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About Us
Raising Awareness. Restoring Hope.
Meet the Founder
Why I started this initiative and what drives me forward
Hi, my name is Joshua Mahboubi, and I am the founder of Betting on Recovery. I placed my first sports bet at 13, the summer before freshman year. What started as excitement quickly became something I couldn't control. Gambling consumed my life — damaging my relationships, my performance in school, my values, and even my sanity. I felt hopeless and alone, a place I wish no one to ever be.
In the spring of my junior year, I finally reached out to my family for help. That summer, I spent 45 days in treatment, and it completely changed my life. I learned that recovery is possible and that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
I founded Betting on Recovery to turn my struggle into purpose: to spread awareness about this overlooked issue, to support those who are suffering in silence, and to remind anyone battling gambling addiction that you are not alone.
Why This Matters
Gambling addiction is often hidden, especially among teens, yet it affects real lives. In adolescence, gambling addiction can derail schoolwork, relationships, mental health, and self-worth. Many begin chasing losses in secrecy and feel isolated.
Betting on Recovery exists because this issue deserves the same attention and care as any mental health challenge. We’re building a community where students and all people suffering feel seen, supported, and empowered to reach out.
68%
Behavioral Health News
of youth aged 14 – 21 have gambled in the past year
7x
Yale Medicine, 2023
Teens are up to seven times more at risk of developing a gambling addiction than adults
10%
National Council on Problem Gambling
Only 10% of teens with a gambling problem seek help or treatment
Our Founder’s Story with Gambling Addiction
I began gambling at 13, the summer before high school. What started as a way to make sports more exciting quickly became something I couldn’t control. Before I knew it, gambling wasn’t a game anymore; it was my escape.
For over three years, I felt trapped in silence. I hid my addiction from friends and family, convinced no one would understand. I lied, isolated myself, and watched my grades, relationships, and mental health fall apart. Gambling had taken over every part of my life, and I didn’t know how to stop.
In May of my junior year, I finally broke down and asked my family for help. That summer, I entered a 45-day treatment program at Visions Adolescent Treatment Center in Malibu. It was there I began to understand addiction — not as a moral failure, but as something that could be faced with honesty, patience, and support. I learned how to be vulnerable, how to listen, and how to rebuild trust with myself and others.
When I came home, I knew I wanted to do more than just recover — I wanted to help others do the same. That’s why I created Betting on Recovery: to raise awareness about gambling addiction, especially among teens, and to make sure no one feels as alone as I once did.
Through peer support groups, school assemblies, and social media outreach, I’ve made it my mission to start conversations about gambling addiction that too often go unspoken. My hope is that Betting on Recovery can serve as both a voice and a hand — reaching those still struggling, and reminding them that recovery is not only possible, it’s something to be proud of.