For “bettor” or for worse. Lived experiences of wives/partners of former online problem gamblers

Abstract

Online gambling has increasingly been recognised as a significant public health concern, yet research has largely focused on the individual gambler, often overlooking the experiences of those close to them. This study explores the lived experiences of wives or female partners of former male online problem gamblers, a group frequently described as “affected others.” Adopting an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach, the study aimed to understand how these women made sense of their experiences and the meanings they attributed to living alongside online gambling disorder, despite never gambling themselves. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants who were current partners of individuals with a history of online problem gambling. Interviews explored the discovery of the gambling behaviour, its emotional, relational, financial, and psychological impact, and the processes of coping and adaptation over time. Data were analysed idiographically in line with IPA principles, emphasising reflexivity, contextual sensitivity, and participants’ subjective meaning-making. Three superordinate themes emerged: discovery, reaching rock bottom, and new hope and new beginnings. Findings highlight profound experiences of betrayal, self-blame, shame, and relational disruption, alongside significant financial and health-related consequences. Despite these harms, participants demonstrated resilience, agency, and adaptive coping, often assuming new roles within their relationships to support recovery and family stability. This study contributes to the psychological literature by foregrounding the voices of affected partners within the context of online gambling. The findings underscore the need for relationally informed interventions, improved support pathways for affected others, and policy approaches that recognise gambling-related harm as extending beyond the individual gambler.