Growing up in a typical Italian-American family in Brooklyn, Sal Guarino says he had no choice but to gamble. He was surrounded by poker games and sports betting. The legality didn’t matter to the circles he moved in.
“By 15, I had a gambling problem,” he tells me from his home in Mexico on a Monday morning. “I had my first intervention by 18.”
But it was not until he turned 50, eight years ago, that he finally broke the habit. He became what Gamblers Anonymous refers to as a “periodic gambler”.
“It came in waves,” he adds. “I would abstain for a while, then relapse and gamble.”
He has not tallied up the losses; the process of doing so would be complicated since he used illegal bookies and offshore sites, but it’s “a lot,” he says, “enough that I could have retired and be set for the rest of my life.”
As it is, his lived experience, dealing with a gambling problem for the best part of 35 years, puts him in the ideal position to help others through the struggle. Predominantly, he does this by working as a Community Engagement Manager at Evive, “the leading digital health platform for gambling behavior change.”
Building a Supportive Community
Many of the Evive team have similar experiences to Guarino, years, sometimes even decades, of struggling with gambling problems.
“We’re coming from that place of lived experience, we can share that and relate to what they’re going through when they send messages on the platform,” he says.
Evive’s founder and CEO, Sam DeMello, also admits to having struggled with gambling addiction. He launched the company to “revolutionize addiction support.”
“It’s still relatively new in terms of growth, and I’ve only been a part of them, initially part-time, then full-time, for about six months,” says Guarino. “But, even just a few months ago, someone who’s having difficulty might do a post and needs help, and I was one of the first people to engage with them a couple of hours later. Now I’m like the tenth.”
The community has strength in its growing numbers, and it creates a snowball effect where those who received help now give it back.
“The people who have already engaged them are community members who are doing really well,” he said. “So, it’s a beautiful thing to see. They have created another layer of support, and they’re doing that out of their own desire to help, and it’s helpful for them to do that.”
Legal Gambling Accelerating Addictions
With the rise of online gambling, almost everyone now has the equivalent of a casino in their pocket.
Prediction markets have effectively allowed anyone in the US to legally gamble on sports, and they are doing so in increasingly higher numbers. Over 3 million people opened new accounts at Kalshi during the World Cup, resulting in over $30 billion in trading on the platform.
Has the availability of more legal gambling options led to more people having problems?
“100%,” says Guarino.
Access is key. It was more difficult to gamble when Guarino started out. His environment made it unavoidable, but his periods of abstinence were made easier when it became inconvenient to gamble.
“I would have to find a new offshore sportsbook, find ways to wire money; it wasn’t like it is today,” he said.
Now in Mexico, where he moved with his wife after meeting her during COVID, gambling is also not so easily accessible, and he is not surrounded by the same people from his youth.
But Guarino and Evive are not campaigning for a prohibition on gambling.
“Alcoholics can recover, living in a world surrounded by alcohol; there’s temptation everywhere, but the important thing is the individual journey,” he said. “That’s what we’re focused on: how can we help navigate the risks that exist?”
Recovery in Your Pocket
While a smartphone may be viewed as a casino in your pocket, Guarino prefers to see it as “recovery in your pocket.” In addition to the community forums, Guarino, and other peer supporters host Gamblers Anonymous-style meetings over Zoom.
“There are daily meetings available and around 10 per week on the Evive app. These give people the chance to connect with others who have the same problems and find that support. It’s much more accessible because of this” (he holds up his smartphone during our Zoom call).”
“For many people, it’s intimidating to go to a meeting or to admit to a doctor you have a gambling problem,” Guarino adds. “It’s much easier to use Evive. Start by sending a message, then gradually you can get the help you need.”
Dr. Mary Donohue of the Digital Wellness Center, an organization also aimed at reducing gambling harm, similarly said that technology can be both the problem and the solution. She emphasized the benefits of taking a mini-break by doing digital activities that help reset a gambler’s emotional state, leading to better decision-making.
States Supporting Evive Efforts
Along with community engagement managers like Guarino, the company also has a clinical advisory board, featuring leading experts who ensure the “platform stays at the cutting edge of evidence-based practices.”
As Evive grows, it requires funding. It sources some of that from states that have systems in place to fund treatment for gambling problems.
“In states that pay us, we’re able to provide a more customized, effective experience, conduct outreach, and engage more people in support,” says founder DeMello. Currently, a limited number of states have signed on as partners.
However, he stresses that “everyone deserves access to support, regardless of where they live. Evive has never charged a member to use the product, even if they live in a state or country that doesn’t pay us.”
“We’ve learned that major components of our public health system are missing in many places that need them,” DeMello added. Evive aims to bridge those gaps by connecting people with peer support, research, and those with lived experience, such as Guarino.
“Evive Inc. not only generates funding from states, but it also fundamentally modernizes and transforms state public health systems,” said DeMello.
Evive Foundation Seeking More Funds
To increase its reach, Evive launched the Evive Foundation, which is currently running its first major fundraising campaign.
“We plan on using the foundation to democratize access to support and bring the best version of Evive to everyone,” says DeMello.
A potentially large funding source is from gambling companies. Guarino recently appeared on Louis Ruggiero’s podcast, Nothing’s Off The Table, where he told his story in more detail. Ruggiero, also a recovered gambling addict, has been heavily critical of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) for accepting industry money, including $2 million from Kalshi.
“Nobody bites the hand that feeds them,” he told CasinoBeats in an interview recently. “So the criticism gets softer. The language gets friendlier. And the guy in crisis at 2 am isn’t in the room. He’s not a sponsor.”
Ruggiero says he will not accept industry money for his own work on tackling gambling harm. DeMello, however, says Evive is open to all sources of funding.
“Any organization that believes in accessible, effective support for gambling problems is welcome to support us,” he stated. “If that comes from gambling companies, we’re open to working with them. However, there’s a difference between financial support and influence.”
The Foundation will become one of the company’s main focuses in the coming weeks and months.
“Think about the Evive Foundation as the research and development vehicle for the mission and Evive Inc. as the implementation vehicle for the program,” said DeMello. “Our focus is on removing barriers and making sure people get help regardless of where they live. That’s the core of what we’re building.”
Finding Positivity
Guarino is also keen to emphasize that the focus is on helping individuals overcome their problems. When discussing the merits and demerits of accepting industry money, it is easy to get lost in the weeds.
“I don’t want to avoid these questions, but it’s just not what I want to focus on. The main thing is the community, the individual’s journey,” he said.
Equally, if a gambler focuses predominantly on gambling, then that can accentuate the problem.
“If it’s all about what is causing the harm or how to stop gambling, then it becomes depressing,” Guarino adds. “I ask people what they sacrificed for gambling, what hobby they stopped, or didn’t start. By finding something positive to focus on, you can help rediscover the joy in life.”
From his home in Mexico, Guarino appears to have found his own path, which leads me to ask if he has any regrets about his journey.
The Italian-American in him kicks in as he quotes Frank Sinatra, “Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.”
