When Someone Else’s Gambling Puts Your Financial Security at Risk

Gambling harm doesn’t only affect the person gambling. It can put the financial security of an entire family at risk.

Imagine discovering that someone you love has a gambling problem.

Your first instinct might be to focus on them:

• How much have they lost?

• How do we get them to stop?

• Where can they get help?

All of those questions matter.

But there is another question families need to ask much sooner:

Could their gambling put my money, my credit or even my home at risk too?

Unfortunately, sometimes the answer is yes.

And one of the biggest risks is simply not knowing the extent of the problem.

“But the debt isn't in my name…”

There is some reassuring news. In England, you are generally only responsible for debts that are in your name. If your partner takes out a personal loan or credit card solely in their own name, you don't automatically become responsible for repaying it simply because you are married or live together. Citizens Advice confirms that if a debt is solely in someone else's name, you are not responsible for paying it. But that's not the end of the story. Families often have finances that overlap.

You may have:

• a joint bank account

• a joint overdraft

• a joint mortgage

• jointly owned property

• joint loans

• household savings accessible by both people

And that's where someone else's gambling can start creating risks for your financial security.

Joint debt is very different from individual debt

If you have taken out borrowing jointly, don't assume that your responsibility is limited to “your half”.

Citizens Advice warns that with a joint loan, both borrowers are responsible for the debt, and the actions of the other borrower can also affect your credit position.

That makes it important to understand exactly what financial products are held jointly.

Don't guess.

Check.

Protect the money you need to live

If you are worried that someone may use joint money to gamble, protecting access to essential funds becomes a priority.

That could mean making sure your salary, pension or other income is paid into an account held solely in your name, keeping your personal savings separately, and limiting how much money needs to sit in a joint household account.

GamCare specifically advises families concerned about joint money being used for gambling to speak to their bank. Depending on the circumstances and the bank, it may be possible to place restrictions on a joint account so transactions require the agreement of both parties.

Also consider your digital security. Make sure your:

• banking passwords are private

• PINs are secure

• email account is protected

• two-factor authentication goes to a device only you control

If money has been borrowed in your name without your permission, that is different again. This should be reported to the lender because unauthorised borrowing in someone else's name is fraud.

And then there is the family home

This is the part many people don't realise.

Owning a home jointly does not necessarily mean it is completely protected from one person's debts.

If someone with a gambling problem becomes indebted and owns a share of a home, they could potentially be forced to sell their share to repay those debts. In some circumstances, that could ultimately mean the other owner has to leave the property even though the debts themselves aren't in their name.

One mechanism creditors may use after obtaining a judgment is a charging order, which can attach to a debtor's beneficial interest in property.

This doesn't mean every unpaid gambling debt leads to somebody losing their house.

It absolutely doesn't.

But it does mean that if you share ownership of a valuable asset with someone accumulating significant debts, it is something to take seriously early rather than waiting until court papers arrive.

If you are worried about jointly owned property, get specialist legal or debt advice on your specific circumstances.

Don't wait until you know exactly how bad it is

One of the difficulties with problem gambling is secrecy.

You may not know whether the person has:

• credit cards you don't know about

• personal loans

• overdrafts

• money owed to friends or family

• missed mortgage or household payments

• gambling accounts you weren't aware of

So the first objective isn't necessarily to solve everything.

It's to reduce the financial vulnerability around you while the true position is being established.

That might include:

1. Checking what accounts, borrowing and property you own jointly.

2. Separating your own income and savings where appropriate.

3. Checking that important household bills and mortgage payments are actually being made.

4. Speaking to your bank about protections available on joint accounts.

5. Checking your own credit files and investigating anything you don't recognise.

6. Getting independent debt or legal advice if there are significant debts or property involved.

Citizens Advice has specific guidance for people worried about somebody else's gambling, including protecting shared money and understanding whether you may be responsible for debts.

