Children and Gambling

Q: I am enjoying your book. I have a question about children. Is it realistic that P would abandon his wife and children? He clearly loves them.

A: Good question, and the answer is yes. It all depends on the gambler, of course, and the level of addiction to which he/she has sunk. But I have seen very young children waiting on their gambling parent for hours on the non-carpeted areas of the casino (Florida law forbids minors to step on the carpeted areas where the gambling occurs). I have seen them waiting outside in parked cars. I imagine many of them must be waiting upstairs in the hotel rooms, too. I have known of gamblers who have divorced most likely due to their addiction--and there are children involved whom they almost never see, and to whom they give little financial support because their money goes into the casino. In other words, they cannot afford child support (and are not there for emotional support) and yet they are in the casino every day blowing hundreds and thousands.

In that respect, P is fictional, but typical. He loves his children, but he will push them aside if they interfere with his gambling.

Go to this site for more information--Gambling Addiction Questions and Answers.

http://www.addictionrecov.org/qandagam.htm

Thanks,

Preston