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Tony 10: The astonishing story of the postman who gambled €10,000,000 ... and lost it all
Tony 10 was the online betting username of Tony O’Reilly, the postman who became front-page news in 2011 after he stole €1.75 million from An Post while he was a branch manager in Gorey. He used the money to fund a gambling addiction that began with a bet of €1 and eventually rose to €10 million, leading to the loss of his job, his family, his home – and winning him a prison sentence.
From the heart-stopping moments in a hotel room in Cyprus with his wedding money riding on the Epsom Derby, to the euphoria of winning half a million over a weekend, to the late goals and the horses falling at the last fence, Tony 10 is the story of an ordinary man’s journey from normality to catastrophe. At times, he vowed to get out while he was ahead, only to be taken by another surge of adrenaline, falling deeper and deeper into a compulsion that consumed his life. His disappearance on the morning the fraud was discovered led to a surreal three days on the run in Northern Ireland, and ultimately his arrest, conviction and sentencing to four years in jail.
Tony 10 is the mesmerising story of the secret life of a pathological gambler – as well as the most compelling account yet of the damage wrought by the online gambling industry.
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2018
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309 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 37 reviews
March 18, 2018
“Tony 10” is the gripping story of how Tony O’Reilly – an unassuming postman in rural Ireland – wrecked his life through his addiction to online gambling. Over the course of a decade, Tony O’Reilly (the titular “Tony 10” refers to the handle of his online Paddy Power account) went from a £1 novelty bet to losing over €10,000,000 through betting, leading him to steal over €1 million from his employers in a desperate attempt to cover his spiralling debts. It was an addiction that cost him everything: his marriage, his family, his job, his home, his sanity, and eventually his freedom (O’Reilly served over 2 years in prison for theft and fraud related to his habit).
What is extraordinary about “Tony 10” is its ordinariness. This isn’t some high-rolling sheikh or JP McManus-style tycoon that we’re dealing with, but a modest post office manager from Carlow. The power of “Tony 10”, and the skill of the co-author Declan Lynch, is that you can imagine that it could just as easily be your mate or brother or, indeed, yourself enduring this devastation.
There can be few writers in the world who comprehend the nature of addiction as lucidly as Declan Lynch, and surely no writer in Ireland who ‘gets’ the nature of modern-day gambling addiction to the same extent. Lynch is superb at explaining the gambler’s compulsion for ‘Chasing’ – that horrible, stomach-churning feeling where the gambling addict desperately tries to retrieve their losses, and in doing so merely buries themselves in a deeper hole of debt.
There are many gut-wrenching passages in “Tony 10” where Lynch shows the true plight of the gambling addict. One particularly harrowing section is where Tony O’Reilly spends much of his wedding day feverishly piling money on outlandish accumulators so that he might be able to afford the fee for his wedding reception. Another appalling episode is where we see O‘Reilly frittering away tens of thousands of euros on his smartphone betting app while in the room next door his wife is about to give birth to his first child. And Lynch’s description of Tony O’Reilly’s mounting calamities is heart-breaking: “A man walking into the sea and continuing to walk despite the fact that the water is rising all the time and he is slowly being consumed by it, yet still he walks, as if unaware of his predicament”.
This book is often a tough read but, in this age where gambling is so ubiquitous, it is a crucial one. “Tony 10” is an astonishing story, told brilliantly.
What is extraordinary about “Tony 10” is its ordinariness. This isn’t some high-rolling sheikh or JP McManus-style tycoon that we’re dealing with, but a modest post office manager from Carlow. The power of “Tony 10”, and the skill of the co-author Declan Lynch, is that you can imagine that it could just as easily be your mate or brother or, indeed, yourself enduring this devastation.
There can be few writers in the world who comprehend the nature of addiction as lucidly as Declan Lynch, and surely no writer in Ireland who ‘gets’ the nature of modern-day gambling addiction to the same extent. Lynch is superb at explaining the gambler’s compulsion for ‘Chasing’ – that horrible, stomach-churning feeling where the gambling addict desperately tries to retrieve their losses, and in doing so merely buries themselves in a deeper hole of debt.
