Michael J. Burke

Michigan Association on Problem Gambling in Portage, Mich. He is in recovery from alcoholism for 39 years and recovery from gambling for 16 years. Previously, Mr. Burke was a lawyer in a small community for 25 years before he was disbarred in 2001 because he embezzled clients’ funds to feed his gambling addiction. As a direct result of that activity, he served three years in prison and was ordered to repay to his victims the sum of $1.6 million. Upon his release, Mr. Burke wrote a book about his addiction, “Never Enough: One Lawyer’s True Story Of How He Gambled His Career Away,” published by the American Bar Association. Proceeds from the sales of the book go to his victims. Today, Mr. Burke travels around the U.S. giving talks on gambling, and he has presented in more than 40 states.