The name is Gambit. Remember it.

When Nate and I started Gambit Recovery, we weren’t interested in doing the same thing everyone else was doing. From day one, the plan was to be different. Not just for the sake of being different, but because we knew what we were creating was going to stand out. It had to. Affordable sober living was not available, and people’s lives were on the line. To us, there’s no room for cookie-cutter anything when it comes to recovery.

We also weren’t coming into this as “Recovery industry professionals”. Nate and I are products of the recovery system ourselves. We lived in those homes. We went to those rehabs. We know what it feels like when you walk into a place that’s more focused on branding than on people.

That mindset even came down to the name.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the same type of cliché names slapped onto recovery programs and sober living homes: the same words about redemption, mountains, peaks, horizons, oases, or “turning points.” They’re fine words on their own, but they never spoke to me. They felt like filler text. You could swap them out and put them on a yoga studio, a bottled water brand, or a retirement community, and it would feel the same. Nothing about them felt personal, authentic, or true to what Nate and I were building. Want more proof? Go search “Drug rehabs near me” and just scroll through the names— you’ll get a better idea about the bubble this industry lives in when it comes to naming facilities.

When we landed on Gambit Recovery, it was different. The second I said it out loud, I knew. It had weight. It had meaning. And it told a story that mattered to me. We had the name Gambit Recovery before we even had a set plan.

The Definition

In chess, a gambit is the first move. It’s not just any move—it’s an opening action that involves risk. You sacrifice something small at the start to gain an advantage later. That concept hit me hard, because that’s exactly what recovery is.

Deciding to get sober is a gambit. It’s risky. It’s uncomfortable. You don’t know how it’s going to play out, and you’re giving up something that has defined your life, even if it was killing you. But you make the move anyway, because the potential advantage—the chance at a real life—is worth everything. That’s what our structured sober living homes are built around: turning that first risky move into a foundation for long-term recovery.

That definition captured the essence of what we were creating. Gambit Recovery isn’t just a name—it’s a call to action. It’s the reminder that even if the first step feels terrifying, it’s worth it. And it’s why we’ve built sober living homes across the country—sober living in Arizona, sober living in California, sober living in Washington, and sober living in Missouri—so no matter where someone begins their journey, they have a chance to make their move. Every person who walks through our doors is making a gambit of their own: sacrificing the old life for the chance at something greater.

The Character

The other side of the name comes from my childhood. Growing up, my favorite comic book character wasn’t the obvious choice. It wasn’t the strongest guy, or the leader, or the invincible one. It was Gambit.

Remy LeBeau wasn’t perfect. He was raised in the Thieves’ Guild, pulled into a life that set him apart, always carrying the shadow of his past. Even when he joined the X-Men, he never quite shook it. He wasn’t the one making speeches about leadership or standing in the spotlight. He was the guy with charm, with humor, but underneath it all—pain. Loneliness. Regret.

That hit home for me in ways I couldn’t even explain as a kid. Because here was a character who wasn’t defined by being flawless—he was defined by surviving his flaws. He carried his mistakes, his guilt, and still showed up to fight alongside the people who needed him. He stayed humble because he never forgot where he came from.

When I think about recovery, that’s it right there. None of us erase our past. We don’t get to scrub it away. We carry it—but we carry it differently. We learn to use it as fuel. We learn humility, we learn compassion, and we learn how to keep showing up. That’s why Gambit meant something to me then, and why it means even more to me now.

That’s also why our homes focus on more than just abstinence. They’re built for transitional living for recovery—for men and women learning to build structure, accountability, and connection in a safe space. To me, that’s what real ethical sober living homes should be: honest, humble, and centered on people, not profit.

Why It Matters

Gambit Recovery is more than just a name we slapped on a sign. It’s layered. It’s personal. It’s intentional. It’s a definition that perfectly describes the first step in sobriety, and it’s a nod to a character who taught me that your past doesn’t disqualify you—it shapes you.

When I told Nate the name, he didn’t hesitate. He got it. He knew right away this wasn’t just about branding. It was about identity. It was about planting a flag and saying, “We’re not like everyone else, and we don’t want to be.”

We built Gambit Recovery knowing we would stand out, because standing out is the only way forward. This isn’t a mountain peak, a horizon, or an oasis. This is something deeper: recovery housing with accountability, recovery homes with structure, and a supportive sober community that believes in change.

This is affordable sober living with purpose, where non-clinical peer support in recovery makes just as much difference as the roof over your head. This is men’s and women’s sober living homes that focus on growth, not just survival.

This is Gambit Recovery.

And just like Remy LeBeau said, “The name’s Gambit, mon ami. Remember it.”

Ready to Make Your Move?

Taking the first step into sobriety is your gambit—the bold action that changes everything. If you’re ready to take that step, we’re ready to walk with you.

Explore our women’s sober living in Arizona

View our mens sober homes in Arizona, California, Washington, and Missouri.

Learn more about our mission and community on our Press & Media page.

Don’t wait for the “right” moment. Make your move today. Contact us to find the support, structure, and community you need to change your life.