Former rep reflects on career, reputation lost to gambling addiction
BOSTON (SHNS) – When he was 17 years old, David Nangle found himself $800 in debt to a bookie. Reflecting on the situation as a 64-year-old, the former representative wishes he had not managed to get out of that jam.
'Well, didn't smarten me up. I was able to bail out of it, as we say, and I got through that. But I just wish I could go back in time to that time and have changed my life at that point, but I didn't,' he said Wednesday. 'I just couldn't stop and addiction literally cost me everything. It cost my marriage, my career and my reputation.'
The Lowell Democrat was indicted by federal prosecutors and arrested in February 2020, charged with illegally using campaign funds to fund a lifestyle that included golf club memberships and casino trips to Connecticut, and lying to banks about his debt to obtain mortgages and other loans. Nangle lost his reelection bid in a September 2020 primary.
He pleaded guilty to charges against him and in September 2021 was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He was released from federal prison in November 2022.
Nangle was back at to the State House on Wednesday to speak at a briefing on problem gambling and ways the state can attempt to identify and offer assistance to people affected. He said he hid his gambling addiction from everyone at work and at home, but it ultimately cost him his 22-year career in the House.
Nangle said he vowed in federal court to dedicate some of his time going forward to helping people, especially young people, 'not to go down the life suffering that I endured for so many years.' Today, he said he works full-time at the Bridge Club of Greater Lowell, which works with people dealing with addiction, and serves as a part-time peer specialist for the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health.
'I thank God that online gambling wasn't around when I was betting with the bookies in the city of Lowell and running up to Rockingham Racetrack and Suffolk Downs. I don't know what would have become of me had that been around at that time,' Nangle said. 'However, today is a whole different era. As I say, 38 states now allow individuals, via their cellphones, to place bets. And who do you think is placing all these bets on these cellphones? The old dinosaurs like me? No. There are some. But I'm telling you, it's the kids. It's the youth.'
Massachusetts requires that people be at least 21 years old to bet on sports and sports betting companies are supposed to have mechanisms in place to know who is betting and to identify when someone may be exhibiting signs of dangerous behavior.
Among monthly gamblers who participated in online surveys conducted in 2014, 2022 and 2023, the percentage experiencing gambling problems jumped from 12.7% in 2014 to 20.9% in 2022 and to 25.6% in 2023, the Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts (SEIGMA) research team reported to the Gaming Commission last year. The Massachusetts Legislature and former Gov. Charlie Baker, now president of the NCAA, legalized sports betting in August 2022 and it went live in early 2023.
Researchers stressed that the online panels of monthly gamblers were not representative of the general state population, which has held steady at a 2% prevalence of problem gambling in surveys conducted before and after casinos were introduced in Massachusetts. The SEIGMA team also said its research found that 8.4% of the Massachusetts general population was at risk of developing a gambling problem.
Nangle said the people who show up for the Gamblers Anonymous meetings he attends have been trending younger, including some teenagers who are brought to the meetings by their parents. He said he sees the boom of legal gambling and its particular appeal to young people as 'a health crisis coming down the road.'
'Think of it this way: imagine if we lowered the drinking age to 14. Can you imagine the outrage that would take place if the consumption of alcohol was allowed at the age of 14? Now, I'm not saying gambling is allowed at the age of 14, but folks, the kids are doing it. They're doing it, unfortunately,' he said. 'And I bet everybody in this room — I hate to use the word bet — I am sure that, I predict, that everybody in this room has somebody, or they're going to know somebody that's addicted to gambling — not just like myself, but the younger ones.'
Nangle added, 'It's coming, and it's unfortunate. I'm really concerned where we are heading.'
The lawmakers who hosted Wednesday's briefing, Sen. John Keenan of Quincy and Reps. Carole Fiola of Fall River and Adam Scanlon of North Attleborough, are similarly concerned about the social impacts of the activity they voted in favor of legalizing almost three years ago. Each highlighted legislation they have or plan to file this session to address problem gambling.
Keenan pitched his 'Bettor Health Act' (S 302), which would increase the tax rate on online betting platforms, ban sports betting advertising during game broadcasts, require online sports betting companies to double their financial contributions to the state's Public Health Trust Fund, and more. He likened the rise of online betting to the emergence of the opioid crisis.
'If we don't see the similarities, we're going to find ourselves again so far behind trying so hard to create an infrastructure to address it,' he said about the need to start addressing the problem before it gets out of hand.
