Schoolboy, 13, blows £80,000 gambling online using father’s credit cards to fund his addiction 

  • Lancashire teen became hooked on gambling after seeing advert at Wembley
  • Took pictures of cards on his phone and created accounts in his father’s name
  • His story comes as new figures reveal 25,000 kids aged 11-16 are betting addicts

A 13-year-old schoolboy blew £80,000 gambling online using his father’s business credit cards to fund his addiction. 

The youngster, from Lancashire, started placing bets after seeing adverts for online bookmakers while watching a football match at Wembley.  

He took pictures of cards on his mobile phone and set up a betting account using his company director father’s identity.

He became addicted to sports gambling, placing hundreds of bets a week on football matches and horses, staking as much as £3,000 each time.

A 13-year-old schoolboy blew £80,000 gambling online using his father’s work credit cards

The teen told the Mirror: ‘I had no idea that ­gambling could be an addiction like smoking, drinking or drugs. It seemed like fun and I thought I would make money too.

‘It was just far too easy. I just had to put in dad’s name, ­address, date of birth and card details and checked a box saying I was 18 – it took literally seconds to register and start gambling.’

He had to see a psychotherapist to help curb his addiction after it almost tore the family apart.  

The youngster started placing bets after seeing adverts for online bookmakers while watching a football match at Wembley

The youngster started placing bets after seeing adverts for online bookmakers while watching a football match at Wembley

The boy’s story comes as new Government figures reveal 25,000 children aged 11-16 are addicted to gambling.       

MPs are calling for tighter advertising regulations to prevent child gambling.

The number of 16-year-olds hooked on gambling has risen by a third in the last three years, according to Government regulator the Gambling Commission.

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