from a gambling addiction that caused him significant financial and emotional distress and is keen to do his bit to warn others about the addiction.
“Hundreds of people get in touch with me every year concerned about their gambling. It’s Gamble Aware Week.. it can be done.. there is help out there.. don’t give in to gambling,” Hartson stated.
Listen to what the former Celtic striker, who scored 120 goals for Celtic, has to say about how gambling can lead to debt and wrecked lives and it’s hard to stop the longer it goes on. We used to call him ‘Big Bad John’ but really Big ‘Good’ John would be more appropriate.
Hundreds of people get in touch with me every year concerned about their gambling.. its gamble aware week.. it can be done.. there is help out there.. don’t give in to gambling. 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/CiwOcTxcHy
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) November 23, 2020
Some of the replies worth noting…
“Thank you for your efforts John. The prevalence of gambling sponsorship on sports tv is a worry and I fear it undermines your good work. A similar problem with alcohol sponsorship. Tobacco ads were banned for good reason, time to go further.”
“Gambling has completely hijacked pro sports. Here in US pre and post game / event analysis is dominated by gambling, fuelled by the “Fantasy” industry. Fear for the next generation of sports fans given the accessibility and ease of participation.”
“Good to read this John. I’m a gambler myself and get confused at times as I feel I am not an addict as some days I can go without putting a bet on. Weekends are the worst for me as there is lots of footie on.”
“Too easy to gamble nowadays with the phone etc and not have to walk into a bookies as much like back in the day. These gambling firms must be making mountains of cash and a lot of people out there with mounting debts.”
“I’m off it 17 weeks tomorrow john it can be done an thats me saying it an I gambled 7 days a week.”
READ THIS…“The Celtic board and Dermot Desmond are going to stick by Neil Lennon,” Sky Sports Pundit
