[burgi]

I totally know what you are talking about!!! I basically experienced the same thing. Gambling like a maniac in everything there was, just throwing money out the window. And not just a little bit, but a lot.
Then, I also came to the conclusion by myself that I have a problem and avoided gambling for probably like 2 years. Now, about 2 months ago, started playing poker, but actually studying the game. I'm not an awefully successful player, but in the last 2 months, I have won more than I have lost, so I think that I'm doing ok (playing 50NL on party).
I don't think that redirecting your gambling impulses to poker is necessarily a bad thing, if, and only if, you don't start going on tilt and start playing stupid. But, if you financed a house with poker, you must be winning, and can't really be taking too many -EV gambles.
So, I think that you are doing just fine releasing your gambling impulses to poker.