Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a Twelve-Step program designed to help problem gamblers recover from their addiction to gambling. GA has no affiliation to religious organizations, political parties, or special interest groups. The guiding principles are very similar to those of other Twelve-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. GA welcomes people with any type of gambling problem to its meetings. As outlined in their Unity Program, the only requirement for membership is an honest desire to stop gambling. Gamblers Anonymous describes a compulsive gambler as someone whose gambling has caused growing and continuing problems in any area of his or her life, including, but not limited to financial, relational, legal, and vocational. G A has adapted the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous to gambling.

The first GA meeting was held in 1957 in Los Angeles, California. Since then, Gamblers Anonymous has grown into a fellowship that hosts more than 1,000 weekly meetings across the United States and currently has chapters in more than 30 countries throughout the world.

Most GA meetings take place in community centers, churches, and schools and are scheduled throughout the week during the day and evening hours to accommodate different schedules. Most new members of Gamblers Anonymous arrive after suffering a major setback in their personal lives, including divorce, job loss, bankruptcy, or other legal problems. The majority of GA members tend to be males in their 30s and 40s, with many years of gambling problems, large debt, and serious family conflicts.

Upon arriving at a meeting for the first time, new members are given a self-assessment questionnaire titled "The 20 Questions." This "yes or no" questionnaire is designed to help the person determine whether he or she is a compulsive gambler. Per GA guidelines, most compulsive gamblers will answer "yes" to at least 7 of the 20 questions.

Gamblers Anonymous, as the name implies, provides their members with as much anonymity as they desire. GA contends that this anonymity has great value in attracting new members who feel there is a stigma attached to their gambling problem. They also credit anonymity with the lack of power struggles within the fellowship and with reminding members that they must always place principles above personalities.

GA programs are supported through monetary contributions from their members; to prevent external influences on the Fellowship, they do not accept outside financial assistance or contributions. Although there are no membership fees required to join or be part Gamblers Anonymous, members are encouraged to accept financial responsibility for the expenses related to the meetings and service facilities.

GA does not have a formal hierarchy. Although there are service boards that determine different assignments with the programs, these boards have no formal authority, voting, or veto power and are directly responsible to the entire membership.

Gamblers Anonymous is a nonprofessional entity, and all meetings are led by recovering gamblers. GA does not discourage their members from seeking outside help for their addiction, but they believe that having professional therapists or counselors within their fellowship would interfere with their core principles.

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