Tony Marini is a Senior Specialist Therapist who leads the gambling, gaming and cryptocurrency trading behavioural addiction therapy programme at Castle Craig.
His areas of focus include gambling, gaming, and cryptocurrency trading, with a particular interest in emerging forms of addiction linked to digital technologies.
Tony joined Castle Craig in 2013 and has worked in various therapeutic roles before being recognised as a Specialist Therapist in 2017. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling from the University of Strathclyde and a Diploma in Integrated Counselling from Edinburgh College. He is also a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
Tony brings more than two decades of lived experience in recovery, having personally faced addiction to gambling, cocaine, alcohol, and work. This background informs a therapeutic style rooted in empathy, authenticity, and respect for each person’s unique recovery journey.
He has worked with individuals struggling with a range of behavioural addictions, including patients whose cryptocurrency trading habits have led to significant distress or dysfunction. Tony describes these conditions as “hidden addictions,” and approaches them using established methods such as person-centred therapy and 12 Step facilitation.
Alongside his work at Castle Craig, Tony is a Director at Edinburgh Recovery House Ltd and co-director of the John Hartson Recovery Workshop, through which he engages with community groups and sporting organisations to raise awareness of gambling addiction.
Tony has contributed to public discussion of behavioural addiction through appearances in the media, including interviews with The Guardian, BBC, CNN, Sky News, and others. He has also appeared on specialist podcasts, offering insight into the therapeutic process and the challenges of recovery in a digital age.
Tony Marini speaks to the media regularly about gambling, gaming, and internet disorders.
January 2025 – Tony Marini spoke to The Scottish Sun, to issue an urgent warning to parents regarding kids’ ‘gateway’ habit that could lead to further addictions.
October 2021 – Adriana Hamacher from Decrypt visited Castle Craig to interview Tony Marini and speak to former cryptocurrency gambler, Steven.
September 2021 – Reporter Charlotte Lytton at Daily Telegraph interviewed Tony Marini and reported on the announcement by PayPal that it will launch a dedicated e-coin platform and what happens when online ‘investing’ becomes an addiction.
July 2021 – Investing.com: Trading Vs Gambling: Same Psychology, Different Outcomes.
June 2021 – The Guardian spoke to Tony Marini to cover the risks of speculative trading in cryptocurrencies.
June 2021 – BBC The Nine: The highs and lows of cryptocurrency trading in lockdown
March 2019 – CNN spoke with Tony Marini, a Senior Specialist Gambling Therapist about cryptocurrency addiction and also to Mark, a former patient of Castle Craig.
March 2019 – TheHindu.com ‘Let’s talk de-addiction centres’
May 2018 – Sky News covered the cryptocurrency gambling treatment programme at Castle Craig
2019 – thenextweb – public Q&A session with Castle Craig therapists
February 2019 – Vice Motherboard fimled a news documentary on addiction to cryptocurrency
July 2018 – CryptoQuest Podcast with Tony Marini
Visit our Guide to Cryptocurrency Addiction for information on the risks of cryptocurrency trading addiction and what to do if you think you have an addiction.
References
- BACP Membership Register – www.bacp.co.uk
- John Hartson Recovery Workshop – www.johnhartsonfoundation.com