“My Gambling, Addicted Mom is $400,000 in the Hole, about to Lose Her Home and Possibly Her 14-Year-Old Son!”

Serena says she’s begged her mother, Debbie, to fight the urge of her gambling addiction before she loses her home and possibly, she fears, custody of her teenage son! Serena says she believes her mother’s addiction began years ago, after Debbie lost her 2-year-old son to cancer, and numbed her pain by going to the casinos. Debbie admits she can’t control the pull of the slot machines and that over the last 20 years, she’s gambled away up to $400,000. She confides that she’s always blamed herself for her toddler’s death, and says she’s now terrified she’ll lose her teenage son and can’t afford to take care of him. Can Dr. Phil help Debbie curb her gambling addiction before her daughter gives up and walks away – and she loses everything? Also, an update on Ryan, the millionaire-turned-“moocher” who was sleeping in his parents' garage! Find out what’s happened since he first appeared on Dr. Phil!

Writing:
  • Oprah Winfrey
  • Phil McGraw

Stars:
Release Date: 2002-09-16
Seasons: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
TMDb: 4.9/10
  • Country: US
  • Language: English
  • Runtime: 42

Other episodes for this season

A Baby Ripped from the Womb: One Mother’s Nightmare
Episode 1 - A Baby Ripped from the Wo...
Athlete to Escort: A Champion Runner's Fall from Grace
Episode 2 - Athlete to Escort: A Cham...
TV Star's Alcoholism & Depression Spiral Out of Control: Can His Career Be Saved?
Episode 3 - TV Star's Alcoholism & De...
A Military Cop's Confession to His Family: “I Want to Be a Woman”
Episode 4 - A Military Cop's Confessi...
MMA Fighter Sick of Battling Outside the Ring with Ex-Wife over Their Son
Episode 5 - MMA Fighter Sick of Battl...
“My Daughter is a Beautiful, Intelligent, Talented, Egomaniacal, Drug-Addicted Liar and Thief”
Episode 6 - “My Daughter is a Beautif...
“Accused of Kidnapping Our Own Child”
Episode 7 - “Accused of Kidnapping Ou...
A Mother Missing: A Stepfather Accused
Episode 8 - A Mother Missing: A Stepf...
Missing Mom: What Happened to Carie?
Episode 9 - Missing Mom: What Happene...
“Mom Kicked Me Out at 15:” Is Daughter Ungrateful or Is Mom Delusional?
Episode 10 - “Mom Kicked Me Out at 15:...
“My Mom is Worth Millions: Is Her Husband a Catch or a 'Catfish'?”
Episode 11 - “My Mom is Worth Millions...
Creepy Dad or Midlife Crisis: “My Husband’s Inappropriate Sexting, Social Media Posts and Messages to Our Daughter’s Friends”
Episode 12 - Creepy Dad or Midlife Cri...
A Mother of Four Who Says: “I Don't Want to Be a Mom Anymore”
Episode 13 - A Mother of Four Who Says...
“I Believe My Daughter's Fiancé is Abusing Her, and I Desperately Need Help”
Episode 14 - “I Believe My Daughter's...
“I Fear My Terminally Ill Son's Wife is Abusive, Cheating and Money Hungry”
Episode 15 - “I Fear My Terminally Ill...
“Our Son Claims He is a Famous Songwriter: Could He Be Delusional or a Master Manipulator?”
Episode 16 - “Our Son Claims He is a F...
Exclusive: Eight Siblings Tortured and Held Hostage By Their Own Father
Episode 17 - Exclusive: Eight Siblings...
“The Clock is Ticking and if Dr. Phil Can't Help Us, My Wife is Divorcing Me Next Week”
Episode 18 - “The Clock is Ticking and...
“Acquitted of Kidnapping But My Husband Still Thinks I'm Guilty”
Episode 19 - “Acquitted of Kidnapping...
Social Media Obsessed Teens: “I Can't Breathe Without Wi-Fi”
Episode 20 - Social Media Obsessed Tee...
“I Reunited with My Birth Mother and Now She Says She Wishes She Never Had Me”
Episode 21 - “I Reunited with My Birth...
“How Did Our Son Go from College-Bound Star Athlete to a Homeless 'Moocher' Sleeping in a Tool Shed?”
