My partner has a gambling addiction. I do not want to leave him but would like to know how to handle the situation and what people have done in a similar situation.
He has multiple betting accounts, he hides it, he lies about it and when he loses his money I have to pick up the pieces. We have had multiple arguments over it and nothing ever sinks in. It is really starting to affect myself and the kids. We do not own our own home and I'm afraid we never will.
How to handle a partner with a gambling addiction?
How to handle a partner with a gambling addiction?
Posted in:
Relationships & Marriage, Behaviour, Money
2 Replies
I would seperate finances, have anything he has to pay for deducted from his bank the minute he gets paid then he only has those dollars to play with. The risks is people like this are no different to drug takers, he will likely get credit cards, or loans so he has more to use. Only you know what is okay for your family. If he doesn’t recognisehis issues then you need to know this is life. I couldn’t live like that..
I have been through this for the last 5 years with a 5year old and a 13month old and gave chance after chance. I tried the following
-i took control of all finances.
-i took his eftpos card off him and gave him a set amount of money he can have a week (parking, lunch ect)
-i told all of his friends that if he is to be seen at a pub/tab I must be told
- i asked him to to go to counseling and GA meeting so he could see what people are going through and hoping it was a wake up call.
-i made him delete all gambling 'games' on his phone.
All in all, he borrowed money off other people who I had to pay back. He would turn his phone off and I would know what he was doing
They won't change unless they want to.
I ended up telling him to move out and ended the marriage.
He does beg and says he will be a better person but gambling addiction is dangerous addiction and for me the decision to leave the relationship was the best one I ever did.
Not only I started to gate any form off gambling but I wouldn't let our children to be exposed to it.