Interview Rick van Roij: From addict to speaker – the raw story behind Kansloos

Interview with Rick van Roij – author of Kansloos, columnist at CasinoZorgplicht.nl, and expert through personal experience.

In a world where gambling addiction often grows in silence, Rick van Roij opted for openness. As the author of the book Kansloos and as an active speaker on social media, he is committed to breaking the taboo around gambling addiction. In this interview with Gambling Club, Rick speaks in a personal capacity about his own experiences with gambling addiction, his vision of addiction care, and the social responsibility that comes with it.

His mission is clear: raising awareness, engaging in dialogue, and empowering others to speak out too. With a website, podcast and YouTube channel, Rick continues to build a platform for stories of experience, critical conversations and social reflection. A conversation that’s raw, honest and needed.

His book

For you, what was the moment you realised ‘I’m a gambling addict’?

The moment I realised it was a problem was when I noticed that I was no longer playing once a month, but suddenly every week. That turnaround didn’t feel like a habit, but like a slide that I could no longer control. That’s when, for the first time, it really felt like an addiction.

Your book is called Kansloos – why exactly did you choose that title?

The title Kansloos (hopeless, without a chance) came from my wife, and immediately hit me the core. That’s how I felt for years: as if I had no chance against addiction. Gambling had me in its grip, and I couldn’t fight it. Kansloos, in other words, literally and figuratively.

But now that title has a new connotation. I am now chance-less: I live without gambling and no longer give addiction a chance. It’s not just a retrospect, but a turning point.

How difficult was it to put your story on paper in such a raw and honest way?

It was harder than I thought. Not because I didn’t want to tell it, but because I really had to look at myself. Writing forces you not to look away, not to soften or gloss over things. Some parts physically hurt to put on paper, the shame, the lies, the moments when I hurt people who loved me.

But at the same time, it was liberating. By writing it down in such a raw and honest way, little by little, I took back control of my own story. And if my openness makes one person feel less alone or seek help in time, it was well worth that struggle.

What do you hope readers feel or realise after reading Kansloos?

I hope that after reading Kansloos, readers especially feel something and not just understand something. I want to show what gambling addiction really is: not just a money problem, but a lonely battle full of shame, self-deception and silent grief.

What I hope most is that people realise that addiction can affect anyone. That it is not about weakness, but pain. And that recovery is possible, no matter how deep into it you are. For people who are struggling themselves, I hope my story provides a spark of recognition and hope. And for everyone around them, family, social workers, policymakers, that it helps them look at things with more compassion and understanding.

Because no one is really hopeless.

Are there passages in your book that still touch you when you read them back?

Yes, there are passages that still touch me. Especially the moments when I lied to people who trusted me, or played again even though I had promised to stop. Those parts take me back to a version of myself that I hardly recognise any more, and for that very reason I feel again how deep into addiction I was then. They still touch me deeply.

Awareness and taboo

Why do you think there is still so much shame and silence around gambling addiction?

Because gambling addiction is often invisible. You can’t see it in someone, there is no alcohol smell or syringe tracks. Many people seemingly function normally while  breaking down inside.

And because it is often accompanied by lying, guilt and financial distrust, people feel weak or guilty rather than sick. That shame perpetuates the silence. But addiction is not a character flaw, it is something that happens to you. That realisation needs to be more widely known.

You often speak out on social media. What reactions do you usually get from followers?

Most reactions are warm and full of recognition. People thank me for naming things they never dared to say out loud themselves. Sometimes they are people who are having problems themselves, sometimes family members who finally understand what their loved one is going through.

But I also get messages from people in the industry, sometimes critical, sometimes supportive. And that’s okay. I don’t want to be an enemy, but a voice that lets the other voices be heard. The reactions show me that openness is needed. And that I am not the only one.

Have you seen any change in how people talk about gambling addiction since you shared your story?

I’ve only really been actively coming out with my story since the beginning of May, so it’s still short. But even in those few weeks, I notice that something is starting to shift. The conversation is slowly picking up, in a personal and sincere way.

I am now being approached for interviews, columns and other projects, which shows that there is indeed a need for a different voice around gambling addiction. And that is exactly where change begins.

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about gambling addicts?

One of the biggest misunderstandings is that gambling addicts just “can’t keep up” or that it is about greed. But it is rarely about money. It’s about escape, numbness, wanting to feel control in a life that actually feels adrift.

Also, people often think that if you really wanted to stop, you would. But addiction is not a choice, it is a disease that develops silently and insidiously. Many gambling addicts function seemingly fine, which makes it even harder to be seen and understood. It is precisely this invisibility that is insidious.

How do people from the gambling industry respond to your criticism and openness?