Episode 22 - “How Did Our Son Go from...
Exclusive: High School Hero Defends Blind Teen in Alleged Bully Attack Caught on Video
Episode 23 - Exclusive: High School He...
Oprah’s Big Project and Guilt, Grief, Forgiveness: Best Friends Connecting after Tragedy
Episode 24 - Oprah’s Big Project and G...
“I Became a Trending Topic.” Peeple App Creator Sets the Record Straight
Episode 25 - “I Became a Trending Topi...
“My Gambling, Addicted Mom is $400,000 in the Hole, about to Lose Her Home and Possibly Her 14-Year-Old Son!”
Episode 26 - “My Gambling, Addicted Mom is $400,000 in the Hole, about to Lose Her Home and Possibly Her 14-Year-Old Son!”
She Was a Model, a Marine, but Now She's a Mess
Episode 27 - She Was a Model, a Marine...
Hollywood Facialist Accused of Hiring a Hit Man Speaks Out for the First Time
Episode 28 - Hollywood Facialist Accus...
“I'm Fighting for Custody of My Child with My Ex-Husband Who I Believe is Stalking Me”
Episode 29 - “I'm Fighting for Custody...
“Dr. Phil, I Need Your Help Again: My Daughter is Hitchhiking and Train Hopping as a Portland Street Kid”
Episode 30 - “Dr. Phil, I Need Your He...
A Baby on the Way: “I Think My Daughter & Her Fiancé Are Unfit Parents & I Am Fighting for Custody of My Unborn Grandchild!”
Episode 31 - A Baby on the Way: “I Thi...
“Our Father Has a Secret Life South of the Border and Has Given $1.5 Million to His Former Mistress”
Episode 32 - “Our Father Has a Secret...
Love Triangle Troubles: “Torn between My 'City Boy' Husband & My 'Country Boy' Boyfriend”
Episode 33 - Love Triangle Troubles: “...
Subway Sandwich King to Child Sex Scandal: The Jared Fogle Audio Tapes
Episode 34 - Subway Sandwich King to C...
The Jared Fogle Audio Tapes: His Plans to Target Children
Episode 35 - The Jared Fogle Audio Tap...
“I'm Worried My Brother-in-Law is Having an Affair with My 16-Year-Old Daughter”
Episode 36 - “I'm Worried My Brother-i...
Uncle Kevin Answers the Accusations
Episode 37 - Uncle Kevin Answers the A...
“My Son-in-Law is Selfish, Angry, Disrespectful and Entitled”
Episode 38 - “My Son-in-Law is Selfish...
A Dr. Phil Daytime Exclusive: The Woman Who Put Drain Cleaner in Her Eyes to Fulfill Her Dream of Being Blind
Episode 39 - A Dr. Phil Daytime Exclus...
“My Husband Convinced Me to Sign a Postnup, but I Want It Thrown Out!”
Episode 40 - “My Husband Convinced Me...
Badmouthing, Bruises and a Bitter Custody Battle: What Does the Neighbor Say?
Episode 41 - Badmouthing, Bruises and...
A Bitter Custody Battle: Claims of Poison in Ice Cream, a Child Wrapped in a Garbage Bag and Inappropriate Touching: What Will the Polygraph Reveal?
Episode 42 - A Bitter Custody Battle:...
Surrogate Mother Convicted for Scamming Couple out of Thousands with Fake Pregnancy
Episode 43 - Surrogate Mother Convicte...
Exclusive: The First Victim of the Fogle Sex Scandal Comes Forward. Hidden Cameras, Secret Recordings, One Girl's Cautionary Tale
Episode 44 - Exclusive: The First Vict...
“My Wife is Divorcing Me Because She is Obsessed with a Country Music Star”
Episode 45 - “My Wife is Divorcing Me...
“I'm Afraid My Daughter Was Kidnapped by Her Survivalist Boyfriend”
Episode 46 - “I'm Afraid My Daughter W...
My Ex-Wife Claims I Molested Our Daughter Who Ran Off With Her Boyfriend
Episode 47 - My Ex-Wife Claims I Moles...
