Before online sportsbooks and casino apps, there was a different kind of gambling world — one run by bookies, back rooms, and the kind of debt you couldn't just close a browser tab to escape. In this episode, host Brian sits down with Tony V, a man with a truly old school gambling story, whose journey from compulsive bettor to person in long-term recovery is as gripping as it gets.
Tony opens up about what it was like gambling in an era before the internet changed everything — placing bets through mob-connected bookmakers, the thrill and the terror that came with it, and the slow unraveling that addiction brings to every area of life. But this isn't just a war story. Tony found recovery, and he shares what that path actually looked like.
Perhaps the most powerful moment in this conversation: what happened when Tony ran into his old bookie well into his recovery AND what the Bookie SAID
In this episode, you'll learn:
What old school gambling culture really looked like — bookies, debts, and all
How compulsive gambling escalates no matter the era or the format
The role of Recovery Chat in Tony's journey and how peer connection supports sobriety
What it feels like to unexpectedly cross paths with your past while in recovery
How long-term recovery is built and protected over time
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