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Associated Press

A man whose gambling addiction had landed him in prison is taking on the sports-betting industry in Germany.
Thomas Melchior goes to German football league matches holding a sign saying “lost a bet” while putting himself at the mercy of the home fans by wearing their hated rivals’ jerseys to get attention.
Melchior wore a Hertha Berlin shirt to Union Berlin’s game in the top division (Bundesliga) on Sunday, an 1860 Munich jersey at Bayern Munich’s match on Saturday, and a Hamburger SV shirt at crosstown rivals 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 said before he unveiled his hidden Hertha jersey to the Union fans.
The sign says he lost a bet, but Melchior lost so much more. A former bank teller, Melchior was sentenced to 5½ years in prison in 2019 for fraud and theft offences against strangers and people he knew after losing more than €800,000 (US$937,000) on gambling.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Thomas Melchior (@sportwettensheriff)



He lost his job, friends and family too and felt completely alone. He thought about ending his life.
Now he is 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 footballers’ union (VDV) called on the German football 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.
Franz accused the DFB of “damaging football’s reputation and enriching itself at the expense of people with gambling addictions and their families”.
The DFB has been asked for comment.
Travel plans
Melchior wants to take his campaign abroad, too. But his criminal record foiled 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.”


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German Bundesliga

Thomas Melchior, who used to be addicted to sports gambling, holding up a sign saying “lost a bet” at a German football match in Köpenick, Berlin on Sunday. Photo: AP

Thomas Melchior wore a Hertha Berlin jersey while he spoke to Union Berlin fans about betting. Photo: AP

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Sport

Football

After 5½ years in jail, Thomas Melchior is working on righting his wrongs by going to matches to talk about the risks of gambling


After 5½ years in jail, Thomas Melchior is working on righting his wrongs by going to matches to talk about the risks of gambling.


Former gambling addict risks football fans’ ire to warn against sports betting

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}After 5½ years in jail, Thomas Melchior is working on righting his wrongs by going to matches to talk about the risks of gambling

A sheep in wolf’s clothing

After 5½ years in jail, Thomas Melchior is working on righting his wrongs by going to matches to talk about the risks of gambling