Gam-anon.org — Top Facts About the Organization in 2026

With over 500 in-person groups across the United States, Canada and beyond, and additional virtual meeting options, Gam-Anon reaches a substantial audience through awareness campaigns and essential educational resources for recovery and responsible gambling advocacy. 

It encourages acceptance and understanding, helping those affected to rebuild their lives through tools such as the 12-step program and specialized recovery aids.

Gam-Anon tackles the urgent issues linked to problem gambling, such as addiction, financial pressure, and emotional turmoil. It acknowledges the necessity for tailored services that assist individuals and families impacted by gambling addiction. It emphasizes the critical role of intervention and education in addressing this pervasive problem.

By encouraging responsible gaming behaviors and assisting those in need, Gam-Anon, along with other organizations such as 800gambler.org or GamTalk, strives to lessen the adverse effects of problem gambling on individuals and communities while nurturing a culture of responsible gaming throughout the United States. Bodies like GamCare extend this support and guidance to the victims of compulsive gambling addiction across the United Kingdom, too.

Understanding Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon.org primarily aims to foster positive results. This includes boosting awareness of responsible gambling, encouraging early intervention to prevent gambling addiction, and a 12-step self-help program to support affected individuals and their families. 

The organization acknowledges the need for specialized services. It emphasizes the critical role of intervention and education in addressing this prevalent issue.

Background

Ruth Sachar, with her husband Irving Sachar, founded the organization in New York City. Since its inception, Gam-Anon has been dedicated to assisting those affected by someone else’s compulsive gambling problem. The groups have flourished worldwide to offer support and resources to battle the issue.

Mission and Key Achievements

The primary mission of Gam-Anon is fourfold:

1. To welcome and assist those affected by a loved one’s gambling problem.
2. To communicate understanding of compulsive gambling and its effects.
3. To share experiences, strength, and hope in coping with gambling problems.
4. To apply the Steps and Tools of the Gam-Anon program for spiritual and emotional growth.

Notable achievements of Gam-Anon include establishing a supportive community for spouses, partners, and family and friends of compulsive gamblers, modeled after Al-Anon/Alateen. 

Maintaining anonymity is crucial in Gam-Anon meetings. It provides a safe environment for members to share openly without fear of judgment. This allows individuals to protect their privacy while benefiting from the program’s support.

Partnerships, Endorsements, and Accreditations

Gam-Anon has garnered credibility through partnerships with various entities involved in addressing gambling addiction. It collaborates with health professionals and other 12-step programs to provide exclusive support for spouses, family members, and friends of compulsive gamblers. 

Additionally, its affiliation with Gamblers Anonymous underscores its commitment to offering comprehensive assistance to individuals affected by problem gambling.

It offers a range of literature alongside Gam-Anon virtual meetings and support systems. It thus continues to make a significant impact in promoting responsible gambling practices and providing much-needed help to those navigating the associated challenges.

How Gam-Anon’s Twelve Steps Guide Leads to Healing & Recovery

To support individuals affected by problem gambling, Gam-Anon offers a comprehensive Twelve-Step program that serves as a pathway to serenity and peace of mind. 

Like the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), which is dedicated to researching and supporting individuals and families impacted by gambling disorders while also working to prevent gambling problems, the Gam-Anon program focuses on personal reflection, spiritual growth, and fostering meaningful connections through mutual support.

Step 1: Admission of Powerlessness

• Personal Empowerment: Acknowledging powerlessness over another’s addiction can lead to newfound strength and liberation.
• Escaping the Cycle: Individuals can find true personal power by relinquishing the irrational belief that they can control compulsive gamblers.

Step 2: Belief in Restoration

• Finding a Higher Power: While not inherently spiritual, members can discover a higher power within the support and guidance of the Gam-Anon community.
• Hopeful Transition: Embracing a power greater than oneself instills hope for personal improvement and a new way of living.

Step 3: Surrendering to Higher Guidance

• Letting Go of Control: Faith in a higher power can lead to the release of anxieties and the end of futile attempts at manipulation.
• Faith and Understanding: Questions arising from the decision to turn one’s will over to this power may foster self-care and self-reflection.

Step 4: Introspective Moral Inventory

• Clarity and Self-Recognition: The fourth step marks the initiation of internal exploration and acknowledgment of positive and negative qualities.
• Boost to Confidence: Recognizing personal virtues provides a much-needed confidence boost.

