Diane Barnes, 51, from Crieff in Perthshire, says she began gambling as a young child and later developed a serious addiction that mobile betting made almost impossible to escape. She has now been in recovery for several years with support from Gamblers Anonymous Scotland and is calling for more accessible treatment services in rural and island communities. Her story comes as the charity GamCare launches free online treatment sessions for people living in Shetland, Orkney, the Highlands and the Western Isles.
Diane recalls that her habit started with her grandmother, long before smartphones existed.
I used to stand on a stool and put the money in for her.
I would try and memorise the reels. Some part of me thought there was a method or logic to it.
She spent much of her childhood visiting bingo halls with her family, a pattern that eventually developed into a full-blown gambling addiction in adulthood.
What changed when gambling moved onto mobile phones?
Diane says everything shifted once betting apps put a casino directly in her hand, describing the experience as carrying
