Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a twelve-step program for people that have a gambling problem. It began in Los Angeles on September 13, 1957. As of 2005 there were over 1000 GA meetings in the United States and meetings established in the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Kenya, Uganda, Korea and Japan. The only requirement for GA membership is a desire to stop gambling. Aside from financial insecurity, problem gambling has been shown to cause dysfunctional families, legal problems, employment difficulties, psychological distress and higher rates of suicide and attempted suicide. Less than 10% of those with gambling problems seek treatment for the syndrome. Family members and loved ones of compulsive gamblers attend Gam-Anon, another 12 step, self-help program founded in 1958. There are meetings all over the world. In Gam-Anon members learn to understand the compulsive gambling problem and its impact on their lives, and learn how to give emotional support to the compulsive gambler while not enabling the gambler in his/her illness. GA and Gam-Anon cooperate with each other in their efforts to help the compulsive gambler and loved ones. Children of loved ones can attend Gam-A-Teen, part of the Gam-Anon program. The Gam-Anon website is www.gam-anon.org. The Gamblers Anonymous (GA) website is www.gamblersanonymous.org.