Step 5: Transparent Admission

• Embracing Vulnerability: Opening up allows individuals to be heard, bringing solace through processing inner thoughts.
• Unveiling Self-Discovery: Even an unexpected comment during a meeting can facilitate inner revelation and self-awareness.

Step 6: Willingness to Change

• Reflection and Willingness: Noticing personal flaws can lead to introspection regarding the potential to live without these shortcomings.
• Accepting Personal Growth: Members can embrace the challenge of shedding these unhealthy traits and acknowledge their capability for self-improvement.

Step 7: Humble Reverence for Change

• Unexpected Transformation: Despite initial elusiveness, release from an afflictive thought can lead to a miraculous transformation.
• Acknowledging Human Limitations: Step seven reminds us that we need not navigate the journey alone, highlighting the significance of seeking support.

Step 8: Acknowledgment of Harm

• Self-Reflection and Accountability: Recognizing the harm caused by personal choices and the subsequent journey toward self-forgiveness is arduous yet essential.
• Risk and Serenity: The willingness to make amends is a crucial step toward personal peace and reconciliation.

Step 9: Making Amends

• Sincere Resolution: Despite uncertainties, making amends with absolute sincerity is a rewarding and cathartic experience.
• Cleansing Confessions: Admitting fault to loved ones, marked by tears and embraces, can give rise to a profoundly purifying experience.

Step 10: Ongoing Self-Reflection

• Awareness and Accountability: Strategies are implemented to prevent the reemergence of negative traits. This also ensures the quick acknowledgment of mistakes.
• Simplified Problem-Solving: An organized method of Awareness, Assessment, and Action facilitates an easy resolution of personal challenges.

Step 11: Seeking Spiritual Growth

• Unveiling Spirituality: Early misunderstandings regarding spirituality fade away, revealing a profound personal connection with a higher power.
• Gratitude for Revelation: Step eleven facilitates the emergence of an authentic spiritual self and evokes deep gratitude.

Step 12: Sharing the Gift of Recovery

• Personal Revelation: The progression of the Twelve Steps culminates in a newfound appreciation for aspects of serenity and spirituality.
• Commitment to Support: The duty to share the acquired gift with others within the community is embraced, affirming the transformative impact of the Steps.

In essence, the Twelve Steps of Recovery in Gam-Anon are characterized by:

• Self-discovery
• Humility
• Spiritual development
• Commitment to translating personal growth into offering support
• Guidance to others within the community

The Gam-Anon 12-step program creates a supportive environment that promotes healing, empowerment, and a deeper understanding of oneself and connection to others.

Programs & Support Resources Provided by Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon provides a range of services and resources to support individuals affected by problem gambling and help them navigate the challenges associated with a loved one’s addiction. 

Meetings

Gam-Anon meetings are held for those affected by someone else’s gambling issues, offering support and empathy. These gatherings cultivate a secure environment for sharing experiences, strength, and hope. In-person meetings across the US and Canada are organized by the respective state or province. Gam-Anon Zoom meetings are listed in the Gam-Anon Virtual Meetings Directory, while international meetings appear in the International Meeting Directory.

Individuals who have been affected by someone with a gambling problem, including spouses, parents, relatives, children, friends, and colleagues, are welcome to attend. The only requirement is being personally affected by someone else’s gambling addiction. 

How to Use the Meeting Directory

The Gam-Anon Meeting Directory allows you to easily find and sort meetings based on various criteria. Each directory page lists meetings by location or type, such as in-person, virtual, or international.

1. Click a meeting’s title to view detailed information.
2. “Combined Gam-Anon/GA” meetings include members from both Gam-Anon and Gamblers Anonymous.
3. “Hybrid” meetings allow members to attend either in person or virtually.

This directory ensures you can select a meeting that suits your needs and preferences.

Gam-Anon Literature

Gam-Anon literature includes a diverse selection of books, pamphlets, and informational sheets focusing on the Twelve Steps of Recovery, personal development, and life reflections. 

Available in both print and e-book formats, these materials include The Gam-Anon Way of Life, Living with the Compulsive Gambler, Fourth Step Inventory, Insights Into Recovery, Games Compulsive Gamblers and We Play, among others. These materials provide strength, inspiration, and insights from the Gam-Anon experience for those seeking support. The Gam-Anon literature is also available in French and Spanish.

