“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house”

A jocular one-line saying about gambling is:
 
“Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house!”
 
The saying was cited in the Chicago (IL) Tribune in July 1972 and is of unknown authorship.
 
“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house” has been credited to British comedian Tommy Cooper (1921-1984), but it’s uncertain if he said it as early as 1972.
 
   
19 July 1972, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Tower Ticker” by Bob Wiedrich, sec. 1, pg. 14, col. 1:
Overheard at the Magic Pan Creperie: “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house!”
 
26 July 1972, Akron (OH) Beacon Journal, “Town Crier” by Kenneth Nichols, pg. D19, col. 1:
FROM THE NEXT table at the Bread ‘n’ Thread: “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house.”
 
25 August 1972, The News and Courier (Charleston, SC), “Doing the Charleston” by Ashley Cooper, pg. 1-B, col. 1:
Kenneth Nichols reports, “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house.”
     
Exeter (UK) Express and Echo
Top 26 funniest jokes of all time: from Tommy Cooper to Tim Vine
By Exeter Express and Echo Exeter Express and Echo |  Thu 05 Mar 2015
(...)
21. Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house.
 
The Telegraph (UK)
03 Jun 2016
Tommy Cooper: his 25 funniest jokes
(...)
“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house. “
 
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6:54 AM - 14 Dec 2016