You should be seeking reconciliation. The only reason for separation is adultery or violence. It's better to be the wife of an irresponsible gambler, than to leave him and bank on a new husband. That bitterness toward him will hinder your relationship with God, and remember the scripture that says a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.
So it's better to be the wife of an addicted gambler than to leave him and bank on a new husband?.... Let me just say that I am not looking for a new husband AT ALL. I can't imagine ALLOWING him to put his family second/third/last to his addiction any longer. Our son was 3 weeks old, and we were almost homeless because of his addiction. My best friend bought groceries to my house because of his addiction. My child's money was stolen from his piggy bank because of his addiction. My bank accounts were always overdrawn because of his addiction. I was the breadwinner, homemaker, cook, maid, landscaper (even while pregnant) because of his addiction. All the while, he accused me of trying to control him (his gambling buddies were his friends, and I was trying to keep him from hanging out with his friends), of being unfaithful (who had the time?), he micro-managed the bank accounts (I had to know the balance of our accounts on a daily basis - If we are not spending frivolously, why would there be any problems with the finances?), I was constantly making payment arrangements with debtors that he said he paid but didn't. We were consistently in marriage counseling and gamblers anonymous - to no avail. And while he was chronically unemployed, I maintained my job - and was the only one employed for much of the time.
He has lived with 3 women already - saying it's my fault. He has told his family that I am taking all of his money because of Child Support and Spousal Support so that they will loan him money. I did not request spousal support and he has not paid any child support. He is a liar.
Isn't a man called to honor his wife and provide for his family?
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her," Eph 5:25
"But if any man does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Tim 5:8.
A Christian husband and father should set an example for his family. I will not accept that it is better to stay with an addicted gambler than to separate and divorce. Sad thing is, if while we were separated, he improved his life, and truly changed, I probably would have accepted him back. But I thank God for showing me who he really is during this time of separation.