Brian Rice in brutally honest account of gambling hell that took him to the brink as Livingston coach provides counsel

Daily Record

3 days ago

Rice hasn't gambled for five and a half years and insists life has never been better - now he's helping others caught in the same addiction to seek help.
Brian Rice has opened his heart on the gambling hell that drove him to the very brink - and how he's helping others try to avoid the same perilous path.
The Livingston coach hasn't placed a bet in over five and a half years since being suspended by the SFA while manager of Hamilton for breaching rules. But he insists football still has a massive problem with the addiction he labels an 'illness'.
‌
Rice admits the day he heard that he was subject of a Hampden investigation was the best day of his life. It was the moment he knew he'd reached the end of a lonely life of lies and guilt.
‌
Years earlier, while coaching 4500 miles from home in Qatar, his addiction took him to the darkest of places.
The 61-year-old - whose career took him to the very top of English football with Nottingham Forest - told Mail Sport: 'Football has been my life.
'But I'd choose not to have football if it meant also not having gambling. I'd give it up.
‌
'The day I was told the SFA were investigating me in October 2019 was the best day of my life. Apart from my kids being born.
'I remember Danny Doherty the secretary at Hamilton phoned to inform me the SFA had been in touch. I just said 'thank God'.
'A weight had been lifted. I'd reached the end. I knew the rules. But when you have an addiction there's no rules.
‌
'I got suspended. But the best punishment ever was I had to go to meetings for my addiction.
'I've not gambled since. But I'm not an ex-gambler. It's just a day at a time. Life is much better without it.
'I've seen what it does to your family, to your friends. To other people. I struggled with guilt for a long time. That doesn't do you any good having that guilt.
‌
'The low point? When I was stood on top of a 32-storey building in Qatar…..
'Gambling takes you there. It has no boundaries. It's looking for a weakness like any addiction. Something stopped me taking that step that day, thank God.
'When you are on the pitch during games that's your space because you need to concentrate on what's happening.
‌
'But as soon as the game is over. That's you again.
'You can't think of anything else. You miss so many things in life, going for a coffee, going for a walk, you can't do that. That's your gambling time. Unless you're a compulsive gambler you won't understand.
‌
'I've rebuilt my life around my meetings now. I go to at least two a week, usually three and sometimes four. All over the country.
'Not gambling gives you a simpler life. It's a well known fact: compulsive gambler, compulsive liar.
'I don't have any of that in my life now.'
‌
Rice has just helped Livingston secure promotion back to the Premiership after a remarkable season on the park that also saw the Lions win the SPFL Trust Trophy.
Off the park he is trying to guide some of those suffering from the addiction that took over his life away from those dangers.
He said: 'I've worked with footballers and non-footballers. I want to tell people there's help there, they're not alone.
‌
'You would be amazed with how many players have been in touch with me.
'Football still has a massive problem. It's rife. You're shutting your eyes if you don't realise it.
'There's ways round the rules. It's there, it's available. You don't need to go into the bookies now. It's on your phone, on your tablet, advertised everywhere.
‌
'These players think it's a quick fix. That if they stop gambling for a month it'll be alright.
'It's not about stopping gambling. It's about changing as a person, changing your habits and character. A day at a time.
‌
'I'm one of the lucky ones. I've never thought about going back gambling because I have too much to lose.
'I used to think asking for help was a weakness. Now I know it's a strength.
'Identifying you need help. Back in the day you'd be battered for that. The 'you're only as strong as your weakest link' mentality.
‌
'Society has changed now. Thankfully.'
Some blame the betting companies flooding football with advertising. But Rice said: 'There's nothing wrong with betting - as long as you can control it.
'The money it generates for the sport. Football needs their money. Without that I might not be sitting in a job right now.
'It's not the betting company's fault that I'm a compulsive gambler. I'm the problem.'