GO TO GAMANON –
Oct. 11, 2024 – Our 30-something son has been seriously dating a smart, capable woman for more than a year … He is adamant that he does not intend to tell her about his problem. He often seems to believe that he has a handle on this situation, but in the past couple of years, he has not gone more than a few months without gambling.
They seem very happy; they recently moved in together and are talking about their long-term future, including the possibility of having children. She fits in well with our family and is a good influence on our son. We support them and would like to encourage their relationship, but my spouse and I are concerned about something.
Our son has a history of problem gambling. A couple of years ago, he gambled away a windfall of more than $250,000. Since then, he goes through periods of abstaining from gambling only to start up again. In the last year, his habit led him to draw on a line of credit as well as dip into his tax- sheltered retirement savings account.
