Anne* is a compulsive gambler, in her mid-sixties. She is divorced, a mother of two sons and lives in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
She started gambling while accompanying her then husband to conferences at casinos. She says her first win hooked her, although she feels her divorce was a contributing factor.
“I could go to casinos alone and play the slot machines without having to worry about being in a couple.”
In 1999, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “It was wonderful to switch off, play the machines and not think about what was happening to me.”
Anne remembers her wins in vivid detail and says that her worst losses haven’t been large but are accumulative as she gambles so often.
When she works, her salary doesn’t cover her gambling costs so she uses the money from her divorce settlement investments.
“I don’t hide my addiction, except from my accountant, and I skimp and save on everything else so I can spend money gambling. I don’t want to give up because I enjoy it too much — plus I still have my house. I know that my sons will support me when I have no more money but they won’t give me money for gambling so that will be the end.”
* Name has been changed