Breaking beliefism Lee Willows
Oct 10, 2025
Lee Willows, founder of Community Care Gaming and a passionate advocate for gambling education, shares his journey from a casual gambler to recovering from a severe addiction. He discusses the hidden struggles of debt and concealment that strained his relationships. Lee emphasizes the importance of support networks and how he turned his pain into purpose by founding the Young Gamblers Education Trust. The conversation delves into the role of technology in gambling, parental influence, and the need for responsible conversations about betting.
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Rapid Descent After A First Win
- Lee Willows hit a £4,000 jackpot on his first casino visit and quickly escalated into daily gambling.
- Within a year he exhausted savings and was gambling seven days a week until addiction consumed him.
Gambling Hides Behind Normal Behaviour
- Gambling is a behavioural addiction that can be hidden from family and friends.
- That secrecy makes it harder to recognise and treat compared with substance addictions.
Stole From Employer During Peak Addiction
- Lee stole £19,000 from his employer and amassed roughly £250,000 in debt to feed his gambling.
- He describes reaching a low point comparable to the offenders he once worked with in prisons.