Gambling Issues Could Lead to Divorce

Financial misery can be a devastating problem in a marriage. That can be exacerbated if the money issues are the direct result of a gambling addiction. Sadly, such an addiction may result in both family and financial responsibilities being ignored. Marital partners can be swept up in resentment, duplicity, and suspicion, which can ultimately lead to divorce.

Gambling and Divorce Facts

Because bettors are all about playing the odds, it’s worth being familiar with some numbers linking gambling to divorce:

1. Gambling frequently results in financial pressures, which are the primary cause of divorce in America.
2. Divorce generally occurs within three to five years of the onset of gambling issues.
3. Double the number of gamblers will be divorced at some point compared to the general population.
4. 45 percent of gamblers are divorced twice or more.
5. Seventy-five percent of spouses married to gamblers report feeling betrayed due to their spouse’s gambling and attendant behaviors.
6. Children of addicted gamblers report feeling deserted or neglected.
7. Many who eventually seek help with their addiction say that marriage issues were the primary concern.

Debt

Undoubtedly, one of the first and most obvious symptoms of gambling addiction is spiraling debt. On top of the gambling debt itself, families often have to deal with credit card debt that accrues when bills are not paid on time. The statistics are astonishing:

1. Men with gambling issues accumulate between $55,000-$90,000 in gambling debt;
2. Women with gambling addictions average $15,000 in gambling debt;
3. 50 percent of those surveyed say that it is a good reason to contemplate divorcing when a spouse has substantial debt;
4. Over 30 percent of divorcees say that credit card debt was a key factor in their split.

Additional Effects of Gambling Addictions

While money difficulties are the central issue related to problem gambling, there are plenty more worth considering:

1. Trouble staying attentive to a spouse’s interests, and hobbies and goals;
2. Obliviousness around significant occasions and holidays;
3. Cantankerousness and irritability, sometimes leading to aggression and violence;
4. Theft from spouses and other close friends and family in order to pay gambling debts;
5. Reduction in intimacy, as libido issues are manifest due to sleep deprivation, cortisol and adrenaline imbalances, and guilt.

Can Your Marriage be Saved? 

For couples dealing with these issues, it’s critical to note that fighting for your marriage could be the thing that helps a gambling addict overcome the addiction. Counseling directly focused on gambling is a worthy option worth studying, in addition to traditional marriage counseling. If you see no benefit from these interventions, divorce may be the option you choose.

Representing Your Needs

The dedicated Boca Raton divorce attorneys at WiseLieberman always support you and angle to get the best possible outcomes for you in divorce. To discuss, contact our Boca Raton office today.