Season 3 Episode 7: Digital Tools, Human Connection: The Future of Gambling Recovery

What does gambling addiction really look like, and why do so many people struggle in silence?In this episode of The Nostos, Bianca McCall sits down with Sam DeMello, Founder and CEO of eVive, to explore one of the fastest-growing yet least understood behavioral health challenges in America. Drawing from his own recovery journey, Sam shares how gambling quietly evolved from a childhood hobby into an addiction that impacted every aspect of his life, and how that experience inspired him to build technology that connects people to support before they reach crisis.Together, Bianca and Sam discuss the hidden relationship between gambling, substance use, financial distress, and suicide risk; why traditional support systems often miss the people who need them most; and how digital health tools can lower barriers to care without replacing the human relationships that make recovery possible.This conversation challenges common misconceptions about gambling addiction while highlighting the power of lived experience, personalized support, and community-centered innovation.