The Desperation Phase . Gambling becomes a full-time obsession. Life centers around getting even and paying off debts, often with borrowed or stolen money. Lies and secret loans abound. Still greater risks are taken.
Depression becomes chronic.
A Family Affair Compulsive gambling harms marriages and family life. The gambler's obsession steals time and attention away from the gambler's spouse and children. Feeling abandoned, his loved ones experience problems of self-worth and suffer bouts of depression. The family unit can unravel. As the disease progresses, the gambler's work life also suffers.