{"id":323017,"date":"2025-10-22T05:19:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T05:19:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/323017\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T05:19:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T05:19:12","slug":"he-was-80k-in-debt-and-living-in-his-car-but-he-still-couldnt-stop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/323017\/","title":{"rendered":"He was \u00a380k in debt and living in his car but he still couldn’t stop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rob O\u2019Brien hit rock bottom before turning his life around\"RobRob O\u2019Brien was left in \u00a380,000 worth of gambling debt(Image: ITV)<\/p>\n

A man has spoken out about his addiction which left him in \u00a380,000 worth of debt. Rob O\u2019Brien, 48, from Kirkby<\/a>, had previously enjoyed gambling when he started playing online poker<\/a> in early 2005.<\/p>\n

But this time, Rob struggled to keep his usage<\/a> under control. During this period, the websites accepted credit cards for payment and Rob ended up taking out several of them so he could keep gambling. Credit card transactions are no longer accepted at licensed UK betting sites or casinos.<\/p>\n

Rob’s addiction lasted around two years, putting a huge strain on his mental health and causing his relationship to collapse. Speaking to the ECHO<\/a>, Rob said: \u201cI spent all the money I had and then I was getting credit cards out too – you can\u2019t do that anymore.”<\/p>\n

In poker, blinds are mandatory forced bets made before each hand is dealt to ensure there is money in the pot.<\/p>\n

Rob said: “If you’re playing with your mates, the blinds might be 50p and \u00a31 or 25p and 50p. But in the games I was playing, you didn’t know what your cards were and the blinds were like $50 and a $100, so it was brutal. If you’re losing, you\u2019ve got to go all in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I played really well and I won a lot. But with anything gambling wise, the only winners are the bookmakers themselves, so it was a spiral.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just a compulsion. This is very mad but I used to get a high off losing as well. If I lost \u00a33,000, I’d get a high off that. That’s when you know you’ve got a problem losing money and it’s time to get help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Online poker became a nightly habit for Rob. Even though he managed to pay his bills on time, he racked up thousands of pounds of debt while his life and relationships started to collapse.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cEvery night, I was away with the headset on. I focussed on the American market because that was where the most money was. I was winning lots of money and then losing ridiculous amounts of money.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I lost all my money, I got credit cards out in my own name. I was living in one of my friends’ cars for a number of months, and then I was up and down the motorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the motorway service stations at the time, you could stay as long as you wanted. It wasn\u2019t like now where you can only stay three hours or something. I used to sleep there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d spent ridiculous amounts of money. I was in a mess, my relationship was in tatters. It was just shocking.\u201d<\/p>\n

After considering taking his own life in January 2007, Rob went into hospital. It was during this period he decided to approach Gamblers Anonymous and StepChange, a charity which supports people with debt issues.<\/p>\n

Rob said: \u201cWhen I come out to the hospital, I immediately got in touch with Gamblers Anonymous. One of the doctors in the hospital told me about Step Change and I got in touch with them too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve never slept better as I did that night when StepChange went through all my finances. You\u2019ve got to be honest with them and tell them what you owe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s no good going to StepChange and think, I\u2019m not going to tell them about that credit card. I was powerless over (the debt), it had a hold of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to want to do it yourself and that\u2019s the main thing. I wanted to be a better person and I wanted to get well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rob has not gambled since 2007 and is now debt-free. As well as sharing his story to show others there is a way out, he wants to help others directly.<\/p>\n

Rob, who is a massive Liverpool FC<\/a> fan, started collecting club memorabilia and turned it into a successful business, Exclusive Private Signings.<\/p>\n

Rob built strong connections with Liverpool legends such as Jan Molby and Bruce Grobbelaar, helping him develop a portfolio of signed memorabilia.<\/p>\n

Through exclusive signings and fundraising auctions, Rob has raised significant funds for the Wirral<\/a> University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) charity\u2019s children\u2019s fund, which is helping to refurbish and expand the neonatal unit at Arrowe Park Hospital.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"RobRob (second from right) and colleagues from Exclusive Private Signings present a cheque for \u00a322,000 to WUTH Charity to support neonatal care at Arrowe Park Hospital(Image: Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)<\/p>\n

Rob said: \u201cHaving been in such a dark place myself, I know how much a second chance can mean.<\/p>\n

\u201cSupporting WUTH Charity is my way of ensuring something positive came from my struggles. Knowing what we\u2019re doing is helping families, that means everything.<\/p>\n

\u201dPeople send in their items to me to be signed so it’s not just about selling the items. They might have a 1984 share that needs Kenny Dalglish or Bruce Grobbelaar to sign because they were in that team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rob also paid tribute to Jan Molby<\/a> and Jan\u2019s wife, Mandy, for their continued support. The couple host an annual Winter Ball to raise funds for WUTH Charity, with Rob\u2019s donated memorabilia regularly featured in their charity auctions.<\/p>\n

Rob added: \u201cJan and Mandy have been fantastic. Their dedication to helping others is inspiring, and I\u2019m honoured to support them and call them friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RobRob with Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish(Image: Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)<\/p>\n

Rob is determined to keep raising awareness about his experience and organisations who can help others. He said: \u201cA lot of people helped me on my journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about helping the people who\u2019ve been in that situation and don’t know what to do, and giving them advice. Gambling doesn’t impact me anymore but I never ever take it for granted. It is one day at a time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never hear anyone on Facebook<\/a> or social media talk about how much they\u2019ve lost on a horse or a football match. There\u2019s a mental health and debt crisis in our country and in our city.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are people who are in so much trouble and so much debt that they think they have nowhere to turn to.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can find out more about Gamblers Anonymous here<\/a> and StepChange here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Mental health support<\/p>\n

Helplines and support groups<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices website<\/a><\/p>\n