There are many gut-wrenching passages in “Tony 10” where Lynch shows the true plight of the gambling addict. One particularly harrowing section is where Tony O’Reilly spends much of his wedding day feverishly piling money on outlandish accumulators so that he might be able to afford the fee for his wedding reception. Another appalling episode is where we see O‘Reilly frittering away tens of thousands of euros on his smartphone betting app while in the room next door his wife is about to give birth to his first child. And Lynch’s description of Tony O’Reilly’s mounting calamities is heart-breaking: “A man walking into the sea and continuing to walk despite the fact that the water is rising all the time and he is slowly being consumed by it, yet still he walks, as if unaware of his predicament”.
This book is often a tough read but, in this age where gambling is so ubiquitous, it is a crucial one. “Tony 10” is an astonishing story, told brilliantly.
March 10, 2018
A warning to us all
There, but for the grace of God, could go any of us. This heart-breakingly honest book should serve as a warning to us all as to how one bet can start a spiral out of control. I was fascinated at how dishonest Tony was while gambling and how completely open he was when caught.
There, but for the grace of God, could go any of us. This heart-breakingly honest book should serve as a warning to us all as to how one bet can start a spiral out of control. I was fascinated at how dishonest Tony was while gambling and how completely open he was when caught.
September 7, 2024
first 150 pages or so are brilliant but lost interest once he was caught and then in rehab/prison.
Only had to serve 18 months which was very lenient for the amount stolen
Only had to serve 18 months which was very lenient for the amount stolen
April 21, 2023
I read this book in two sittings as I can remember the event itself when it broke just over a decade ago. It is a gripping story because, unfortunately, it’s an account of the destruction of an ordinary guy who was sucked into the maelstrom of online gambling. He had no previous history of gambling until a relative gave him a gift of a paddy power voucher and this lit the fuse of the power keg. It is not a narrative of ‘poor me’ or events in life that ‘made me do it’. It illustrates the frailty of the individual given the suitable circumstances. Anyone who suspects a friend or relative is showing signs of gambling either by physical activity or nomenclature should be made read this book immediately. It’s harrowing and well written.
December 29, 2021
I wanted to love this book but it got really boring and despite the large amounts of money being wagered I just really didn't care about the main character, he just seemed like a bit of a loser without too many redeeming features. The writing style was also a little staid and could have used a little more mustard and pickles for me. Overall I am giving it two stars, like I said it seemed like a charming little Irish tale about gambling, but turned out to be less exciting than I had hoped.
October 23, 2018
Dramatic and compelling!
Let’s step inside the mind of a compulsive gambler…
Let’s step inside the mind of a compulsive gambler…
December 12, 2018
Excellent read. Absolutely insane to think that someone could get away with this. Fascinating insight into the mind of an addict.
June 11, 2023
Ordered this book to read after I saw a interview with him on TV. He became "front page news" in 2011 when this was found out.
This is a very good book, a scary book that shows you how easily someone can become addicted to something... gambling pulling him in and totally destroying his life... as the title reads "The postman who gambled 10 000 000 and lost it all. Slowly starting to steal money from his work, quite simply because he had no other way to keep on doing it.... despite him knowing it, gambling slowly destroying him, but he just cannot pull himself out. It does scare you.
This is a very good book, a scary book that shows you how easily someone can become addicted to something... gambling pulling him in and totally destroying his life... as the title reads "The postman who gambled 10 000 000 and lost it all. Slowly starting to steal money from his work, quite simply because he had no other way to keep on doing it.... despite him knowing it, gambling slowly destroying him, but he just cannot pull himself out. It does scare you.
August 21, 2023
Loved this book, such an incredible story full of vulnerability and loss. I had never even considered that gambling addictions can get this bad, and I think it's such a valuable book to read and does a class job of spreading awareness for gambling.It's a really inspiring story I think everyone should read.