Adopted Twin, Beaten, Strangled, Starved and Locked in a Room: The Exclusive Interview
Episode 48 - Adopted Twin, Beaten, Str...
Our Wanna-Be Male Model Son Is Telling the World We Abused Him: It's All a Lie!
Episode 49 - Our Wanna-Be Male Model S...
Exclusive: Estranged Couple Michael and Kate Lohan Lose Custody of Their Children: What Really Happened?
Episode 50 - Exclusive: Estranged Coup...
Was This Teacher Drunk in Her Elementary School Classroom?
Episode 51 - Was This Teacher Drunk in...
“My Crazy Childhood: My Dad Was The Breast Pump Bandit and His Mistress Lived in Our House”
Episode 52 - “My Crazy Childhood: My D...
The Unbelievable Story of the Breast Pump Bandit: His Affairs, His Addictions, His Excuses
Episode 53 - The Unbelievable Story of...
Out of Control, Out of Patience and Out of Time
Episode 54 - Out of Control, Out of Pa...
Mama's Little Boy or Daddy's Little Girl: Identity Confusion or Brainwashing?
Episode 55 - Mama's Little Boy or Dadd...
Star Nicholas Brendon Update: The Real Man Behind the News Scandals and Arrests
Episode 56 - Star Nicholas Brendon Upd...
Three Sisters Divided: Our Sister's Self-Destructive Behavior Is Killing Our Mother and Could Land Her Behind Bars
Episode 57 - Three Sisters Divided: Ou...
My Husband vs. My Lying Ex: Time Is Running Out for This Wife Caught in the Middle
Episode 58 - My Husband vs. My Lying E...
I Can't Say No to Anything and It Could Literally Kill Me
Episode 59 - I Can't Say No to Anythin...
Should I Give Up On Getting Hot?
Episode 60 - Should I Give Up On Getti...
Animal Activist Under Attack
Episode 61 - Animal Activist Under Att...
I'm Terrified My Son Could Become a Mass Murderer
Episode 62 - I'm Terrified My Son Coul...
The Pain of Marriage Remorse: I'm Ready to Leave My Husband, Who Is 26 Years Older
Episode 63 - The Pain of Marriage Remo...
My Daughter Is Obsessed With Being the Black Sheep: Is She Mentally Ill or a Drama Queen?
Episode 64 - My Daughter Is Obsessed W...
We Think Our Mom Is Cheating, Lying and Choosing Men Over Us! Should We Cut Her Off or Cut Her Some Slack?
Episode 65 - We Think Our Mom Is Cheat...
An In-Law Ultimatum: My Beauty Queen Daughter's Ex-Cop Husband Needs to Get a Job or Get Out of My House!
Episode 66 - An In-Law Ultimatum: My B...
2 DUIs, 5 Stints in Rehab, 22 Days in a Coma, 1 Upcoming Wedding, 3 Kids, and 1 Fed-Up Wife
Episode 67 - 2 DUIs, 5 Stints in Rehab...
Death, Drugs and Lies
Episode 68 - Death, Drugs and Lies
61-Year-Old Polygamous Pastor Marries 19-Year-Old Pregnant Girlfriend With His Wife's Blessing
Episode 69 - 61-Year-Old Polygamous Pa...
I Want a Divorce but My Obsessive and Controlling Husband Won't Let Me Go
Episode 70 - I Want a Divorce but My O...
We Believe Our Mother Blames Us for Our Sister's Death!
Episode 71 - We Believe Our Mother Bla...
Exclusive: Missing 15-Year-Old Girl Found Alive After Allegedly Being Held Hostage! Is There More to the Story?
Episode 72 - Exclusive: Missing 15-Yea...
The Parents of Missing 15-Year-Old Found Alive React to Her Claims
Episode 73 - The Parents of Missing 15...
Facing Jail Time Because Step-Daughter Is a Liar
Episode 74 - Facing Jail Time Because...
Protective Mom or Jilted Lover?
Episode 75 - Protective Mom or Jilted...
I Believe My Mooching Nephew and His Alleged Six Alter Egos Are Duping My Sister
Episode 76 - I Believe My Mooching Nep...
My Kids Were Starved, Slapped and Locked In a Room: A One-Year Sentence Isn't Enough!