Fiola, who this session chairs the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee, spoke about a bill she filed (H 2416) that aims to study the current resources available to people with gambling problems and identify ways to improve coordination and promotion of those programs.
'We know that there are several organizations and facilitators working very hard in this space to increase access to these treatment areas, problem gambling treatment, and it's imperative that these organizations work together to provide the best services for those in need,' she said. 'This legislation also wants to expand physician screening coverage for annual physicals to create another touch point for individuals to reach out. I'm proposing adding a screening question for problem gambling, the same way physicians already asked about alcohol consumption and drug use at a physical.'
Scanlon said he plans to soon file a bill to address problem gambling.
'Like most of you, I do not oppose all gambling,' he said at Wednesday's briefing. 'But like many of you, I do want to make sure that all of these benefits we see do not come at the expense of those who are most vulnerable to addiction.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
33 minutes ago
Johnson: Trump did 'exactly what he needed to do' in sending National Guard to LA
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is 'not concerned at all' over President Donald Trump's order to send 2,000 National Guard troops to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles. 'I think the president did exactly what he needed to do,' Johnson told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday. 'That is real leadership and he has the authority and the responsibility to do it,' the speaker said, defending Trump's decision. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he is prepared to mobilize Marines if the violence continues. Pressed if sending Marines into the streets of American cities is warranted, Johnson said, 'We have to be prepared to do what is necessary.'
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Trump shrugs off possible reconciliation with Musk
President Trump said he assumes his relationship with Elon Musk has ended and that he has no desire to repair it after the pair publicly fell out last week. "I think it's a shame that he's so depressed and so heartbroken," Trump said of the billionaire in a phone call with NBC News' Kristen Welker. The big picture: Trump's comments also came with a warning to Musk when the president said the Tesla CEO could face "serious consequences" should he fund Democratic candidates in the next election running against Republicans who vote for Trump's "big, beautiful bill." The billionaire, who contributed more than $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 election but has since said he'd cut back on political spending, posted last week that politicians "who betrayed the American people" should be fired in November. Trump declined to elaborate on what the consequences would be for Musk. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week" that it would be a "big mistake" for Musk to go after Republicans who vote for the bill. Driving the news: Trump said he has no plans to speak to the Tesla CEO during the Saturday phone interview with Welker. Asked if he thought his relationship with Musk was over, Trump said he "would assume so." He accused the once-close administration ally of being "disrespectful to the office of the President." Catch up quick: The alliance between Trump and the former chainsaw-wielding face of DOGE exploded last week as Musk continuously campaigned against the massive tax-and-spending package, blasting it as a "disgusting abomination." Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office appearance alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Thursday, Trump said he was "very disappointed" in Musk, who he claimed was very familiar with the inner workings of the legislation. While Trump talked, Musk fired back in real-time on X, claiming in one post that Trump would have lost the election without him. Zoom in: In one post that appears to have been deleted, Musk accused the president of being "in the Epstein files." Trump told NBC that it's "old news."
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Paxton presents an opportunity in Texas — if Democrats can take advantage of it
Texas Republicans' messy Senate primary is giving Democrats hope that they could finally have an opening to wedge into higher office in the red state — for real this time. But a potential pileup of candidates as the party sees renewed interest in the race could spoil their chances of finally flipping the Lone Star State. Attorney General Ken Paxton, who endured multiple scandals while in office, is leading in the polls against longtime incumbent GOP Sen. John Cornyn. A Paxton victory could divide Republicans and potentially even sway some to support a Democrat. Nearly two dozen Texas Democratic members of Congress, party leaders and strategists described a sense of opportunity, but were divided on the type of candidate to run. Some argued for a progressive, others thought a more centrist candidate could gain traction, while others weren't even sure Democrats could pull off a win. There are calls both for new blood and for a proven candidate. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) just wants a candidate who'd 'sound like a Texas Democrat' and could buck national trends.. 'I think this is just a great opportunity for Democrats, and we don't need to blow it,' said Veasey, who said he isn't interested in a run. Flipping Texas is a perennial Democratic dream, but core constituencies have moved further to the right, and Democrats haven't held a Senate seat in the state since 1993. The state's expensive media markets require fundraising prowess. That leaves the party with a crowded field of interested candidates, but none with a proven track record of winning statewide. Plenty of Democrats are skeptical they'd even win against Paxton, whose nomination isn't guaranteed. 