‘It changed my life’: how a UK charity is helping female gambling addicts

For women put off by male-dominated Gamblers Anonymous meetings, a treatment centre in Wolverhampton offers a lifeline

At the height of her addiction at the age of 21, Megan Vanderson lost £4,000 in 10 minutes gambling on games and slots online. Hiding her problem was easy. She was glued to her phone 24/7, but most young people are. It was only after years of turmoil that she finally plucked up the courage to seek help – and found she was the only woman in the room.

“Going into Gamblers Anonymous meetings, it was very male-dominated. So I felt that pressure, I didn’t feel like I could speak as openly,” said Vanderson, now 23. “I was on my own at 21 years old and couldn’t understand why I was like this. I had never seen a young woman who had gone through a gambling addiction, ever.”