I Was A Pro Poker Player... Until I Lost Everything

Video Description

In this video, I interview Greg Weber, a former professional poker player who experienced years of harm as a result of his gambling addiction. As a professional poker player, it's not often that you are associated with being a gambling addict, but it may be more common than we think. Greg Weber is a full-time firefighter in New Jersey and employed as a Program Facilitator for Epic Global Solutions, an independent gambling harm-prevention consulting firm. Greg has the opportunity to meet with NCAA student athletes and staff to deliver a gambling harm, preventative services, support, awareness and education training. Greg suffered a gambling addiction of his own for over 15 years and has been in recovery since early 2020. If you have any questions or are in need of help with gambling Greg’s email is [email protected] 🙏🏻 Recovery Resources: https://odaatrecovery.com/resources 🤝HOW TO QUIT GAMBLING - The Complete Guide: https://youtu.be/ZUx9qIm4sNY ✅ Sign Up For A Guide Of Free Resources: https://odaatrecovery.com/resources 😅 Subscribe To Avoid Making The Same Mistakes I Did: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8s1lNHQbXzltQg_aXMAQA?sub_confirmation=1 About My Channel: ODAAT Recovery is about helping people who are struggling with gambling problems find resources for recovery and my story of Gambling Addiction recovery so they can avoid making the same mistakes with their life that he made with his. Founded in 2023. ODAAT Recovery reaches an average of 15 million people on a monthly basis across all platforms, and is aimed at being a community platform for all of those who are struggling with problem gambling. It is the culmination of his six years of experience battling a gambling addiction and his two years of experience in recovery. Common Facts About Gambling Addiction: - Approximately 2-3% of Americans meet the criteria for a gambling disorder, which equates to around 6 million people. - Around 96% of gamblers lose money in the long run, reinforcing the industry's design to ensure the house always wins. - Studies show that people with a gambling addiction impact 7-10 others around them on average, showing that a gambling addiction can impact more people than simply the gambler themself. - Over 50% of people with gambling addiction also struggle with substance abuse or another mental health disorder, such as depression or anxiety. - Gambling Addiction costs the U.S. economy an estimated $7 billion annually, including losses from job productivity, criminal justice expenses, and healthcare costs. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - 0:40 Winning $50K at 18: The Start of My Gambling Story 0:40 - 1:18 Meet Greg: Firefighter & Gambling Recovery Advocate 1:18 - 2:03 First Bet at 13 & The Poker Boom Influence 2:03 - 2:50 How Gambling Streams & Ads Fuel Gambling Harm 2:50 - 3:46 The Competitive Thrill of Gambling 3:46 - 4:57 How My Gambling Progressed Over Time 4:57 - 6:00 Winning $50K & Thinking I Could Do This for a Living 6:00 - 7:05 The Role of Money & Status in Gambling Addiction 7:05 - 8:07 College Years: Gambling Becomes My Top Priority 8:07 - 9:15 The First Major Six-Figure Poker Win 9:15 - 10:26 Chasing Losses & Losing Control 10:26 - 11:32 Can a Problem Gambler Profit from Poker & Sports Betting? 11:32 - 12:47 Why Bankroll Management Doesn't Work for Gambling Addicts 12:47 - 14:10 When I Knew I Had a Real Gambling Problem 14:10 - 15:17 The Tournament That Changed Everything: $471K Win 15:17 - 16:28 My Mom’s Cancer Diagnosis & How Gambling Became My Escape 16:28 - 17:38 Losing Half a Million Dollars in Under a Year 17:38 - 18:50 Hiding My Gambling: The Lies & Isolation 18:50 - 19:57 Gambling on Duty: When It Crossed the Line 19:57 - 21:16 Running Out of Money & Finally Admitting the Problem 21:16 - 22:31 Walking into My First Gamblers Anonymous Meeting 22:31 - 23:49 Early Recovery Struggles: Life Without Gambling 23:49 - 24:56 The Slip Before My Wedding & How I Got Back on Track 24:56 - 26:07 Finding Epic Global Solutions & Turning My Pain into Purpose 26:07 - 27:15 Relapse, Stress, & Money Triggers in Recovery 27:15 - 28:27 How I Paid Off Gambling Debt & My Advice to Others 28:27 - 29:38 Why Firefighters & First Responders Are at Risk for Gambling Addiction 29:38 - 30:44 Changing the Culture: Breaking the Silence in High-Risk Professions 30:44 - 31:56 How My Priorities Shifted After Gambling Recovery 31:56 - 35:21 Closing Thoughts: Finding Purpose & Helping Others Recover