Alistair's gambling
18 December 2008

This week, Alistair refused to lend Ryan money. Alistair knows the dangers, as it's not so long ago that he was taking loans to pay for his own gambling. Here's a reminder of that sorry tale.



Gentle start

In October 2003, Nigel and Kenton talk Alistair into joining their poker game. Alistair used to play when he was at college. Soon, Matt Crawford sits in. Nigel has a big win against Matt, who invites them to play with his regular crowd. Nigel quickly realises that Matt and his buddies are way out of his league. But Alistair is intrigued at some very clever play. He says he might consider having another go.

Over the next few weeks, Shula is confused at Alistair's extremes of mood, not realising it's because of his ups and down at the card table.

Money troubles

By January 2004, strange things are happening. Eddie asks Shula to pay him for some work because the vet surgery till is out of cash. Shula's card on their joint account is rejected at a supermarket. Then a bank statement goes missing. Alistair claims he must have thrown it away by mistake, and Shula has to keep badgering him to pay for a school trip for Daniel. Alistair even asks to borrow £200 from Ruth and David.

Shula is worried that Alistair is under pressure at work. She confides in Jill that he's forgetful and stressed, and is upset when she hears from David that Alistair is out playing cards. When Alistair returns home, she tries to get him to open up to her. She is furious when Alistair tells her that he owes Stephen Chalkman and Matt £8000, and that he's been taking from their joint account to fund his games.

Patching the marriage

Alistair arranges a personal loan to cover what he owes on the business and joint accounts, and tells Matt that he will no longer be playing. Alistair is annoyed when he finds Shula looking at gambling addiction websites. He tells her that he doesn't have a problem, and doesn't need her judgment. It's a difficult time, as Shula feels she can't trust Alistair any more. She even says she wants their joint account put into her name only, to Alistair's fury.

Caroline eventually intercedes. It's not so long ago that Shula was the one not to be trusted (over the affair with Richard Locke), and Alistair could not have been more generous in his forgiveness. If Caroline was Shula, she's be wondering why he went gambling in the first place. Alistair tells Shula that he gambling because it gave him excitement that he lacked in his work and home life. They agree to try to be more spontaneous, and make an attempt to put things right between them.

But Alistair can't resist the gambling buzz. The following year, he is playing poker online, and the marriage is deteriorating again.

Into Matt's clutches

After a successful night of online poker in February 2006, Alistair can't resist an invitation from Matt to rejoin his poker school. He quickly starts to lose, and lose heavily. The lies to Shula and the IOUs to Matt, Chalkman and others start to mount.

Seeing the usefulness of having a compliant vet on hand, Matt pays off Alistair's other poker debts. He insists that Alistair takes a looks at one of his racehorses, Hassett Harrier, although Alistair assures Matt that his own vet is treating the horse correctly.

Soon, even deeper in Matt's debt, Alistair reluctantly agrees to improve the horse's racing performance through blood doping - undetectable, but very illegal. Matt shaves £5000 of Alistair's debt in return.

But meanwhile Shula has been trying to get hold of Alistair, as Daniel needs picking up from school with a stomach-ache. He can't admit where he was, and furious Shula accuses him of having an affair and not loving her anymore. When he's says he's had enough of her nagging, she tells him he can pack his bags and go. Alistair moves in temporarily with Kenton.

Final straw

In April, Matt has an even bigger "request" for Alistair. Hassett Harrier sprains a tendon and will be out of action for 18 months. Matt says he'll write off all of the debt if Alistair puts the horse down. It's too much for Alistair, who assures Matt he'll repay the money, given time. Angry Matt insists on payment within the week.

Alistair admits the full extent of his debts to horrified Kenton - about £40,000 on credit cards and £60,000 to Matt. Kenton assures him that Shula still wants to make a go of things, and so contrite Alistair goes to see her. He tells her all about his gambling and the debt. But he's never stopped loving her and doesn't want to lose her.

Angry with Matt, Shula says they'll find a way of raising the money. When Alistair reminds Matt that they've both done things they wouldn't want to come to light, Matt agrees to a slightly extended payment schedule. They pay him of with a mortgage. Alistair admits that he needs help as a compulsive gambler and joins Gamblers Anonymous, where he receives staunch support from Maurice Horton.

And then a couple of years later, along comes Ryan - a compulsive gambler himself in need of support. Alistair sees an opportunity to help someone as he had been helped ...

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