Gambling Obsession: Triumph, Defeat, Despondency
A financial accountant from Barnim, Brandenburg has been accused of stealing around 1.4 million euros to gamble. The case highlights the devastating effects of a condition that is still widely underestimated. Especially by those dealing with it, as social educator Norbert Hieronymi points out.
"In the virtual world, I could escape the real world. The casino became my partner. I often spent six hours at the roulette table. There was no question of quitting," says the defendant Jeanette N., who is set to stand trial at the Berlin Tiergarten District Court on 396 charges of embezzlement and fraud in a serious case. "I confess everything. I'm a gambling addict," the 45-year-old says, appearing almost relieved - as if she had finally snapped out of a nightmare.
The reality is that it usually takes years before someone acknowledges their condition: "The first step is always to be honest. Along with addiction, many addicts develop a system of excuses and lies. Nobody wants to be an addict," says social pedagogue Norbert Hieronymi, head of a counselling group for gambling addicts, during an interview with the Heilbronn news portal Stimme. "Many people go to casinos after work to unwind, release stress, and immerse themselves in another world. This can become a habit," warns the addiction counselor.
Downward Spiral of Gambling Hell
Jeanette N.'s ordeal began in 2010 with roulette in an online casino. As her monthly earnings of €1,400 couldn't sustain her gambling habit, she started stealing from others:
"It was like watching TV. It was the only way I could switch off. Small bets no longer satisfied me. I had to win back the money I'd lost. Statement by the defendant Jeanette N."
Hieronymi describes this as a vicious cycle, which he encounters regularly as an addiction counselor: "In counseling, we work with the three-phase model: gain - loss - despair. After the winning phase, the losing phase follows. Gamblers build up a delusional system, believing they can beat the machine through sheer persistence and tricks." But Hieronymi is adamant: "The more frequently someone plays, the higher their chances of losing."
A bottomless pit: In order to cover her losses and keep gambling, Jeanette N. started diverting her employer's company funds - falsifying records, transferring funds, creating phony invoices, and issuing fraudulent payment instructions in her favor. According to Bild, she stole €1,385,103.41. To fuel her addiction, she fired eight employees and bankrupted a Berlin security firm and a law firm.
Gambling Burnout and Loss of Reality
Jeanette N. continued to gamble - lured by the "champagne gifts" of internet casinos. If she didn't log in for a while, they would call her and send her "bonus money." By the time N. was completely out of control:
"I once turned €100 into €20,000 in an hour and lost it all again immediately."
She also discussed withdrawal symptoms: restlessness, insomnia, burning skin, headaches, low mood. She only felt good when gambling.
N. exhibited the classic physical stimulation patterns of addiction: "Brain research shows that behavioral addictions cause dopamine to be released in the brain in a manner similar to addictive drugs, offering a high. And the brain chemistry changes over time. Addicted gamblers lose their motivation for everything except gambling. Attempts to stop gambling fail. They relapse," confirms Hieronymi.
"Addictive behavior is an extreme form of behavior, beyond the reach of self-control and almost reflexive," says the textbook. In general, gambling addiction has been considered a mental illness since 1980. The extent to which this could lighten N.'s case is undetermined. As for her sanity, further investigation is needed, along with her level of addiction. Reports suggest she purchased a valuable weekend property in Brandenburg's Schorfheide before her arrest. However, according to her own statements, she had already squandered all her money on gambling. The verdict is expected on March 23.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
