Sports betting and the downward spiral: the unfiltered account of a former addict

Noah Vineberg, a 52-year-old Ottawa resident, is now celebrating more than seven years of abstinence after spending almost a million dollars on gambling, most of it on sports betting. This is the story of the fragile psychological reconstruction of a man who now devotes his life to guiding others away from addiction.

To understand Noah Vineberg’s current resilience, you have to appreciate the depth of the abyss from which he emerged. He spoke to Casino Beats in a moving interview.

It all started with a harmless bet at the age of 10, a spark that turned into an inferno at high school via the government platform Pro-Line. This system, which allows you to create combined bets of 3 to 10 selections, was for him the gateway to an all-consuming addiction.

1 million lost

In total, Vineberg estimates that he lost $1 million. While poker, blackjack and scratch tickets contributed to this haemorrhage, it was sports betting that contributed most to the loss, with $600,000 swallowed up in bets.

Addiction knows no rational logic. Vineberg used to bet on hockey, horse racing, football and even cricket, a sport he knew nothing about.

“I experienced first-hand how sports betting can ruin a life. I’ve lied to my family, compromised marriages, missed mortgage payments, contemplated suicide… I lost a lot more than money.”

Now president of ATU (Amalgamated Transit Union) Local 279 and father of four, Vineberg takes a clear-eyed look back at those dark years. He has turned his past pain into an educational tool.

A fragile recovery

When asked about the nature of his recovery, Noah Vineberg rejects the idea of a definitive victory. For him, sobriety is a fine line that needs to be walked with humility. Gambling addiction is often just a symptom of a deeper malaise, a method of escaping reality and emotional pain.

You have to be constantly vigilant. As he points out, every major life event, whether positive or negative, carries with it the risk of a relapse. 

“It’s fragile. Relapse could be just around the corner. Like anything worthwhile in life, it takes work, diligence and effort.”

From patient to mentor 

Vineberg’s redemption came through action. He has become a regular speaker at the Hotel Dieu Grace Gambling and Digital Dependence Program, the very institution that helped him escape.

This change in status was a turning point for him. At the programme’s 25th anniversary, when he was invited to speak, the director introduced him not as a former patient, but as a new member of the team. This recognition transformed his perception of himself. He was no longer a victim, but an agent of change with responsibilities.

The power of the group and empathy

When he speaks, Vineberg does not try to lecture. He tells his story, sometimes raw, sometimes emotional, but always real.

His fuel? The spark of hope he sees in participants’ eyes when they realise that their lives don’t have to end where Vineberg’s almost did.

He shares this journey with a “brother in arms”, a person he met even before joining the programme and with whom he has gone through every stage of the therapy. This person, whom he now considers his family, now runs a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. 

For players still struggling today, Noah Vineberg offers advice that goes beyond simple abstinence. If the easy road always leads to disappointment, the hard road to recovery is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

“My message to all those who are struggling is this: empathy is essential. Healing is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Cherish it. Respect it. Don’t take it for granted.”