My fridge held nothing but a jar of olives, some miscellaneous condiments and a Tupperware of plain rice. I hadn't paid my rent in more than three months. I don't know what time I would have started, but by early morning I'd be down hundreds of dollars, my eyes burning and bloodshot from staring at the screen. I would hunch in my one-bedroom suite at the end of the hall with the burned-out light fixture, surrounded by stacks of crusted plates and bowls filled with stagnant water. The room was dark apart from the harsh glare of my laptop screen, the light from an unending stream of digital cards flickering across my face as I played Texas hold'em poker online. At the time, the pandemic had shut down the world and my addiction accelerated in the depths of the ensuing lockdowns. My gambling addiction started three years ago when I was 23. I turned off the TV before the game could resume and head out the front door, hoping to clear my head of the intoxicating drone of jackpot bells.Įven after a long walk, I can still feel the desire to gamble. The game has finished, but as I watched the replays of the Jays' thrilling win in extra innings, I'm tempted to give into those same dark urges that ruined my life not long ago.

In-game betting has changed how many watch sports, and even some gamblers warn of consequences.

Ontario bans use of pro athletes to advertise, market online sports betting.

Next up, a guy walking through a casino says I could play all these games without having to leave my house. With one push of a button, dollar signs flash and he's won half a million in some other bet. The next commercial featured the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, on-screen holding up his cellphone. When the commercial break started, I immediately recognized Aaron Paul from his role in Breaking Bad, but instead of making crystal meth like his character, he tells me to download 'the world's favourite sports book' and bet on which team will break the tie first. It was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth.

The Jays were in a nail-biter against the Twins. I had arrived home in time to catch the last bit of the Blue Jays game during this year's August long weekend. There's something entrancing about watching summer baseball. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ. This First Person piece was written by Theodore Oliver, who lives in Saskatoon.

Betfair casino commercial girl