Paul Merson on gambling addiction and the road to recovery

Lea Hogg September 29, 2024

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Paul Merson on gambling addiction and the road to recovery

For many, Paul Merson is synonymous with football success and his recent venture into entertainment on Strictly Come Dancing. But behind the glitzy stage, Merson’s life has been marred by a destructive battle with gambling addiction—a fight he now openly reflects on, with one profound realisation: the true cost was never the money.

Merson’s harrowing journey into addiction is one shared by many, though few will ever face it in such a public spotlight. By his own account, the former England midfielder has lost a staggering ￡7 million due to gambling. For much of his career, Merson’s wealth and high-profile status shielded his addictions from immediate scrutiny. His earnings as a footballer—peaking at ￡20,000 a week in the late 1990s—helped feed his spiralling habits, which included not just gambling, but alcohol and drug abuse. However, as Merson often reflects, the regret he carries isn’t purely financial; it’s about the time, relationships, and mental well-being that were consumed by his addiction.

At the age of 21, Paul Merson was a rising star, making transfer headlines with fees that surpassed ￡12 million during his career. Yet, off the pitch, his life was unravelling. Despite his impressive football accomplishments with Arsenal, Middlesbrough, and later as a manager, Merson’s private battles overshadowed his achievements. In particular, his gambling spiralled out of control, with bets on football matches, horse races, and other forms of gambling that pushed him deeper into debt. His marriage to Lorraine Costin fell apart under the strain, with Merson admitting that his addiction had made him distant and detached from family life.

Gambling addiction, as Merson now emphasises, is not just about the money. It’s about obsession and compulsion—emotional and psychological impacts that strip away a person’s capacity for connection. “It’s not the money I regret,” Merson has said. “It’s the relationships I’ve lost and the years I’ll never get back.” These words resonate in a world where gambling addiction remains a largely silent epidemic, one that can destroy careers, families, and futures without warning.

Strictly Come Dancing

Now in a new chapter of his life, Paul Merson has taken to the dance floor as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. His American Smooth performance may not have wowed the judges, but it signalled something deeper—his ongoing effort to reclaim control and redefine himself beyond his past. For Merson, participating in Strictly is more than just entertainment. It’s a personal challenge and a testament to his continued recovery, a chance to push himself outside of football and punditry, where he currently serves as a Sky Sports analyst.

The struggle Merson faces is ongoing. His appearance on ‘Strictly’ isn’t a story of redemption wrapped neatly with a bow—it’s another step in an ongoing battle to stay sober and free of gambling. His life is now grounded in structure and awareness, with strict financial controls in place. His third wife, Kate, even gives him a weekly allowance to prevent a relapse, something Merson has openly spoken about with humility.

Through his candid reflections on addiction, Paul Merson has become an unlikely advocate for mental health and the dangers of gambling. His honesty about the emotional scars of addiction—rather than just the financial losses—paints a fuller picture of how gambling can wreak havoc on even the most successful lives. As he dances under the bright lights of Strictly Come Dancing, Merson is reminding audiences that behind the glitz and glamour, there’s often a deeper story waiting to be told. And for Paul Merson, that story is one of pain, regret, and ultimately, hope.

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