Nottingham Forest's Harry Toffolo says he feared his career had been ended by his history of betting and that it "inspired" him to help others with gambling and mental health problems.
The 28-year-old defender was given a suspended five-month ban in September for 375 breaches of betting rules.
The independent commission that heard the case found bets were made when his "mental health was at a very low ebb".
"I felt like I lost everything", said Toffolo when reflecting on the charges.
"It was 100% the most difficult part of not just my career, but of my life.