This is what often happens when gambling becomes a tool in the bad use of a gambler's personality. Those who didn't gamble before, when they learned to gamble, suddenly changed their character. Things like this happen often.
It isn't only his addiction to gambling that's the reason, but he's also addicted to liquor and cigarettes as well. On the other hand, he doesn't want to work, and he's just begging.
Anyway, gambling is the root cause why it happened for him, and I'm pretty sure that there are many who saw or experienced the same as well. I've also watched some YouTube documentaries regarding gamblers who got addicted to gambling as well, and luckily, they got out of it. It affected their family, it affected them financially, and it affected them mentally as well that some even experienced depression. In general, gambling is bad "ONLY" if you are gambling too much, and spending too much, but if you're only spending a few bucks, and you are okay if you lose it then there's no bad effects of it to you.
I am always very sad to hear that families are fighting because of gambling addiction, especially when there are children in these families.
The fact is that I know many families who are biologically unable to have children, but dream of them. And such people are very decent, they keep themselves in control, and do not have bad habits. But fate turns out that many addict gambler's have children whom they do not appreciate at all. And it's terrible.
Therefore, I think that all of us should appreciate what we have: our relationship with our relatives. And you need to have self-control over your habits.
Yes, children are never to blame for what adults do. I do not understand: how can you even become a player with a strong addiction when there is a child in the family of such a player?
Such a gambler should feel fully responsible for his child, and therefore should not gamble at all. Being a parent is a special status, and even if he has a difficult job, he does not have the right to choose a casino as his hobby, just in order to relieve accumulated stress. You need to take a responsible approach to your life, because the fate of the child depends on it.