Reactions from the gambling industry have been mixed. Some dismiss my story as exaggerated or prefer to remain silent. Others do listen and understand that my criticism stems from experience, not anger.

I don’t want to be an enemy, but a mirror. Change starts with acknowledging the reality behind the scenes.

Duty of care and policy

What do you think is the biggest flaw in current policy around gambling addiction at the moment?

The biggest flaw? The lack of an overarching gambling limit. Now there is a limit of 700 euros per month per provider, but there are 26 legal online casinos in the Netherlands. So do the math: an addict can gamble tens of thousands of euros without anyone seeing anything.

Without a central system, there is no real safety net. That makes the current limits mainly a paper measure, good on the outside, but not effective in practice.

Which responsibility do you think lies with the government, and which with the providers?

The government has a responsibility to set frameworks that really protect, not just rules on paper, but legislation that prevents people from sliding into the abyss. That means: a central play limit, better monitoring and stricter enforcement of duty of care.

Providers bear responsibility for what happens on their platforms. Not just making a profit, but intervening when players show risky behaviour. Duty of care should not be a box to tick, but an active part of their operations.

Both parties must stop passing the responsibility to each other. Because as long as nobody really takes responsibility, the addict will be left alone.

How do you view the way healthcare agencies deal with addicts?

Healthcare agencies are doing their best, but in the case of gambling addiction, help still often falls short. It is still too often underestimated or confused with other forms of addiction. Gambling problems are often invisible and therefore harder to spot.

More knowledge, more hands-on expertise and quicker access to help are needed. Because when someone finally dares to ask for help, help should actually be there.

What do you think should change tomorrow already in the approach to gambling addiction?

As early as tomorrow, there should be a central gambling limit system. One overall limit per player, regardless of which provider you play with. Without that safety net, legislation will continue to be a waste of time.

In addition: more information in schools, faster access to help and compulsory structural consultation with experts by experience. Not talking about people, but with people who have experienced it themselves. That makes all the difference.

You often talk about ‘social responsibility’ – what does that mean to you concretely?

For me, social responsibility means looking beyond profit, rules or image. It’s about, as a government, provider or organisation, thinking about the consequences of what you do and acting accordingly.

Specifically? Preventing rather than just reacting. Protecting players, even if it costs money. And seriously involving people with experience in policy. Not out of sympathy, but because it is necessary to make a real difference.

Media initiatives

You are working on a podcast and a YouTube channel. What can we start to expect there?

On my podcast and YouTube channel, you can expect raw, honest conversations about gambling addiction, with experts by experience, counsellors and people in the industry.

I also hit the streets for interviews with the public, to gauge what people really think about gambling. And who knows, maybe a small docuseries will follow in the future. Anything to get the conversation going.

Why is it important that stories of experience and critical conversations also have a place in the media?

Because numbers alone don’t touch people. Stories of experience give a face to the problem and show what really goes on behind closed doors.

Critical interviews ensure that we don’t get stuck in superficial PR stories, but dare to look at the pain, the blind spots and what needs to be improved. Without that, silence remains and that is where addiction grows the fastest.

How do you decide who to interview or what themes to discuss?

I choose people and themes that add something to the real conversation, not the polished picture. These can be experts by experience, but also social workers, lawyers or people from the gambling industry itself.

As long as it is honest, abrasive or thought-provoking, it is welcome. I don’t want a one-sided story, but a complete picture of what gambling addiction does to people and systems.

What do you hope to achieve with your channels among young people and their parents?

I hope to make young people aware of how quickly gambling can turn from a game to a trap. And for parents to better understand what’s going on, even if they don’t see it right away.

My goal is to create openness before things go wrong. So that signals are recognised earlier, shame decreases and the steps to getting help become smaller. Prevention starts with talking.

Where will you be in five years with your mission, book and platform?

In five years, I hope that Kansloos has grown into a powerful platform for awareness, recovery and prevention. That my book will still be read, not just as a personal story, but as a starting point for change.

I want there to be more space for honest stories in media, education and policy. And that I reach young people with my podcast, speaking engagements and projects before they fall. My mission? That no one should have to feel alone anymore in something that affects so many people.

A voice that needs to be heard

The conversation with Rick van Roij leaves nothing to the imagination: gambling addiction is not an individual problem, but a societal challenge that demands honesty, humanity and responsibility. His openness, lived insights and critical eye make him an important voice in the debate on addiction, duty of care and policy.

With his book Kansloos forthcoming, and plans for his own podcast and YouTube channel, this is just the beginning of his mission to raise awareness and bring about real change. What Rick is showing is that recovery is possible – not by remaining silent, but rather by speaking up.

Follow Rick via his socials for more stories, insights and updates on his work. Because this conversation should never be avoided again.