Sponsorship 

Participants in the program who are ready to share their experiences, strengths, and hopes with newcomers act as sponsors. They maintain regular communication with newcomers between meetings, providing support and guidance during their recovery journey. 

Pressure Relief Meeting and Budget Meeting

Gam-Anon provides Pressure Relief Meetings designed to help individuals deal with the debt and financial pressures caused by gambling addiction. These sessions focus on creating budgets that emphasize debt repayment while maintaining a sustainable financial plan.

If compulsive gamblers do not attend GA or decline a Pressure Relief Meeting with Gam-Anon, they can still attend sessions to address their financial concerns. Budget meetings, following GA guidelines (excluding gambling debt repayment), offer practical help. This empowers members to manage personal finances, even when their actions remain uncontrolled.

Engagement and Outreach by Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon actively interacts with the community to encourage responsible gambling and assist those impacted by problem gambling. Below are several key methods it uses for outreach and engagement:

Public Outreach Committee

Gam-Anon features a committed Public Outreach Committee that works alongside the International Service Office (ISO) and its members to promote public service announcements, engage in public speaking events, and support various outreach initiatives. 

This committee is crucial in raising awareness about problem gambling and the resources available through Gam-Anon.

The Gam-Anon School Kit

The Gam-Anon School Kit is an extensive collection of educational resources aimed at increasing awareness and offering support to both students and educators affected by problem gambling in their school environment.

Components of the Kit include:

1. Informational Brochures: These offer valuable information about problem gambling, its effects on individuals and families, and means for seeking help.
2. Educational Presentations: The Kit contains ready-made presentations for educators to use in the classroom. This aims to increase understanding of problem gambling and its consequences among students.
3. Discussion Guides: These guides facilitate open conversations about gambling-related challenges. They help educators lead meaningful discussions with students in a safe and supportive environment.
4. Support Resources
5. Awareness Posters
6. Educational Activities

Overall, the Kit is a valuable resource designed to empower educators (school administrators, support teams, and classroom teachers) and students (as well as their parents) with the knowledge and support necessary to address and mitigate the impact of problem gambling within the school community. This approach is also endorsed by GambleAware.

The Gam-Anon Public Relations Kit

The Gam-Anon Public Relations Kit is a comprehensive resource for community groups, schools, healthcare providers, media, and service agencies. It explains compulsive gambling, Gam-Anon’s mission, and provides handouts, Q&As, flyers, and meeting information. All materials can be freely reproduced for newsletters, presentations, or websites. This facilitates greater awareness and outreach.

Workshops, Meetings, and Virtual Meetings

Gam-Anon conducts workshops, meetings, and conferences to:

• educate individuals about responsible gambling practices, 
• provide support for those affected by problem gambling, and 
• offer guidance on managing financial pressures related to gambling addiction. 

These events serve as valuable platforms for outreach and engagement within the community.

Accessing Gam-Anon Services

To access the services offered by the Gam-Anon hotline for support with gambling-related issues, follow these clear instructions for contact information:

Steps to Access Services

1. If you prefer contacting the organization by phone, dial +1-718-352-1671 for immediate assistance or guidance.
2. For written inquiries, you can email your questions or requests to [email protected]. 
3. Visit the website at Gam-Anon.org to explore the available literature. Find meeting directories or access other resources provided by the organization.
4. If you are seeking support for yourself or a loved one affected by gambling problems, consider reaching out through the contact methods provided above for confidential assistance and valuable resources.

Testimonials and Success Stories from Gam-Anon

Gam-Anon has made a significant impact on individuals and communities affected by problem gambling, as evidenced by various testimonials and success stories:

Jane’s Story

Jane from NYC shared her unique story. It highlights her diverse experiences within the program. 

Although many individuals attribute their life-changing experiences to Gam-Anon, Jane’s insight provides a more complex perspective on the support and solutions available during meetings.

Fred, Bayu, Jan, Mario, Lynda, and Others

A variety of individuals, including Fred, Bayu, Jan, Mario, and Lynda, have recounted their personal journeys of overcoming gambling addiction. These narratives highlight the significance of discussing the harms of gambling, pursuing support, and implementing positive changes in life with the assistance of the organization.