.... recently the lady found that the guy do gamble and he owned up that he has been doing it for a while too. They are broken up now on the grounds of mistrust.
I will like people to learn from this because many people gamble in secret for what ever reason and the have companions who knows nothing about this and when exposed can cause the relationship to split or have cracks.
If you will engage into a relationship with someone, you must be committed to share everything to your partner. This includes all of your best and worst traits so that they are ready to accept you especially when marriage is on the discussion.
What happened to your friend could be described as a hanging sword of Damocles- he saw it coming the moment he kept it secret from his partner. If your friend could have discussed this with her, then they could possibly do something about, let alone be the solution to your friend's gambling addiction.
If you gamble it is of your interest and that of your spouse, you both need to share same orientation about gambling or given a chance to understand and respect the other person gambling choice and if they won’t then either they go or you reconsider your choice. Why should an adult keep their gambling choice away from their lover that’s deceit to me. Gambling is not a dirty secret.
Not just in gambling but this applies to every secret that you have. In marriage, you are united as one (1) unit to whom you fully commit all of your obligations and responsibilities in keeping the family together. The moment you lie or break the trust in marriage, then it is a recipe for failure which has happened to your friend.