~snip~
This would as a prerequisite mean that the family still lives under one roof or how should it be possible for family members to have an eye all the time on the activities of someone who could be gambling too much? And even then it is unrealistic because if that happens and the family puts pressure on someone who gambles so much, how would they check activities when someone goes outside and plays on their mobile. This idea to observe someone's activities around the clock doesn't make a lot of sense. It would make more sense to offer someone alternative activities that the person enjoys, that the person chooses something more meaningful to do than gambling. Observation isn't a sustainable solution at all.
That's not what it means. Family members can keep an eye on each other's family members by paying attention to their day-to-day behavior so that if something is different, they will know and can approach it more closely to discuss it. If a family they are used to being open to each other, they can tell what is going on, and other family members will know that pressure is on them so that other family members can immediately provide assistance.
We can't offer anything more meaningful if we don't know what happened to family members. For this reason, we can chat with each other or pay attention to their behavior to know if something is wrong with them. If a person wasn't used to being in his room for long periods, a mother or sister would be suspicious and might ask him what was wrong. So watching his behavior like that will vary from one family to another.
Ok but even then if a gambler is very good at hiding it, it's difficult for a family to find out about it. Drugs and alcohol is so much easier because when you are wasted, you are wasted. No questions need be asked whether you have a problem when you are wasted five times a week.
But gambling is a different issue. Unless someone crosses the line and starts stealing money or borrowing money in excess of what has ever been usual in the past, it is still complicated to find out about it unless the person himself approaches their family and tells the truth. To get back on topic here, financial dependence can also mean several thing. Even if someone earns tons of money but has a costly lifestyle based on long-term obligations, financial dependence is still a thing. If there are existential dependencies and money is at risk that would have to be used otherwise, the problem can quickly overwhelm even someone who seems to be financially independent to outsiders.