Canberra man Markus Fischer was just a child when he started gambling. It wasn't poker machines or horse races. It was something more subtle and seemingly innocuous.
"I was playing cards or chess for matchsticks," he said.
"I didn't see it as gambling or that 40 or 50 years down the track that this would have such an impact on me. Something as innocent as playing for match sticks."
And then the worst possible thing happened to him in his early 20s when he was playing gaming machines. He won. Big time. A $33,000 jackpot on a five cent poker machine. Back then,it was the equivalent of about three years' wages. He was hooked.
"You think, 'This is easy'," he said. "But it's an illusion."
The money, although a windfall, didn't last long.
Markus went on to gamble for many years, always under the radar and usually with money he could afford.
"I always had good jobs, so somehow I was able to subsidise what I was doing," he said.
But gambling soon started to impact Markus' life more broadly. It was insidious, corroding his mental health, leading him to abuse alcohol and drugs.
"People who are impacted by gambling often also find themselves struggling with other issues - whether it be drugs, alcohol, mental illness or breakdowns in relationships," he said.
By the time Markus was in his 50s, he didn't like who he had become. "I was considering suicide," he said.
"I just couldn't understand how I had got to this point - I didn't recognise myself any more."
He moved from desperation to rehabilitation, the turning point being that he was nearly broke, there was nothing left to gamble.
"I got to a point where I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I couldn't do it anymore. I'd gone beyond the point of denial
he first two questions I was generlly getting asked was how mych money did you win and how much money did you lose?
"I say, 'I'll tell you what i lost. gambing harm is more than money. I lost my self-respect, my values my pride, my family, my friends. i lost all of that and you can't go and buy that
it's also the shame and the guilt and the remorse
In the ACT, 44,000 people are impacted by gambling harm, but only 2% of at-risk gamblers are seeking help. That's why MIEACT is establishing Voices of Gambling Harm - a program to help those impacted by gambling by sharing lived experience stories. MIEACT is currently seeking volunteers for the program with lived experience stories of gambling harm, as well as people who have been affected by the gambling of others.
These individuals will be trained to help them develop and safely tell their stories, which will help to connect with those who are vulnerable to the impacts of gambling across Canberra. If you would like to be involved, please apply to become a Volunteer Educator.
"I lost my self-est
"I mean I didn't start betting two grand, three grand. I started off on five cents, five dollars," he said.
"And I don't think gambling is bad or that the clubs are the problem.
new MIEACT Voices of Gambling Harm program.
John Dickson looking for volunteers to tell their story
"We're looking for people with a lived experience of gambling harm," he said.
"So that could be a person who has had troubles themselves with gambling or it could be a relative or friend of someone whose gambling has affected them.
"MIEACT will teach people how to tell their story safely and from there, we're going to videotape their stories and that's going to be put into an online learning module.
"There's also going to be a brochure that will be distributed. And for those lived experience speakers, we're hoping they can then go out into the community and talk to different groups to inform them about gambling harm."
MIEACT already has a range of speakers who go into schools to talk about mental health.
Taking the gambling speakers into schools could be a possibility.
"Initially it will be into the adult space, rehab centres, clubs, maybe some government groups perhaps," Mr Dickson said.
Mr Fischer in his role with Relationships Australia is taking the message into schools.
GRC twitch educcato gambling at the forefront
"We've been trying to talk to schools about the impact of gambling harm and it's taken quite a while," he said.
"I deal with guys in the amc and people ask if they gamble in the amc and it's oh yeah. I mean they gamble for you to polish my shoes today to see if the sun comes up a certain way
Two flies going up a wall
"I was talking to ome of my clients about Tik Tok. You can buy coins for people. there are
sport betting
"It's everywhere," he saud.
relationships australia
Markus Fischer, ACT Gambling Support Service Peer Support Worker attending O-Week at CIT Reid campus
"In no shape or form am I condeming clubs. Because gthere is a line in politics here un the ACT that condemns clubs. Ispeak with the clubs, they are communuty based. Not everyone walks in and says I'm going to mortgage my house and puts it into a poke machine . I didn't start betting two gfand or five grand. I started with five cent piueces . i don';t condemn and I don't think gambing is bad. I had someone say to me, let's take all the poke machines our and i said, so you support prohibition? it doesn't work
"When I went to the AMC, the first two questions I was generlly getting asked was how mych money did you win and how much money did you lose?
"I say, 'I'll tell you what i lost. gambing harm is more than money. I lost my self-respect, my values my pride, my family, my friends. i lost all of that and you can't go and buy that
it's also the shame and the guilt and the remorse
