INTERNET gambling is being cited by more and more Irish couples facing the heartbreak of marriage breakdown.
Online betting has emerged as the fastest-growing cause of marital disharmony in Ireland, according to the country's largest marriage advice bureau, Accord.
Counsellors predict it will be a huge issue in the next two to three years, if current trends continue. The vast majority of those addicted to betting online are men.
John Farrelly, director of counselling with Accord, says internet gambling can devastate families. "Gambling is the one thing that puts enormous financial pressure on marriage and family," he explained.
"We are noticing it is becoming an issue for an increasingly significant number of couples. It is particularly dangerous as it takes away incomes. Some people are blowing up to ?2,000 a week on gambling sites.
"It only hits down the line, when the addiction has developed. But when it does, it poses huge challenges for the couples affected."
The clinical psychologist also hit out at society's perception of online gambling as sexy or glamorous.
"The human suffering and pain encountered in therapy rooms is very different from the trendy image portrayed by internet sites," he said.
It is a problem that is yet to feature on Accord's official statistics, but is expected to be listed in the 2006 end-of-year report. "At the moment, it is emerging just under the radar, but it is growing rapidly. We are preparing to include it in our statistics as a factor," said Mr Farrelly.
Stephen Rowen, director of the Rutland Centre for Addiction, said gambling is one of the most destructive addictions and the one most likely to end in suicide.
The number of patients attending the Dublin centre for help with gambling problems has tripled in the past two years.
"Gamblers like to keep their habit secret - the internet makes that easy, as bets can be placed in secret with credit cards. The stress involved can end in suicide.
"The gambler uses their own money, then borrows money and then steals money to keep on betting."
He said he was not surprised to hear that it was affecting marriages.
"Those who are married will have marital problems. In most cases, the wives of men who are gamblers will be trying to hang in there."
souce : Irish Independent Newspaper
