Gambling addict puts himself in fans' crosshairs to warn against sports betting in Germany

He wore a Hertha Berlin shirt to Union Berlin’s game on Sunday, an 1860 Munich jersey at Bayern Munich’s match on Saturday, and a Hamburger SV shirt at crosstown rival St. Pauli on Friday. He previously wore a Schalke top at a Borussia Dortmund game, and a Bayern jersey at an 1860 match. He has more games to attend next weekend.

A sheep in wolf’s clothing

“Yes, it’s dangerous, I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone,” Melchior told The Associated Press before he unveiled his hidden Hertha jersey to the Union fans.

The sign says he lost a bet, but Melchior lost so much more. Melchior, a former bank teller, was sentenced to 5½ years in prison in 2019 for fraud and theft offenses against strangers and people he knew after losing more than 800,000 euros ($937,000 today) on gambling. He lost his job, friends and family, too, and felt completely alone. He thought about ending his life.

Now he's working on righting his wrongs, and repaying his debts.

“When the handcuffs clicked, it was the first moment I felt free again since my first bet. That’s when I felt I had survived gambling addiction,” Melchior said. “In that moment, I decided I would try to repair all the damage. And I wanted to get out of prison with the best possible conditions so I could inform and warn people about gambling addiction. That’s why I’m here today.”

Melchior, who has quickly built up a large following on TikTok and Instagram, received a mostly positive response from fans on Sunday — his message had already reached many through social media and some fans stopped for selfies — but there were others who expressed surprise or amusement.

“Poor sod!” some fans laughed as they kept walking. Others stopped to talk and to hear Melchior’s story and his advice to “keep your finger away from sports betting.” Some covered his shirt and sign with stickers.

Players' union slams federation

Coincidentally, last week the German soccer players’ union (VDV) called on the German soccer federation (DFB) to stop accepting sponsorship funds from sports betting providers and to do more to prevent gambling addiction.

“It’s unacceptable that the DFB proclaims ‘supporting effective addiction prevention’ as one of its goals in its statutes, while it simultaneously sells exorbitant amounts of advertising space to sports betting providers,” VDV vice president Maik Franz, a former Bundesliga player, said in a statement.

DFB-organized competitions including the German Cup are sponsored by an international sports betting provider — third-division teams bear its logo on their arm sleeves. Another sports betting provider previously sponsored the division.

Franz accused the DFB of “damaging football’s reputation and enriching itself at the expense of people with gambling addictions and their families.”

But many Bundesliga and second division clubs, including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen, also advertise sports betting providers — on their jerseys, on advertising hoardings, showing they’re profiting, too. Sports betting providers also dominate TV advertising slots.

“Omnipresent advertising is already triggering children and young people,” Franz said.

The DFB has been asked for comment.

Travel plans

Melchior told The AP he became addicted after his first bet on a Champions League game.

“I saw an advert for a betting provider and didn’t think anything bad about it because it was on TV, and I could never imagine that it was a problem in any way. That’s how my journey began, and 13 years later, I was arrested,” Melchior said.

Melchior wants to take his campaign abroad, too. But his criminal record makes it difficult for him to travel, foiling his plan to attend the Manchester derby earlier this month, when he wanted to wear a Manchester United jersey at Manchester City’s stadium.

“Gambling addiction isn’t (just) a national, purely German problem. Gambling addiction is a global problem. That’s why we’re planning to go to other countries,” Melchior said. “Because of my criminal record, I can’t get a visa just like that. I have to apply for one at the embassy. It takes a bit longer. But I’m sure if that works out, we’ll see each other in England very soon.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer