‘Gambling is one of the most destructive forms of addiction because it’s immediately destructive to your life, financially, and to your health.’
On the morning of Aug. 21, 2017, Tyler Hatch put his dogs in their crates and wrote two suicide notes — one to his parents, the other, his wife.After alerting 911 , Hatch hung up the phone and waited for death.Hatch managed to answer. “I’m glad I did.”That awful day was the beginning of a journey toward self-worth that would include facing up to a gambling addiction that cost him a half-million dollars, getting treatment, filing a lawsuit against the B.C. Lottery Corp.
The whole time he was gambling, Hatch, 42, believed he was in control — he even signed up for voluntary self-exclusion periods of three to six months, meant to help gamblers put the habit on hold. Hatch didn’t know it, but EGMs, or electronic gaming machines and VTLs are tied to higher rates of gambling addiction. Provinces with a higher proportion of EGMs have greater gambling addiction rates.
Hatch freed up more money by renegotiating his monthly disability for a lump sum settlement. In January 2016, he received a $550,000 payout.Hatch was also living a double life. No one knew what was happening. He didn’t understand it either. “I felt like I was consciously making a choice, I wasn’t aware of the compulsion.”Within months, the money was gone. Hatch had hedged his bets, and lost.
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