Gambling: the silent crisis destroying many people who can’t cope with life
Announcement posted by Invigorate PR 21 Aug 2025
Gary Fahey exposes the hidden link between gambling and emotional collapse. When life feels overwhelming, many Australians are turning to gambling as a coping mechanism and paying an enormous price.
According to mental resilience and crisis intervention expert Gary Fahey, gambling has become one of the most destructive outlets for people struggling to manage stress, trauma or emotional instability.
"Gambling is not about money, it's about escape," Fahey said.
"For many people who feel like life is unmanageable, gambling becomes the quick fix. It offers temporary relief from pain, anxiety and hopelessness, but in reality, it deepens the problem and often ends in complete personal and financial collapse."
Why gambling becomes a coping mechanism
Fahey explained that gambling taps into the brain's reward system, delivering short bursts of dopamine that numb stress and discomfort. However, the cycle quickly spirals into addiction, leaving individuals more desperate, anxious and trapped than before.
"People gamble not because they want to win, but because they can't cope with losing control in other areas of their lives," Fahey said.
"They chase wins as a way to silence the noise inside, but every loss drives them deeper into shame and despair."
The hidden damage behind the numbers
Australia has one of the highest gambling losses per capita in the world, with billions drained from households each year. Fahey said the human cost behind those figures is devastating; broken families, workplace meltdowns, mental health crises and even suicide.
"Every statistic is a life in crisis," he said.
"When I'm called in for crisis intervention, gambling is often the final symptom of years of unaddressed pain. By the time people reach me, they've often lost not just money, but their relationships, careers and self-worth."
More than poker machines: the many ways people gamble today
Fahey warned that gambling is no longer confined to poker machines or race tracks, it has seeped into everyday life through online access and high-risk financial trends. Online casinos and sports betting apps are available 24/7 at the click of a button.
Dodgy crypto schemes and high-risk trading platforms promise overnight riches but often strip people of their savings. Online shopping scams lure stressed or vulnerable people into handing over money they can't afford to lose. Even compulsive purchases of get-rich-quick investments or unverified products can become part of the same destructive cycle.
"I've seen people lose their homes to online casinos, wipe out their superannuation on risky crypto bets like meme tokens, or fall for scams that drain every dollar they have," Fahey said.
"Each of these behaviours looks different on the surface, but they all point to the same underlying problem; someone trying to escape the pressures of life through false promises of control or relief."
Why gambling is about more than addiction
Fahey stressed that gambling isn't simply a bad habit or poor decision-making, it's a warning sign of someone unable to cope with life's pressures.
"Gambling is often the surface issue. Underneath, there's usually trauma, grief, untreated depression or chronic stress. Unless you address the root cause, recovery is almost impossible," he said.
A call for awareness and early intervention
Fahey is urging Australians to look beyond the poker machines and betting apps to the deeper reasons people gamble.
"Don't dismiss it as greed or stupidity," he said.
"It's a cry for help. If someone you love is gambling excessively, it's not about money, it's about their struggle to cope with life. The sooner we intervene, the more chance they have of rebuilding their future.
"As a crisis intervention expert, I don't provide immediate therapy, I step in to work with the person as a silent mentor to help them get back control of their life through better decision making and emotional support. Once we have reestablished some form of control, we then look at what other strategies and supports we can put in place to help them moving forward."
Fahey emphasised that gambling is a symptom and it can be easily addressed with the right help.
About Gary Fahey
Gary Fahey is a former high-ranking officer with the Australian Federal Police, now one of the country's most in-demand crisis intervention specialists and workplace performance experts. After experiencing his own highly publicised breakdown, he founded a highly respected consultancy to help individuals and organisations navigate stress, high performance and personal
resilience. Today, he works with leaders across a broad range of industries to prevent burnout and restore performance and life balance. His clients include CEOs, athletes, first responders, entrepreneurs and everyday Australians committed to taking back control of their lives.