It’s been some months since I started cyenne.com, and much has changed in that time. Not just on the gambling scene, what with the Federal government’s actions on problem gambling and so on, but also with me. Since I broke my self-imposed exile from everything to do with the pokies, I’ve learned a heck of a lot, and many of my half-formed opinions and positions have crystallised. I’ve also discovered many, many other people out there who have similar points of view, and are working tirelessly towards achieving the same ends as I now aim for.

With all that in mind: the next logical step for me is to remove the veil of anonymity that I put in place when I started this blog. I may not be proud of everything I’ve done in my life, but I’m proud of who I am and what I’m trying to achieve… and no social stigma is going to get in the way of that.

* deep breath *

My name is Thomas Cummings. I’m a 40 year old husband and father of three beautiful girls. I live in the south-east of Victoria, work in Melbourne’s CBD, and for three years of my life, I was addicted to the pokies. I blew thousands upon thousands of dollars on the infernal machines, and caused immeasurable pain to so, so many people. Since breaking away from the pokies, I spent a decade ignoring them, and the gambling industry in general… but this year, I woke up, took a look at what was going on and realised I couldn’t ignore it any longer.

I am not anti-pokies, or anti-gambling. I may hate poker machines but I do not advocate shutting down the industry. What I am, is a firm believer in gambling reform, and that is my agenda.

Cyenne.com is my place. The opinions here are my own. I speak to many people in and about the gambling industry, but ultimately what I write here starts and ends with me. I hope you can find something of value in what I have to say.

Carry on.