Reforming problem gambler Matt Torcasio on top of 100 day fight to curb habit Springvale tradie Matt Torcasio is undertaking the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation's 100 Day Challenge to control his gambling habit over 100 days. SIX days without a punt and reforming problem gambler Matt Torcasio had one thing on his mind - going to the pub to play the pokies. "I can't stop thinking about going there," the 26-year-old says in his video diary - the first of a series that will track his endeavour to take control of his gambling over 100 days. I don't really want to go, even though I do want to go. It doesn't make sense, I know. There's a better light at the end of the tunnel to stop this. It's just gonna take a lot of guts and a lot of determination. Torcasio didn't go to the pub. He has now steered clear of the pokies for more than 70 days. The Springvale concrete labourer is one of the four faces of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation's 'Fight for the real you' campaign, which challenges its participants to control their gambling habits over 100 days. Torcasio's goal is to "quit gambling forever." So far so good. Publicly the challenge has been running for five weeks, but Torcasio recorded his 10th video diary this week. He said making his video diary was becoming more challenging each week - he's running out of things to say about gambling because it's barely crossing his mind. I haven't had a bad day lately. I'm not thinking about gambling at all," Torcasio told the Herald Sun. About 750 Victorians had also signed up for the "world first" 100 Day Challenge so far, inspired by Torcasio and his fellow combatants, among them former Melbourne Demons player Daniel Ward, VRGF chief executive Serge Sardo said. About 50,000 people have visited the campaign's 'Fight For You' website, exceeding Sardo's expectations. "The best way to break down the stigma is to have real people telling real stories about their challenges with problem gambling," he said. That connection is something you just can't generate with actors. People with gambling problems are not weak people, they are not people who have lost their way, they're ordinary people who are experiencing an affliction. Torcasio starting gambling at age 18, having a flutter on the pokies or the horses whenever he went to the pub with mates. His habit escalated about two years later when he won $2700 from a $20 bet on the pokies. "That feeling of excitement, the suspense of whether I was gonna win, hooked me," Torcasio said. Plus in the early days I was fluking huge wins - I won $6000 off $10 picking four horses and $3000 off $20, I think the first time I ever played. In the end I started chasing this weird feeling of suspense. It got to a point where Torcasio was gambling every day he had the cash. He'd "do it all" - "dogs, horses, the fake horses," he said. I'd be playing pokies at the same time as I was betting on the horses. I could drop $300 to $400 in 25 minutes. Torcasio started borrowing money from his parents and girlfriend, plunging him into debt. He was "living like a poor person," to the point where he couldn't even afford to put petrol in his car. "I realised I had to do something about it before I lost everyone good in my life," he said. The first three or four weeks of the 100 Day Challenge were tough for Torcasio. "I had holidays in the fourth week and I was just moping around the house," he said. I didn't want to go to the shopping centre because I wanted to save money, and I thought if I was gonna spend money I may as well go to the pub to gamble. That was my mentality. Torcasio said his biggest breakthrough came about five weeks into the challenge when he was able to go to his old gambling haunt, the pub, with mates without a single urge to put money in the pokies. "I was so proud of myself that I could just go to the pub, have a beer with mates and watch football," he said. I even had a wander around the pokies and watched people lose money, and it made me realise I'm doing the right thing. He owes much of his success to the support of his family, friends and girlfriend of nearly five years, Lauren. "I put my girlfriend through a lot - the only times she used to see me were when I made her come to the pub with me," Torcasio said. But she's been awesome support - as soon as I feel alone I think of her support. I'm doing this for her as well as for me. Torcasio has also decided to cut back on smoking, and has made a comeback in the local footy leagues and joined his brother's indoor soccer team to keep busy. He hopes to have enough money to put a deposit on a house in a year, and to buy a new car to replace his "absolute piece of crap" station wagon Holden. Sardo said Torcasio's story is a typical one of "young blokes going to the pub, betting on the horses" and getting hooked after a big win early on. But the 100 Day Challenge could be different for anyone wanting to get involved, with participants encouraged to set their own goals. "Goals are personal, they range from total abstinence to reducing the time and money spent gambling," the VRGF chief executive said. It's really tough to completely give up gambling, especially if you've been gambling for decades like some of our participants have. Relapse is relatively common too. The 60 to 90-day mark of the challenge is the most dangerous. A lot of people relapse then. In many ways we want to tell that story as well - it's not a failure if you don't reach your goals first up. Around 130,000 Victorians have a gambling problem or are considered at-risk, according to the VRGF. But more than a million Victorians are affected by problem gambling every day, with five to ten friends, family members and colleagues indirectly impacted by a loved one's addiction. Sardo encouraged problem gamblers to turn to the Fight For You website, which offers counselling, access to support groups and the means to map out goals and milestones in overcoming the addiction, for inspiration to start their own 100 Day Challenge. Torcasio said he was happy to be that inspiration. "If I'm able to help other people in my situation along the way, then that's great," he said. I know how bad it gets. Anyone having problems with gambling can call Gambler's Help freecall 1800 156 789.