My partner has gambled all our money away AGAIN. I don’t know what to do?!

[HarperJess]

Hi, my partner has a gambling problem and has gambled all our money away for the 3rd time in 4 months. I’m talking all of it.. we won’t be able to pay our bills this month and it’s 3 weeks until Christmas so our kids will be getting nothing either.
I don’t work at the moment because we have a 6 month old and 17 month old and childcare is too expensive so he has sole access and control over our money, because technically it’s all his. I don’t know what to do.. do I leave? How am I supposed to build a life with someone who gambles everything away all the time? He won’t accept help because he’s too proud. He’s in debt, we both are. The first time it happened he lost £700 the night before we went away for a friends wedding so we had no spending money and had to eat cheap fast food all week. The second time was only last month, he lost £1,000 a week before we went to New York so again we had no spending money and it kind of ruined the trip. This time it’s before Christmas and he’s lost the money we’d put aside for that. He’s ruining everything nice that we save hard for. Sorry for rambling but I’m in shock and at a loss of what to do?!

Talkinpeece l suspect by the lack of update that he hasn't moved out

Yes fishes i agree i think it’s probably been brushed under the carpet again until he does it again in a few months time

Thanks for your messages, been an emotional whirlwind here. He’s enrolled in a therapy course, he’s admitted he has a problem and is working on getting past it, I have full access to everything of his to keep an eye on what he’s doing while he’s recovering, then we’ll try to rebuild from there.

Hopefully this time next year we’ll be happily back together again.. x

Thanks for the update. That sounds like good progress. He still has a lot of work to do but at least he has made a start. Good luck to you both.

HarperJess
Stay strong. Be ready to kick him out if he slips AT ALL
and yes
if you force him to get himself under treatment you may have a relationship to look forward to
but be STRONG

I would also be checking both your credit histories to make sure there is no hidden debt that you don't know about.

Thanks for the update, I hope it works out for you. What type of therapy course is it? Gambling is an addiction and I would be looking for a long term commitment to attend and get support from GA to complement any short term course (if it is a short course).