Hi Paul
I cannot know from what you have said whether or not your wife has an addiction to gamble. Most CGs (compulsive gamblers) will gamble for fun at the beginning without realising that addiction is waiting for them and sadly the realisation doesn’t usually come until it is too late. It is important to note, I believe, that compulsive gamblers neither ask for nor want their addiction – they would love to be able to gamble responsibly but they cannot.
I hope you are wrong in your worries but you are right, I believe, to question what is going on, however, there is a lot of support nowadays for CGs and I hope you will put all thoughts of a breakdown in your marriage on a back burner until you are sure about the situation. Has your marriage been a happy one apart from these recent concerns?
Maybe it is time that you did know what is going on with your household accounts. If you wife has control over all the finances and yet she is found to be out of control with her gambling you may well find yourself with a significant debt in your name .
I cannot tell you what to do but as your wife is expressing the need to escape into a casino and you are worried about what is going on maybe marriage guidance counselling would be a better way forward for you both.
I suggest that you download the 20 questions from the Gambler Anonymous web site – compulsive gamblers will answer yes to at least 7 of the questions.
Speak soon
Velvet
