World Cup: calls for banks to protect customers from gambling addiction
Paul Nash from Haywards Heath overcame a ten year gambling addiction - and says banks should be monitoring transactions
A Haywards Heath man who spent £100,000 betting is calling for banks to protect customers against gambling addiction ahead of the World Cup.
It's as new data from charity GamCare finds one in three 18-34 year olds who've bet on the Euros or World Cup before find it hard to avoid gambling during major tournaments.
A big win while at university began Paul Nash's decade-long gambling addiction.
"I didn't really consider gambling as an escape at that time until I won my first bet," he told Greatest Hits Radio.
"A five-pound accumulator returned about 450 pounds, and that was when the addiction started."
Paul described how as a student his spending was limited - but having a full time job meant he could spend his wages on betting.
"I wasn't even able to afford to get to work - and affording to get to work was about a£3 train journey."
He's now urging for banks to pick up on and respond to what could be the early signs of addiction.
"One of the only addictions that banks can actually monitor is a gambling addiction," he explained.
"Banks could be monitoring transactions a lot better and having that first conversation.
"Someone might not know that they're addicted, but if a bank highlights how much they're spending, that's when they might take that step back and realise they're betting out of their means."
We've asked the Financial Conduct Authority for comment.