© AFP
Recent weeks have been rocked by the scandal of the construction of the National Stadium in Lithuania. It is becoming clear that the former partner of the company "BaltCap," Šarūnas Stepukonis could have lost over 30 million euros.
People wonder how one person could squander such a sum of money, but there are many examples worldwide of individuals who, given the right circumstances, end up losing millions of euros through gambling addiction."
We present the story of Andy May as described by the BBC.
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When it seemed like Andy May was living a comfortable life in the Norfolk countryside with his partner and two children, a knock came at the door.
Up until then, his only financial crime was speeding. But this time, police officers came to question him.
It turned out that the 47-year-old man had stolen 1.3 million pounds from his employer to fund his gambling addiction. Andy was later sentenced to four years in prison.
In his account, the man spoke about the importance of seeking help in time if you have gambling problems before the situation becomes completely uncontrollable.
"I spent all the money we had"
On weekends, I used to bet on football matches with 5 or 10 pounds. It never occurred to me that this could become a dangerous thing.
However, when the opportunity came to borrow money, I found myself caught up in gambling. I started betting £15 a week, then later £50. And then £50 turned into £100, which soon became £500 a month.
I suffered significant losses, and normally you would think you shouldn't do it anymore. But when you're immersed in gambling, you still do it. This was around 2007.
Then my family found out about the problem. Together with my partner, we bought our first home, but I lost the deposit. My parents helped me, and I promised to never gamble again. I kept my word for seven years and never bought a lottery ticket.
But this period was solely due to sheer willpower. I didn't try to get help. I lived a normal, happy life and slowly forgot about my past troubles.
Rock Bottom
In the summer of 2014, I was at home watching the World Cup in Brazil. A commercial appeared on TV offering a free £50 bet. I sat there and thought, "Well, what's the harm?"
Within two weeks, I was back to gambling at the same level where I had left off before.
After six months, I had already spent £50,000. I began taking out credit cards and borrowing money. By February 2015, I was out of money. At that time, I was a financial manager in a company where I had worked for 20 years, and I had the company's credit card. During lunch breaks, I started going to the ATM and wasting their money.
Until now, I bet on everything I could - mostly by connecting to a phone or laptop in the office. I never had enough money. I started paying my personal credit card off from the company's bank account. Over four and a half years, I stole over 1.3 million pounds from my employer.
Everything was out of control. The only thing on my mind was gambling. In the summer of 2019, I finally got caught at work and felt relieved when I was fired.
But I lied to my family, saying I had fallen out with my boss, and I found a new job within two weeks. It took a year for the police to arrive. My partner opened the door. I already knew what they wanted.
Prison
After six months, I attended a local court, and in June 2021, I was sentenced to four years in prison. Watching my children go to school on the day I entered prison was the worst day of my life.
I tried to explain everything to them, but they didn't understand. We didn't see each other for six months. The impact of my addictions and crimes on loved ones was much worse than prison.
Before going to prison, I contacted an incredible charity organization called the "Epic Restart Foundation," which helped me rebuild my life. I talked to people who had overcome addiction, and they gave me hope.
With my head down, I arrived in prison. I spent six months in a Peterborough cell I shared with a stranger. It was 11 steps one way and seven the other, with a toilet in the corner near where you ate.
The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the utter boredom. We were locked up 23 hours a day. You could shower, use the gym, and get food, but you would be alone. Finally, once a week, I could access the library.
Rehabilitation
I spent the last 18 months of my sentence in an open prison in Norwich, where you could work in the community. I started working for a construction company participating in a program that hires former offenders.
I asked my manager if I could start attending local Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and I still go there every week. I spent two years in prison, and in the summer, I was conditionally released.
I thought nobody would ever hire me again, but I still work for the construction company, which really helped me get my life back on track.
Everything I earned, I had to return to the employer. Betting company records showed that I had spent 1.6 million pounds and stole just over 1.3 million pounds, most of which betting intermediaries returned to my former boss.
In hindsight, the lowest point was not actually going to prison, but when I was caught up in gambling. That was the most psychologically challenging.
Taking responsibility and being accountable for what happened is an important part of recovery. I'm not proud of what I did, but I'm learning not to be ashamed.
I can only imagine the impact this had on my former colleagues, some of whom I had known for decades. An apology is a weak statement given everything that happened, but it is the best I can do. There are so many things I wish I could change.
I volunteer with the "GambleAware" charity organization to share my story. Sitting in prison, I promised myself I wouldn't shrink away. The only thing I can do is speak out in the hope of convincing others to behave differently.
Do I think I could ever gamble again? Sadly, the answer is probably yes. But every day, I focus on not doing it today. There is nothing I can gain to improve my life through gambling, but I can lose everything. I would like to gamble with things that are not money, such as my health, all the relationships I managed to hold onto, and the trust people have restored in me.
My life changed drastically due to my addiction, but now everything is much better than I ever thought possible when I first entered that cell. I am grateful that I still maintain close relationships with my children.
I understand that for many people, gambling is completely safe, enjoyable, and harmless leisure activity. It started the same way for me, but it grew into something completely different.
I hope these thoughts shared will encourage someone to start anonymous conversations before it goes too far. Perhaps someone struggling with gambling problems can read this and seek help. Try to find the courage to speak up. I regret not having the courage to speak up sooner."
