You might be right Johnnyt. Later in life he might agree with his wife and regret the missed time with his family. I know too well.
The definition of addiction is when you continue to do something even though it adversely affects other aspects of your life that you care about. Losing or making money at pool isn't the issue it just turns the addiction uglier.
if you described your situation accurately, then no, I don't believe that you have a Gambling Problem.
Your wife is just doing the natural Women thing. Women get like that as they get older.
She is feeling left out regardless of you offering to take her with you, which is very considerate.
She is intruding in on your fun and she needs to be the center. So she just made something up to make you feel guilty.
As much as it may hurt you to do this, the next time you are scheduled for a Tourney, say to her, ya know, I don't feel like playing pool tonight, how about you pick a place that you would like to eat and then pick a movie and we will go.
Do that on occasion and I think that you will see a different Women in your life.
See, thats why I take my wife fishing. She loves it and I make her feel like she is my Best Buddy. I make her feel that being the First Mate on the boat is an important job and I couldn't put the boat in the water or take it out without her help.
I come home from playing a few sets ysterday with a extra $120 in my pocket. My wife proceeds to tell me I have a gambling problem. I rarely shoot a game without something on the line. But I never play for big money. I have never taken money out of the bank to gamble with. I try to win enough gambling cheap sets to keep my self in enough gambling money and tournament entry fees. I play 2 to 3 tourneys a month, gamble 2 to 3 days a week, and have not gotten a dollar out of the atm for a tournament entry fee since November. I never have a large bank roll $200 to $300 but it keeps me going. Wouldn't you think she'd be happy about that? My rant for the day.
What do you consider having a gambling problem?
If you have wagered more than 1% of you monthly income in a single day over the last year, you have a gambling problem; in my opinion.
Lastly, is there a difference between playing for money and gambling?