'I am hopeful that [Cornyn] could pull it off, because if you're going to have a Republican in Texas, why not let it be John,' said Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas). Democrats acknowledge they'd stand little chance of unseating Cornyn, who's been a fixture in Texas politics for decades. But Paxton, a Trump loyalist who was impeached by the Republican-held Texas House (and acquitted in the impeachment trial) and faced a federal corruption investigation, has been a polarizing figure in the Texas GOP, and, Democrats hope, an opponent they could defeat. 'Democrats are foaming at the mouth about Ken Paxton,' said Katherine Fischer, deputy executive director of Texas Majority PAC, which works to elect Democrats statewide. 'We're seeing in local elections in Texas and across the country there is already a backlash against Trump and against MAGA. Ken Paxton is about as MAGA as you can get.' First they need to find a viable Senate candidate. After coming up short in previous cycles, many Texas Democrats are hesitant about supporting former Reps. Colin Allred and Beto O'Rourke, both of whom have signaled their interest in another bid. O'Rourke, who unsuccessfully ran statewide in 2018 and 2022, has been hosting packed town halls across the state. Allred, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024 by about 8.5 percentage points, has said he was 'seriously considering' another run. 'Well, [Allred and O'Rourke are] both talking about it, and I hope that they will resolve that one person's running and not all,' said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Allred's failed campaign has left a bad taste among some Texans, especially progressives, who believe he did not run aggressively or do enough grassroots outreach. And while O'Rourke is still a favorite son in Texas Democratic circles, many of those supporters believe he will be haunted by his position against assault rifles in a gun-loving state. 'They both tried it, and especially the last time, the margins were pretty wide,' said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas). 'And I think those are all things to consider.' Joel Montfort, a Texas-based Democratic strategist, agreed: 'Putting the same two guys up over and over, I don't think that's going to deliver us.' That's why some say it's time to try something new. Texas Democrats have talked up potential bids by state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic seminarian and frequently viral member who helped prosecute Paxton during his impeachment. Talarico told POLITICO: 'I'm having conversations about how I can best serve Texas, and that includes the Senate race. But in my training as a pastor, you learn the importance of listening and how hard it is to truly listen. With so much at stake for Texas, I'm trying to listen more than I talk right now.' His potential candidacy is generating some interest from players who have run successful upstart campaigns. 'It's going to take a Democrat who can make the case against Washington D.C., the status quo, and the powers that to be to win a senate race in Texas,' said Andrew Mamo, a veteran of Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign who is informally advising Talarico. 'James is one of the rare people in the party with the profile and most importantly the storytelling skills to get that done.' State Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Dallas lawyer, is in the mix but he's also eyeing a run for attorney general. Some party insiders privately worry a state lawmaker won't bring the necessary firepower, saying they need to find a candidate with experience running statewide — or at least someone who represents Texas in Congress — due to the sheer amount of resources required to compete in the second-largest state. Veasey and fellow Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro have both been talked up as potential candidates, though Veasey in an interview ruled out a run. A person close to Castro said he was actively looking at the race. While Democrats across the nation believe backlash against President Donald Trump's unpopular agenda like his DOGE cuts and trade war will help in the midterms, the Democratic dream of winning Texas — which once seemed like only a matter of time — now feels farther away. The party's coalition problems are on stark display in South Texas, where Latino-heavy border districts like Gonzalez's shifted dramatically toward Trump. Gonzalez and other Democrats have been warning of their party's need to reverse their fortunes with Latino voters. 'There is work to be done on Latino erosion,' said Tory Gavito, an Austin-based Democratic strategist. 'There is work to be done to make sure infrastructure is incredibly sound in places like Houston and Dallas and San Antonio and South Texas.' Progressive Democrats are eager to back a candidate who runs to the left of Allred, based on their belief that working-class voters can be brought back to the party with a populist economic message. 'We've got to have somebody run who's going to be willing to go travel the state, and connect with a diverse set of working-class voters,' said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). 'In Texas, people are looking for somebody that's authentic and real, willing to tell it like it is, that's going to energize our base, but then bring a lot of disaffected voters back to the polls.' Allred is widely seen by Texas Democrats as the preferred candidate of Washington, and some said they're tired of out-of-state consultants in their backyard. 'We don't want people from D.C. telling Texans what to do,' said Nancy Thompson, a Democratic activist and founder of Mothers Against Greg Abbott. A strong contingent of the party, however, believes that running too far to the left would blow up their chances in what remains a socially conservative state. 'You have to have real candidates that are willing to sound like everyday Texans,' said Veasey. 'Being part of the national team will get your ass killed.'
