Etherington admitted that he has got to the point where no matter how much he won or lost, it didn’t bother him. In his own words, he finally “hit rock bottom”. “It got to the point where no matter how much I won or lost, it didn’t bother me,” said Etherington in an interview with a local newspaper. He was gambling in all forms, on the dogs and horses and playing poker on the internet. In all he lost about �1.5million ($2.36 Million).

Etherington also revealed how on one occasion, while at West Ham, he gambled away �20,000 ($35K) while on a bus traveling amongst his teammates, while betting on greyhounds and horse racing via his mobile phone.

Etherington also went out to mention that the majority of his teammates were involved in gambling in some shape or form during the season and off season, and the group element furthered his deep gambling addiction. “With an alcoholic or drug addict you can look at them and tell, ‘You are not well’ but with a gambler you can’t tell.” He reveals that most people didn’t have a clue about the sums and the debt he was in.

Etherington was making roughly �20,000 ($31,332) per week in wages and squandered every single pence and penny of that on gambling. Given his high wages and his all-star statue on the Premier League, bookmakers all over town would extend favorable credit terms to Etherington, which exacerbated the situation for him. Etherington ended up losing his house, friends, and wife in the process of hitting the bottom.

Etherington, came out in an interview stating his multi-million dollar loss, his existing �800,000 ($1.25 Million), and how it crushed his sports career, life, and family.

Etherington, whose solicitors challenge part of his �800,000 debts, sought help after being confronted by his family last September and spent a week at the Sporting Chance centre during the international break in October.

Matthew Etherington is now in good shape and is being talked about in some quarters as a candidate for England’s World Cup squad.

Peter Kay, chairman of the Sporting Chance organization, said that the sums staked by gamblers are increasing. He also revealed that Premier League players have access to greater credit as players faced with a losing run will take higher risks in an attempt to break even.