Slovenian ANTI - GAMBLING ASSOCIATION

Hello to everybody!

I am Marko Knez and I am a person who doesn't have a problem publicly admit that I had a gambling problem. With a help from psychiatrist, my own will and strong determination I beat this desease or addiction.

How all started?

It was year 2017 when after many years of playing betting games (sports betting) first signs of addiction were showing up. This addiction started innocent, with baby steps. I was succesfull at first in betting. I became very confident at it. I opened facebook group where I had success.

Eventually the greed, but most important the addiction finally caught up with me. I started to lose money little by little. I was raising money from bank every week. My debt was going up and up. So was the number of played games every day higher.

There were ups and downs. Always when I was determinted that I will quit gambling ( I had only few € left) somehow I won some big money with that last played game. Of course I didn't used that money wisely for paying of my debt. No...I used it to play even more.

This was all happening for about half a year when a time had come when I have used my half of monthly wage for betting. I was lying all over the place to those from whom I loaned the money from. Of course I did payed them back the money, but I always found someone new.

Just few days prior to new's year eve of 2018 I knew I was a gambling addict and that I need to stop. I searched for help. I found it at hospital in Nova Gorica where they helped me with my addiction. After 3 year visiting their program I can proudly announce to you that I am no longer addicted to gambling.

This program helped me alot because it helped also to regain the trust with everybody from which I previously I lost the trust. Now, money isn't my priority anymore.

And here I ask for help, dear readers.

In our country Slovenia there isn't any association for help with just gambling addiction. It is a BIG TABU in our country. I will open the association with two my best friends who were always by my side when I was dealing with the addiction and the whole time with the program. I know what it takes to beat this addiction.

Yearly predicted expense for this kind of association is 5000€. 4000€ goes towards renting the place, paying all the bills, accounting etc. Other 1000€ will be used for the promotion of the association.

We want to raise at least 5000€ which would be enough for one year. But if we will could raise 10.000€ we would be delighted. In that case we would have enough money for two (2) years expenses covered for the association. In that way we could fully focus on people of needing the much needed help.

Thank you!

Marko