Wife Has Gambling Problem

The first thing you need to do, then, is take an honest look at yourself. Make sure that you’re not being fooled. A gambler’s spouse can sometimes remain in a state of denial for years until some dramatic event suddenly jerks her back to reality. You don’t want to let things slip that far. Talk to them about their problem. If you want to help a compulsive gambler, you may need to discuss the problem. This may be when you start to see a pattern of behavior leading to compulsive gambling or after the person has gotten into trouble due to their gambling. The first step was to convince her that there was a gambling problem. Since the relationship was strong, we used a cooperative approach. One goal was to set financial boundaries and make it obvious when those boundaries were threatened. For that, he needed to be aware of her gambling and be able to discuss her financial breaches without accusing her.

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Chef David Chang knows food and trivia.

The host of Netflix's 'Ugly Delicious' and Momofuku founder became the first celebrity to win the grand prize for charity on ABC's 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' on Sunday.

The Majordomo restaurateur defiantly gambled the $500,000 he earned for a chance at the elusive million-dollar prize, clinching the largesse for the first time in the show's 20-year history. He did it to spotlight the struggling restaurant industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chang was competing for the Houston-based nonprofit Southern Smoke Foundation, which benefits the hospitality industry.

As the game show's iconic heartbeat music played, Chang mulled over the million-dollar question with host Jimmy Kimmel, who like his predecessor, Regis Philbin, did little to elicit confidence in the contestant sitting in the hot seat. Then Chang let his 'stupid confidence bravado win out.'

The question: 'Although he and his wife never touched a light switch for fear of being shocked, who was the first president to have electricity in the White House?'

Chang was unsure and phoned a friend — NFL analyst and trivia buff Mina Kimes — for help. Kimes wasn't all that confident either but was able to narrow down the multiple-choice field and said, 'it's probably [Benjamin] Harrison' before their 30-second phone call abruptly ended.

Still uneasy, Chang put his faith in Kimes' suggestion, joking that he himself wasn't even sure Harrison was a U.S. president, so he became a chef because he was a terrible student in school.

'I'm a gambling man — and shame on me if this is wrong —but I'm doing this. Because having a million dollars in this moment is a game-changer for many, many families,' Chang rationalized. '... it means more to me to get this right to put a spotlight on an industry in need.'

If he got it wrong, his half-million-dollar prize would have dwindled to $32,000.

But Chang got it right and made history on the show.

'When I got to the last question, I was so full of adrenaline I just decided to go for it,' Chang told USA Today.

The chef celebrated his win on Twitter, noting that his 'gambling problem finally pays off.' He also praised his teammates Kimes and filmmaker Alan Yang (his expert guest) as the episode's MVPs.

My gambling problem finally pays off...

$1 million for hospitality workers in need via @SouthernSmokeTX 💥 https://t.co/Q6ZL4w6XiD

Wife Has Gambling Problem

'I hope restaurants all across America give super soigne status to @minakimes . She’s no longer excommunicado,' Chang tweeted, thanking her and Yang 'for being so much smarter then me!!! Always good to have friends that did well in school!!'

Yang, who directed 'Tigertail' and co-created Netflix's 'Master of None,' joked that he 'always wanted to hold a giant check on television' and celebrated their 'Asian trivia dream team.'

Always wanted to hold a giant check on television. Thanks @millionairetv! Asian trivia dream team ftw 🇰🇷🇹🇼 @davidchang@minakimespic.twitter.com/s1HBrNAZZQ

Chang said he climbed into the hot seat after being a fan of the show for years. He prepared by playing through Kimmel's first season hosting the show and by practicing with the quiz show's app.

But his reasons for competing went beyond fun and games. On Twitter, he made a dig at the U.S. government's response to the pandemic, namely the little aid he says it has given to the embattled restaurant industry.

'Since the government won’t help out restaurant workers...we have to do what we can to help out,' he wrote.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Obviously, not everyone who gambles has a problem. Many people enjoy gambling as a social activity without it threatening their financial security or family relationships. Nonetheless, gambling can lead to addiction and serious consequences for those who can’t control the impulse. With as many as 3-5 out of every 100 gamblers, and as many as 750,000 young people ages 14-21 having a gambling addition, gambling can be compared to handling fire — it can either be used to your advantage, or seriously hurt you.

How can you tell when someone you love is developing a gambling problem? At what point does it become an addiction? These are questions you may be afraid to contemplate, but recognizing and admitting are the first steps to helping your spouse overcome a gambling problem and avoid further devastating consequences.

A Gambling Problem: Recognizing the Signs

A gambling problem is defined as behavior that disrupts life, even if it’s not out of control. The reasons for excessive gambling vary, but many people use it to alleviate stress or feelings of incompetency. The following signs may indicate your spouse has a gambling problem:

Wife Has A Gambling Problem

• Increasing preoccupation with gambling that consumes excessive time and money
• Feeling the need to try to recap losses instead of calling it quits
• Gambling that has a negative effect on mood, behavior, relationships, and financial stability

Basically, there may have a problem if you’re worried about your spouse’s behavior. Once recognized, it’s important to calmly confront your spouse and discuss how to handle it together. Extreme responses of ignoring/passively enabling the problem, or issuing ultimatums are not effective because they will allow it to escalate. The confrontations can also make your spouse feel attacked and defensive, which could lead to covert gambling.

Ideally, gambling problems can be resolved without outside help. It’s important to pinpoint your spouse’s reasons for gambling and create a game plan for addressing their underlying motivations and trigger points.

The Defining Line of Addiction: Loss of Control

There is a fine but distinct line between a gambling problem and a gambling addiction, but it can be summed up in this phrase: loss of control. Someone with a gambling problem may be on the path to an addiction, but they are still able to maintain some sense of control. In the case of an addition, the impulse to gamble calls the shots. Here are the major signs.

• Obsession with gambling. Gambling becomes so important and all-consuming that it takes priority over financial stability, relationships, and physical well-being.
• Inability to stop. As with other addictions, your spouse may recognize they have a problem and even try to rein it in, but are unable to control it on their own.
• Psychological withdrawal. When addicts aren’t able to gamble, they’re likely to become restless, irritable, and otherwise disturbed.
• Secretive, dishonest, or illegal behavior. As a gambling addict’s finances get worse, they may resort to desperate measures to continue their behavior without detection or immediate consequences.
• Denial. Addicts often have difficulty admitting they have a serious problem. The illusion of control is what continues to twist their minds into rationalizing their behavior.

Your spouse might have a diagnosable compulsive gambling disorder if these signs describe him or her, and it may be time to seek outside help through group therapy sessions or individual counseling. Gambling can be a fun pastime, or it can be a serious problem too. It’s important to recognize the difference between a hobby, a problem, and an addition, and respond in a way that protects your relational and financial health.

I Think My Wife Has A Gambling Problem

Wife Has Gambling Problem And Needs Money