A woman who took her own life after dealing with an addiction to gambling has inspired a protest to reform the practice. Kimberly Wadsworth, 32, died in 2018 after her addiction started on fixed-odd betting terminals (FOBTs) before moving on to online casino games, where she was made a 'VIP' and plied with 'free bets'.
Inspired by Kimberly's story, more than 30 people who have been harmed by gambling, including families who have lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide, are walking more than 40 miles from Sheffield to Leeds to raise awareness. Kimberly, from Leeds, who had a career in marketing, was described by her family as an 'outgoing young woman.' After her dad suddenly died, she started gambling in her 20s, which gradually increased.
In the beginning she gambled on FOBTs and at land-based casinos, but then started playing online casino games. Her addiction was alleged to be very rapid and she was given 'VIP' status by one of the companies she gambled with.
After she was given 'free bet' bonuses and similar promotional offers that incentivised her to keep gambling, her addiction worsened even when she was clearly losing large amounts of money. She had confided in her mum about her gambling and the family had occasionally given her money.
They had no idea of the real seriousness of her addiction, however, or what it might lead to. Shortly before she died, Kimberly's mum, Kay, took her to Portugal where the family holidayed regularly, reports LeedsLive.
They booked a session of hypnotherapy back in England, but she never made it to the appointment and despite these repeated attempts to stop with support from her mum, Kimberly took her life in 2018, aged 32. Following her daughter’s death, Kay has been calling for more help for women struggling with gambling disorder - something that could well have saved Kimberly’s life.
The mum is also calling for a ban on so-called 'VIP' schemes and an advertising ban, especially using celebrities to hide the risks. The 40-mile walk in Kimberly's honour will take place on October 14 and 15. All the walkers are either in recovery from gambling addiction or have been harmed by someone else’s gambling.
The participants will walk to five football clubs along the way - Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Barnsley, and Leeds United. The campaigners will urge the clubs to reject gambling sponsorship and to join the campaign, organised by The Big Step, to end all gambling advertising in football. Kay, will be joined on the walk by other families who have lost loved ones to gambling.
She said: "My beautiful girl was killed by this shameless industry. It must stop – we cannot keep losing our children to these predators. I am proud to walk in Kimberly’s memory with people who have suffered the harm and devastation that gambling addiction brings.
"These harmful gambling products are designed to hook people in, regardless of their background, so we are calling on football to stop promoting them to millions of young fans. We’ll be ending the walk at Leeds United on Saturday, which was Kimberly’s team."
James Grimes is organiser of The Big Step campaign to end gambling advertising and was formerly addicted to gambling himself.
He added: "This walk is a reminder to the government and football that we are not going away. Bereaved families and those of us harmed by gambling are demanding the government commit to make the changes that will save lives and prevent more people from going through what we have had to endure.
"We encourage all five clubs on the route to back our campaign and kick gambling advertising out of football. Above all, we are walking for Kimberly and all those who are no longer with us because of gambling."
