What would happen if a loser of a dad threw his house and two kids into a poker pot and lost? I'm assuming the kids would be taken away to foster care, but what would happen to the dad? I'd like him to go to jail for a long time. (There is no mom).
What time period and country are we talking about?
And I'll have the guy who "wins" the kids report it so the father will be investigated.
In that case, I'd be wondering why the guy accepted the bet to begin with.
Mayor of Casterbridge did it, or similar.