Woman Says She Spent Her Wedding Night Gambling Away All the Money She Was Gifted: ‘Lived a Double Life’

On a day that should have been filled with joy, newly married Elissa Hubbard was hiding a devastating truth.

The 39-year-old had just exchanged vows with her wife in Cyprus. But instead of celebrating their first night as a married couple, she remained in the lobby of their hotel — alone, glued to her phone, playing online casino games. Speaking to U.K. outlet Wales Online, she shared that she gambled away all of the cash gifts the couple had received at their wedding reception.

Hubbard said her gambling “addiction” began early in life, recalling childhood visits to local pubs where she played slot machines. As an adult, she gravitated toward online casino platforms. She worked as a plasterer during the day, then came home and poured her earnings into gambling.

“Most days, I would skip my basic needs like lunch. I was constantly thinking about getting home to gamble online,” she told Wales Online. “I got sacked by several jobs because I would take cash-in-hand for jobs and would use the money for my addiction.”

Her secret life escalated. At its worst, Hubbard was losing £40,000 (around $53,000) each year and taking out payday loans — all without her partner’s knowledge.

When her then-wife discovered that the wedding money had vanished, she confronted Hubbard about the truth. “My wife had absolutely no idea what had been going on. She said I had basically lived a double life,” Hubbard said. The fallout was severe: “It cost me everything — my marriage, my step kids, my home and job.”

A family member eventually urged Hubbard to seek help through Adferiad, an organization specializing in support for people dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. After an assessment, she received a referral to Adferiad’s Parkland Place rehabilitation center in North Wales.

“It was the best feeling I’d had in a long, long time — getting the dates to go into treatment and knowing I was finally getting help,” she shared.

During her program at Parkland Place, Hubbard took part in counseling and learned about the underlying science of addiction. She also connected with North Wales Recovery Communities, a peer support network for people with similar struggles.

“I found out a lot about myself,” she said. “I don’t hate everyone — I just hated myself. People lift you up from similar experiences.”

Today, Hubbard channels her experience into helping others. She now works as a Welsh Women’s gambling coordinator for Adferiad, supporting people who are facing addiction.

“I don’t carry that shame anymore,” she said. “The past is the past, and I’m doing something about it today. I feel like I’m turning all the negative stuff into positive to help others.”

According to Wales Online, Hubbard also advocates for stricter gambling regulations, including the removal of gambling machines from pubs and family entertainment venues.

“Children are often exposed to these environments at a young age, and I don’t think people appreciate that they can have a knock-on effect on their later lives,” she explained.

If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, please contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700 or visit gamtalk.org.