Atle Vestvik (50) lost almost everything to gambling addiction, including a million kroner in just a few hours. He is not alone. A new study from 2023 reveals that gambling problems affect a frighteningly large proportion of the Norwegian population.
A survey from SPILLFORSK at the University of Bergen shows that around 62 percent of Norway's population participates in gambling. Everything from simple lottery tickets, bingo, betting, casinos, Lotto and the Pantelotteriet.
The possibility of quick money through gambling can seem tempting when we constantly have to deal with increased food and electricity prices, in addition to continuous interest rate hikes.
Around 93,000 people are at risk of developing gambling problems, according to the Lottery and Foundations Authority.
“It is important that you contact us if you feel that you or someone around you is at risk,” says Atle Vestvik (50). He works as an experienced consultant at Gambling Addiction Norway.
A million kroner disappeared in a few hours
– I often played at night when my wife was sleeping. During the day I could be at the playground with the children and play on my mobile phone. I have gambled away over 10 million kroner. But breaking up the family has been the worst, he says.
Atle has known through his own experience how big problems can arise if you don't take action.
For him, it started with "innocent" slot machines when he was little.
Today, 40 years later, he has been through two debt settlements and a divorce due to his gambling addiction.
The gambling was financed by credit cards, which were easy to access. When one card was used up, he could apply for a new credit card from another bank.
“I didn't even have to wait for the credit card to arrive in the mail. I was able to access the card number directly in the online bank,” he explains.
– If I knew that a debt collection request was coming to the mailbox when I was at work and my wife was home, I would take a few hours off to keep an eye on the mail truck.
Lost sight of money
At most, he won one million kroner as a jackpot at the casino. But it only took a few hours before that million was lost again.
Surrounded by wheels of fortune and captivating game sounds, he now realizes that he lost all sense of reality when it came to money.
-The more I played and won, the more I wanted to win. I lost all common sense and constantly wanted to win bigger amounts. In total, Atle estimates that he has gambled away over 10 million kroner.
Someone to talk to
Atle believes that gambling addiction is a disease that is widely stigmatized.
“Many people feel shame about gambling and living a life in hiding. But the only thing that helps is talking to someone,” he explains.
As an experienced consultant at Game Addiction Norway, he works daily to talk to others who are in the same situation as he has been in.
He says they offer private conversations, self-help groups and help with debt problems. It should be an offer that makes it easy to get help.
– It takes place both physically and digitally. And we have complete confidentiality, he says.
Can finally feel joy again
He encourages anyone who knows about problems related to gambling addiction to contact or talk to someone about the problems. Also if you are a relative of someone you suspect has a gambling problem.
“It is possible to get through this by asking for help. There are programs that help you regain control of your life,” he says.
He proved many times that he was unable to solve the problems himself.
– Today I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given. I can finally feel joy again. I am so glad that I contacted Game Addiction Norway and won my life back.
Do you have any questions or want to talk?
Feel free to contact us on the Helpline, via email or the contact form.
