Husband gambling 2 small children

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(@b2d71lrjie)
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My husband is a gambler and generally bad with money. A couple of years ago whilst pregnant with my second born I was blindsided & found out he’d gambled so much that he hadn’t paid rent or bills, we got the car taken off us & he went behind my back asking my family for money. The lies he told broke my heart, it’s was like he was emotional switched off. I was heavily pregnant on tears begging for the truth and the lies just piled up. I chose to stay with him for the kids. We both had separate councelling and he said he’s banned himself. He sent me statements and things for a while but that fizzled out. I’ve not been able to trust him since and I am incredibly hurt but I’ve tried to do some work on that and work on our marriage. 

Recently they’ve been some red flags and I had a feeling he may have been in trouble again. He continued to lie, tell me he couldn’t gamble and that it’s in my head. Turns out my gut was right, he’s been gambling again and blown all his wage in a few days and not paid rent or bills. I’ve managed to find some money to pay the rent thankfully but I’ve ended up getting into debt to do it. We have two small children and I don’t understand why he would risk them being homeless. I also don’t have any money for Christmas presents. I’m heartbroken. I know he is only human and half expected a relapse but this doesn’t feel like a one off mistake - this feels like he’s been gambling again for months, lying, scheming and jeopardizing our futures and the kids. He has only come clean because he had too and he had no more money to win the rent back. I’ve asked him for full transparency and to check his online banking and accounts. He’s outright refused and said he will not, he’s said he will send me statements but not sure me his phone which I think is a red flag? I gave him an ultimatum and he said he would have to sleep on it. 

I have always shown compassion and tried not to shame him, I’ve tried to be understanding and always thought he was a good person just making bad decision. Now I just have this gut renching feeling he’s a narcissist and maybe I’ve been living in an emotional abusive marriage. The lies he tells me are incomprehensible and he would literally have me begging and in floods of tears and still bare lie to my face. Whenever I have asked him for proof or to make phones calls/ show me he has always turned it around me and said I’m being unfair and he feels uncomfortable.

I just feel heartbroken and also worried for my children - where do I go next? I’m no worried about next month rent. He says he’s being truthful now but I can’t help but feel I’m only scratching the surface.  

 
Posted : 4th December 2024 6:55 pm
Forum admin
(@forum-admin)
Posts: 6141
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Welcome to the forum @Sunandmoon

Thank you for being so open and honest and sharing your experience.

It sounds like it is very difficult for you right now but I would like to reassure you that you are definitely not on your own. It sounds like you have done your best to create a supportive space for your husband through this and currently it sounds like he is not accepting of the harm he has caused if he is unable to be fully transparent going forward. 

If you are concerned about rent or bills, you could get in touch with Shelter https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help or Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting1/get-help-with-bills/.  

You have the forum community here, and we would definitely encourage you to get in touch with our helpline on 0808 8020 133 to speak to an adviser in more depth and get support for yourself. You can also speak to an adviser on our live chat, https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/talk-to-us-now/. Both are open 24/7 so please do contact us if you can. 

Best wishes,

Phoebe

Forum Admin

 
Posted : 4th December 2024 9:52 pm
(@p6z38njbqm)
Posts: 536
 

Refusal to show bank accounts only indicates one of two things:

Hes not ready to give up yet and wants to keep control as he thinks he can gamble his way out of trouble (he can’t)

Hes in much more debt than he wants you to know.

Until he gives in and allows full access and accepts help he will continue to gamble. Time for a serious chat. He needs to be on here, not you, he needs to be begging you for forgiveness and getting all the help he can to show to you he loves you more than gambling.

Most importantly, you need to make you and the kids safe financially. If he cannot quit, you cannot go in together. He’s addiction will ruin you both. 

Good luck and stay in touch. Plenty people on here in a similar situation or who have gone through this. Some have lost a relationship, others have grown stronger. It all depends on the gambler how this ends.

Stay strong 💪 

 
Posted : 5th December 2024 11:16 am

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