Matrimonial Attorney Warns Online Gambling Increasingly Contributes to US Divorce Cases

New York matrimonial and family law attorney Atty Bruggemann, a partner at Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, says online gambling is becoming an increasingly important factor in US divorces. Speaking to CasinoBeats, Bruggemann drew a parallel to courts in Indonesia where a surge in online gambling has driven higher divorce rates.

“I think we are seeing the same phenomenon in the United States,” Bruggemann said. “While I would not claim that online gambling is responsible for a measurable percentage of American divorces, I absolutely believe it is becoming an increasingly important factor contributing to divorce.”

Bruggemann pointed to the “dramatically more accessible” nature of online betting platforms. The warning follows former US Surgeon General Jerome Adams’ claim that sports betting has become a “new opioid crisis.”

In May, the National Council on Problem Gambling said that last year almost a third of its helpline callers complained of online and app-based gambling problems. This marked a sharp rise of 23% from 2024. Almost three-quarters of helpline callers said they were experiencing financial difficulties.

Trust Erosion and Financial Secrecy Drive Marital Breakdown

Bruggemann said accessibility matters enormously in matrimonial cases. Greater concern arises from patterns of secret accounts, repeated withdrawals, credit-card debt, loans from family members, unexplained transfers, and household funds diverted to betting platforms.

A systematic review of 30 studies published in the medical journal BMC Psychology found that gambling addiction severely strains romantic partnerships, fosters distrust, and negatively impacts family stability. “The research supports the broader connection between gambling disorder and marital instability,” Bruggemann said.

Spouses may initially tolerate recreational gambling. What becomes intolerable is discovering depleted family savings, maxed-out credit cards, borrowed retirement funds, unpaid taxes, mortgage arrears, and prolonged concealment of the problem.

Legal System Lags Digital Gambling Technology

Online gambling creates fragmented transactions across sportsbooks, casino apps, credit cards, bank accounts, digital wallets, and peer-to-peer platforms. This makes forensic discovery critical and requires swift action to preserve marital assets once divorce proceedings begin.

“The law was largely developed around a world in which financial misconduct might involve a checkbook, a brokerage account, or a bank account,” Bruggemann explained. She noted the US legal system remains behind the pace of gambling technology on speed and transparency.

Bruggemann called for greater transparency from online gambling operators in response to lawful matrimonial discovery. Uniform standards are also needed for financial disclosures on gambling accounts and related debts, alongside improved judicial understanding of gambling disorders, digital gambling technology, and digital currencies.

“Online gambling has changed the speed and scale of the problem,” Bruggemann concluded. “Matrimonial law now has to catch up.”

Reporting: Casino Beats

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