Now the Murrumbateman woman is travelling the world sharing her story of hope after beating her gambling addiction and regaining control of her life.

Gamblers lost $230 million in 2014-15, Australian National University statistics showed, with poker machines swallowing $167 million alone. Mrs Seselja turned to pokies when she felt overwhelmed by the pressures of owning a business, building a home and preparing for the birth of her second child.

"I thought that it was an answer to the financial stress and strain that we were under," she said. "That then continued on a path forward of over 12 years of just cycling in and out of addiction, self-loathing, shame, fear and regret, and I thought it was a cycle I would never be able to escape."

Few people seemed to understand her situation. The first time Mrs Seselja called a crisis hotline she was advised to stop wearing shoes so clubs would bar her entry.

In 2012, Mrs Seselja stopped short of taking her own life only because she was pregnant with her sixth child. When her husband pleaded with her to again seek help, she felt doing so was hopeless. The turning point came when a counsellor asked Mrs Seselja to list 10 things she liked about herself. She couldn't name a single point.

"These skills that I developed to overcome my addiction are skills that people should be taught ... to be able to manage and navigate with emotional intelligence, rather than just be expected to exist in circumstances that aren't conducive to being able to live a sustainably mentally healthy life," she said.

Eighteen months ago Mrs Seselja established The Hope Project to share what she had learned from her journey and equip people with the skills to avoid reaching crisis point by teaching prevention, self-correction and effective help-seeking. 

Recently announced a Telstra Business Women's Awards finalist, she visited Canada for training in her role as a United Nations ambassador in October.

"It's amazing how this path I had no idea was there has just opened up," Mrs Seselja said. "I have peace in my mind, I'm comfortable in my skin ... and I'm just trying to be a good human being."

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if this story is distressing.