David Schwarz: Quitting gambling saved my life
Despite an illustrious career with the Demons, David Schwarz spent its majority hiding a dark secret: his million-dollar gambling addiction. Until one day a snap decision changed the rest of his life. Here’s how.
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Former Melbourne Football Club star David Schwarz says quitting gambling saved his life.
As Schwarz prepares to mark 15 years since his last bet, he is adamant that overcoming his betting addiction gave him a new life.
“It has been 15 years and I can watch a race or look at a form guide in the paper and not even bat an eyelid, but it has taken a long time to get to that period,” Schwarz said.
“My life now has nothing to do with gambling, we are so removed from it, but there is still not a day that goes by that you are not reminded of it.”
Schwarz’s gambling addiction grew alongside his illustrious footy career with the Demons but the big wins were an illusion with the constant losses accumulating into frighteningly large debt.
On May 3, 2005 when he placed his final bet – a losing one – while at his son’s christening, he estimated his years of addiction had cost him as much $5 million and had left him with a six-figure debt.
“It was May 3, it was two years to the day since I had met my wife, I had a bet at Port Augusta and the horse lost and it was just one of those moments when I was at rock bottom,” Schwarz said.
“My best mate was there and he knew I was upset and he said, ‘Mate, enough is enough, you have to give up, you have a family now, you have lost everything but that is OK because you have your family.’
“When I look back at that moment now I know he really saved me. I can picture it almost like it was yesterday. That was the day my life changed.”
Schwarz, 47, said his addiction defied reason and logic, leading him at one point to buy a house in Brighton after a couple of big wins, only for him to have to sell it within months after a run of losses.
“I won a total of $800,000 or $900,000 in a couple of weeks and when you have that much money you think you are invincible,” he said.
“I thought I would buy a house, I’ll be able to stop, but my punting just got bigger.
“I was just an addict and eventually I was just going to blow it all.
“It did not matter if I had $5 or $500,000, I would gamble it and I would gamble until I didn’t have anything left or I would gamble until my pockets were that full or I would gamble until I had to go to bed because I was that tired. That was the only time I would stop.
“The adrenaline and the feeling I got in my body from gambling far outweighed what I won or lost. There was no normality and your decision making just became stupid and when I drank with that I became 10-foot and bulletproof. It did not matter what I did.”
Having his own experience with addiction, Schwarz said he was sympathetic to others facing similar challenges particularly now with the added pressure of the COVID-19 lockdown.
“I have been reflecting a lot since we have been in lockdown (and) I hope people see this as a great time to start afresh. It is a good flag in the ground type of moment,” he said.
“You can say it was COVID-19, we were isolated, I was not earning as much money, I was not socialising, I was not going down to the pub with the boys having a drink so my routine was different and that is when I started.
“Everyone can give up. Giving up is easy, it is actually staying the course that is really difficult.
“It is when you get the urges and it is important to be able to turn to someone. You don’t even need to see them face-to-face. During isolation you can get on the phone, get on Skype, get on Facetime, and you can talk and get the same messaging through.
“There are a lot of great groups out there who can help you.
“Put your hand up, ask for help and you will be blown away with how many people are willing to help. ”
Schwarz will acknowledge his anniversary next Sunday (May 3) with a Zoom catch up with friends.
“I remember when I gave up, it was not for one month or one year or 10 years, it was for a lifetime,” he said.
“It is still a journey and 15 years in, it has gone really quickly. It is a big milestone.
“We will have a Zoom party and have a couple of beers and we will probably talk about the highs and lows and reminisce about what it was like.”
Gambler’s Help 1800 858 858
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