May 17, 2024
Excellently written story of Tony O'Reilly's life. His life story regarding the gambling addiction and theft/fraud that fuelled the habit is so crazy that it would be difficult for this to not be an interesting read. The book was more thought provoking than I imagined as well as being searingly honest.
October 9, 2019
Powerful read
An excellent and important book detailing the growing problems with the proliferation of online gambling. The depth of detail from the writers is tremendous and it's an easy page turner.
An excellent and important book detailing the growing problems with the proliferation of online gambling. The depth of detail from the writers is tremendous and it's an easy page turner.
November 5, 2020
I struggled with this book as I had little sympathy with Tony.
At the end of the day he stole over a million pounds yet served a relatively short sentence because of his addiction.
I have more sympathy with bank robbers who at least don’t hide their reasons.
Just didn’t take to the guy.
At the end of the day he stole over a million pounds yet served a relatively short sentence because of his addiction.
I have more sympathy with bank robbers who at least don’t hide their reasons.
Just didn’t take to the guy.
November 19, 2020
Great story of gambling addiction.
Tells the great story of a 'normal guy' in Ireland who falls deeper and deeper into gambling addiction.
Enjoyed it massively, wasn't pretentious or overly long, but spoke in depth about the addiction and his recovery.
Well worth a read even for 'non-addicts'
Tells the great story of a 'normal guy' in Ireland who falls deeper and deeper into gambling addiction.
Enjoyed it massively, wasn't pretentious or overly long, but spoke in depth about the addiction and his recovery.
Well worth a read even for 'non-addicts'
April 24, 2022
A good and somewhat sad story.
Disappointed with it rambling on toward the end with his rehab diary, even detailed what music he was listening to. No need.
It’s also written in the 3rd person, “Tony went in to the bookies, he then…”
An autobiography is always better!
Disappointed with it rambling on toward the end with his rehab diary, even detailed what music he was listening to. No need.
It’s also written in the 3rd person, “Tony went in to the bookies, he then…”
An autobiography is always better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2022
Drags in parts. Only reason I didn't give 4 stars.
But what a story, a full insight into how gambling can so easily take over and consume a person. The challenges they face, hiding it from family and friends etc.
But what a story, a full insight into how gambling can so easily take over and consume a person. The challenges they face, hiding it from family and friends etc.
December 30, 2018
Remarkable story and so well captured.
July 14, 2019
Amazingly honest
Reading the story of someone who had it all and lost it puts everything into perspective. An awesome read, you’ll enjoy it
Reading the story of someone who had it all and lost it puts everything into perspective. An awesome read, you’ll enjoy it
August 29, 2019
Reads like a thriller. Terrifying expose on the gambling sector and their manipulative practices. Highly recommended.
December 24, 2019
Terrifying
As a person who enjoys an occasional bet,to see how quickly it can get away from someone if frightening. An amazing story.
As a person who enjoys an occasional bet,to see how quickly it can get away from someone if frightening. An amazing story.
May 13, 2020
A brilliant read...almost read it in one setting. Compelling and tragic...
June 7, 2020
A life turned around
A good read about a man who clawed his way back from the brink and made good his life again
A good read about a man who clawed his way back from the brink and made good his life again
August 5, 2020
Fantastic story
What a roller coaster ride that was on a track I'm very familiar with. A must read for any addict
What a roller coaster ride that was on a track I'm very familiar with. A must read for any addict
October 26, 2020
An unbelievably stressful but excellent read
January 21, 2021
This is an absolute must read for everyone! Sports fan or not. You must read this book!
June 12, 2021
Bookmakers r bad.
July 14, 2021
Fantastic book
February 4, 2022
My god. What a book.
January 19, 2023
Good first read of the year. Really insightful look into the mindset of a gambling addict. Well written, albeit stress inducing at times reading the different figures.
February 6, 2023
Just read it. Great book
Displaying 1 - 29 of 37 reviews