Financial controls can help - but the gambling needs support too

Putting barriers between a person and gambling can create valuable friction.

Many UK banks offer gambling blocks, which can prevent card transactions identified as gambling. GamCare recommends using these alongside other measures rather than viewing them as a complete solution.

There is also Gamstop Online, a free self-exclusion service which can block someone from accessing gambling websites and apps run by operators licensed in Great Britain. It can be set for periods from six months through to five years, including an auto-renewing option.

But these measures require engagement from the person gambling.

You cannot recover on somebody else's behalf.

NHS treatment is available

For people in Greater London, the NHS National Gambling Clinic provides specialist treatment for adults experiencing gambling-related harm.

People can refer themselves, and health and care professionals can also make referrals. Importantly, the clinic cannot accept a referral without the explicit consent of the person being referred.

The clinic can also provide support for family members and friends in their own right.

For referral support or information, the clinic currently lists: 0207 381 7722 and gambling.cnwl@nhs.net

The family needs support too

This is one of the messages I think we need to talk about much more.

When someone has an addiction, enormous attention can understandably go towards helping that person recover.

Meanwhile, their partner, children and family members may be living with:

• anxiety

• financial uncertainty

• broken trust

• anger

• guilt

• pressure to keep rescuing them

• fear about what they might discover next

They deserve support too.

GamCare's National Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support to anyone affected by gambling, not just the person who gambles. The number is 0808 8020 133 and the service is available 24 hours a day.

For women affected by somebody else's gambling, GamCare also runs Way Forward, a seven-week support programme covering gambling harm, self-care, guilt and enabling behaviours, anger, difficult conversations and moving forward. Women in England or Scotland can enquire through the National Gambling Helpline.

Supporting someone doesn't mean financially rescuing them

This can be extremely hard for families.

If someone you love tells you they need £2,000 immediately to clear a debt, protect their credit or make one final payment, giving them the money can feel like helping.

But if the gambling behaviour is still active, continuously clearing debts can allow the cycle to continue.

GamCare explicitly advises against simply lending money to somebody struggling with gambling because it may make the problem worse when they have already exceeded their means.

You can be compassionate without making yourself financially vulnerable.

Sometimes support looks like helping someone access treatment.

Sometimes it means sitting beside them while they call a debt adviser.

And sometimes it means saying:

“I will help you deal with this, but I won't give you money to continue it.”

Financial confidence also means knowing how to protect yourself

We often talk about building wealth through saving, investing, pensions and property.

But financial wellbeing isn't only about accumulation.

It's also about understanding:

• What do I own?

• What am I liable for?

• Who has access to my money?

• What have I signed jointly?

• What could put the assets I've worked for at risk?

Those questions matter even more when addiction, coercion, secrecy or financial instability enters a household.

If you're worried about someone else's gambling, don't wait until you have perfect information before seeking help.

1. Protect the essentials.

2. Understand your exposure.

3. Get specialist advice. http://s.free

4. And remember that you are entitled to support too.

Where to get help

• GamCare - National Gambling Helpline provides advice, information and support around the clock to those suffering from gambling related harm, whether their own or someone else’s. It's free and available 24/7.

• Gamble Aware - offers free advice, tools and support to help keep people safe from gambling harms.

• National Gambling Clinic - free, confidential NHS service supporting people who are experiencing harm from gambling aged 13 to 18 years from anywhere in England, and 18 or over living in Greater London. 

• NHS - Specialist NHS gambling treatment and family/friends support.

• Citizens Advice - Guidance on gambling-related debt, shared finances and protecting yourself financially.

• Gamstop Online - Free online gambling self-exclusion for people who want to restrict their own access to gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain.

This article is for general financial education and awareness and is not legal, debt or regulated financial advice. Property, insolvency and liability rules depend on individual circumstances and can differ across the UK. The property/debt information above primarily reflects guidance applicable in England. Seek appropriate legal or specialist debt advice for your circumstances.