Episode 77 - My Kids Were Starved, Sla...
Making a Murderer: Did They Get It Wrong?
Episode 78 - Making a Murderer: Did Th...
A Mysterious Stabbing, Calls to Cops, a Beautiful Daughter's Cry for Attention or a Mom Out of Control?
Episode 79 - A Mysterious Stabbing, Ca...
Making a Murderer: New Details Revealed as the Sheriff's Department Speaks Out
Episode 80 - Making a Murderer: New De...
I'm Raising My Granddaughter Because I Think My Daughter Is Violent, Abusive and Neglectful!
Episode 81 - I'm Raising My Granddaugh...
I Am God's Prophet and My Family Is Trying to Destroy Me
Episode 82 - I Am God's Prophet and My...
My Future Mother-in-Law Is a Violent, Overbearing Bully!
Episode 83 - My Future Mother-in-Law I...
My Daughter Bullies Me With Beatings and Threats to My Life!
Episode 84 - My Daughter Bullies Me Wi...
My Drug-Addicted, Mooching, Ex-Marine Brother Needs to Get His Life Together and Our Parents Need to Stop Enabling Him!
Episode 85 - My Drug-Addicted, Moochin...
A Blended Family on the Brink
Episode 86 - A Blended Family on the B...
Sisters at War Over a Will: I Want Her Out of Our Deceased Mom's House!
Episode 87 - Sisters at War Over a Wil...
Wife of Top Restaurant Executive Claims She Was Scammed Out of $3 Million by Famous Football Star: Victim or Co-Conspirator?
Episode 88 - Wife of Top Restaurant Ex...
I Believe My Mother Turned a Blind Eye to My Grandfather Molesting Me
Episode 89 - I Believe My Mother Turne...
Behind the Scenes of the O.J. Simpson Trial: What Really Happened?
Episode 90 - Behind the Scenes of the...
Death by Salt: A Mom Accused
Episode 91 - Death by Salt: A Mom Accu...
Wife Gets 25 Years for Pushing Husband Out of High Rise Window
Episode 92 - Wife Gets 25 Years for Pu...
Newlywed Murder: The Bride Speaks Out Exclusively From Behind Bars
Episode 93 - Newlywed Murder: The Brid...
Addicted to Rock but Now at Rock Bottom
Episode 94 - Addicted to Rock but Now...
Fat Guy Bikes Cross Country: To Save His Life or to Scam America?
Episode 95 - Fat Guy Bikes Cross Count...
Neighbor Feud Erupts With Constant Calls to the Police, False Allegations, Trumped Up Charges and Threats of Violence
Episode 96 - Neighbor Feud Erupts With...
Virginia Tech Students Accused of Murdering 13-Year-Old Girl: The Victim’s Father Speaks Out
Episode 97 - Virginia Tech Students Ac...
I Believe My Granddaughter Was Illegally Adopted. We Want Her Back!
Episode 98 - I Believe My Granddaughte...
I Want to Confront the Woman Whom I Believe Illegally Adopted My Granddaughter!
Episode 99 - I Want to Confront the Wo...
Jodi Arias and the Murder of Travis Alexander: New Details From the Trial Revealed
Episode 100 - Jodi Arias and the Murder...
Amanda's Secret: Forbidden Love
Episode 101 - Amanda's Secret: Forbidde...
Amanda's Secret: Lie Detector Results Revealed
Episode 102 - Amanda's Secret: Lie Dete...
Young, Beautiful, Identical and Addicted
Episode 103 - Young, Beautiful, Identic...
Help Me, Dr. Phil: I Believe My Husband Is Poisoning My Food and Injecting Me With Needles!
Episode 104 - Help Me, Dr. Phil: I Beli...
Deadly Accident or Push? A Grieving Mom vs. The Girlfriend Accused
Episode 105 - Deadly Accident or Push?...
The Pastor, His Wife, the Call Girl & the Bounty Hunter
Episode 106 - The Pastor, His Wife, the...
Teacher Guilty of Sleeping With Student Is Now Suing Him!
Episode 107 - Teacher Guilty of Sleepin...
My Brother Thinks I'm Crazy, but I Swear He's the One Having Me Followed
Episode 108 - My Brother Thinks I'm Cra...