Gamblers Anonymous: The Leading US Trust Organization

What Is Gamblers Anonymous?

Gamblers Anonymous is universally recognized by its abbreviation: GA. It was founded on September 13, 1957, in Los Angeles, California.

It is a supportive community of recovering gamblers who share experiences and discuss challenges. The social group developed a voluntary, peer-led 12-step program to help people recover from pathological gambling. It fosters responsible gambling practices.

What Does Gamblers Anonymous Do?

At its core, this organization is a trustworthy, reliable, and supportive group of people who share the hope that they will be able to overcome their shared challenge.

It brings together people with common characteristics related to casino games and betting. These include constant thoughts about placing wagers, loss of control, the pursuit of winnings, lies and deception, anxiety, loss of anger control, and more.

Sufferers can become GA members and join regular meetings to discuss milestones and gain accountability. The fellowship promotes responsibility for one’s own behavior via its unique 12-step program. The fundamentals include acknowledging one’s problem, correcting mistakes, and following a path to recovery.

What Happens When You Call Gamblers Anonymous?

Gambling addiction can be stopped, and gamblers can recover if they try their best to follow a simple program. The first step is to ask for help with a simple phone call. This can be an entry point to a safe, non-judgmental support network.

Here’s what you can expect when you call Gamblers Anonymous:

• You will be connected to a trained volunteer or representative who listens confidentially to your gambling-related concerns.
• You will be guided to share a little about your situation if you feel comfortable. You can remain anonymous: disclose only your first name and when you last gambled.
• You can get urgent assistance, support, encouragement, options for ongoing help, the Life-Line Bulletin, and literature explaining the recovery steps and principles.
• You will be sent information about the GA program, will learn how meetings work, and will get help in finding local or virtual meetings to attend.

If a volunteer is not available, you may be invited to leave a message for a callback.

Note that there is no universal cure for a destructive passion for gambling, and GA never promises that it offers one. Overcoming gambling addiction involves psychotherapy, support from family and friends, stress control, and financial management. 

How Does Gamblers Anonymous Work? History and Mission

Now, let’s take a closer look at how this fellowship appeared. Its creation was inspired by the success of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The founders were convinced that the principles of mutual support and a structured program could be adapted to treat compulsive gambling. 

Since 1957, GA has grown into a global movement. Thousands of meetings by 1,000 GA groups are held weekly in all 50 states in the US. Multiple other groups around the world (Australia, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, etc.) help millions of people reclaim their lives.

Founders & Important People

The founder of GA was a man named Jim Willis. After finding sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous, he realized that the same patterns of addiction and principles of recovery could be applied to the gambling sphere. 

Gamblers Anonymous held its first group meeting following favorable publicity from Los Angeles Mirror newspaper columnist and TV commentator Paul Coates.

GA Initial Goals

Since its founding, the primary goal of Gamblers Anonymous has remained the same: to help gamblers stop gambling and share this message of recovery with others. The initial goal was simply to create a space where people could help each other. Firstly, they adapted AA’s Twelve Steps to create a program tailored for gambling disorders.

The Evolution of Gamblers Anonymous

As the community grew, this mission expanded. That’s why services and resources, including 20 Questions, Gam-Anon, and Life-Line Bulletin, appeared. Over several decades, GA has grown from a few scattered meetings into an international organization.

The development of the internet led to the creation of virtual Gamblers Anonymous meetings. This way, support was made available to people living in remote areas.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, most GA meetings moved to online platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeetings, and telephone conference calls. In-person gatherings at physical locations were temporarily suspended, but now they are back.

The Current Role

Today, Gamblers Anonymous plays a unique and important role in the broader ecosystem of support for people. While the ICRG (International Center for Responsible Gaming) focuses on scientific research, and others, such as 800gambler.org, work on educational campaigns and treatment, GA’s role is practical. It provides direct, free, and long-term peer support.

It now has groups throughout the US, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Uganda, South Korea, and many other countries.

The Specifics and Important Facts

The proposed model is highly accessible, as it is completely free of charge. You may sponsor the work of GA consultants only if you wish.

GA is built on the principle of anonymity that ensures participants share their stories in a safe and confidential environment, breaking down walls of shame and isolation. It promotes honesty and a strong sense of community among those who truly face the struggle.

GA does not engage in public policy debates, research, or prevention campaigns. Its sole focus is on the individual seeking help.

Gamblers Anonymous and organizations like GamCare and GambleAware serve similar purposes of supporting people affected by gambling harms, but the others provide education, research, treatment funding, and services primarily in the United Kingdom.

How Can It Help with Problematic Gambling: Key Activities

The essence of Gamblers Anonymous lies in its deep focus on the effective methods: a twelve-step recovery program implemented through regular meetings, a Unity Program, and Gam-Anon, a help center for friends and family.

GA operates on the belief that compulsive gamblers suffer from an illness that can be prevented through character-building principles. For example, at a meeting, you could learn about the concept of a “higher power,” which is integral but personalized. It helps members find inner strength and purpose beyond themselves.

Addiction Support at Meetings

GA’s primary activity is local meetings, which provide a physical or virtual space where recovery is possible. Here are some of the features:

• Members meet weekly to share their experiences.
• Meetings are either open, meaning anyone (including family) can attend, or closed, for compulsive gamblers only.
• Newcomers listen to others’ stories and discuss their issues, which helps identify their own patterns and find hope in the successes of others.
• Meetings are held in cities across the country, from Gamblers Anonymous Chicago to Gamblers Anonymous Houston.

The Core of the Program

Those who attend meetings can put the Twelve Steps into practice. This is GA’s recovery program, a course of action. The steps involve admitting powerlessness over gambling, seeking help from a Higher Power, creating a moral inventory, and making amends for past mistakes. 

Here’s the full list of steps:

A Unity Program

Another excellent development of GA is a framework designed to maintain the cohesion and effectiveness of individual groups and the fellowship as a whole. It is called the Unity Program, and it emphasizes group unity as essential for personal recovery.

Here are twelve more principles they uphold:

Gamblers Anonymous Hotlines

The Gamblers Anonymous helpline is the first point of contact for anyone in crisis. You are free to speak with a volunteer, a recovering member of the fellowship who can offer support, listen without judgment, and provide information on meetings. The main contact number for Gamblers Anonymous International Service Office is +1-909-931-9056. When calling GA in the US, be sure to use the Gamblers Anonymous contact number for your region.

Resources and Services

What does Gamblers Anonymous do (and what doesn’t it do)? As it is a self-supporting organization, its resources are focused on promoting the peer-led recovery model. It provides a community, offers meetings, and emphasizes personal responsibility for behavior.

GA does not:

• Charge fees or dues.
• Offer financial, legal, or professional counseling services.
• Provide clinical therapy, medical treatment, or rehabilitation.
• Devalue your feelings or emotions.
• Solicit members; instead, people seek it out voluntarily.
• Guarantee success; some individuals may need additional help alongside GA.

Once you know this, it’ll be easier to figure out what to expect from this organization aside from the Twelve Steps. Let’s break down the resources it provides as clearly as possible.

Online Tools

The official Gamblers Anonymous website is the main resource. It lists important contact details and describes each GA program in detail. But that’s not all.

There’s a self-assessment tool titled “Are You a Compulsive Gambler?” with 20 questions about your behavior. Answering “yes” to seven or more of them is a strong indicator of a gambling problem. Here are some of them:

The website also provides a Gamblers Anonymous Virtual Meetings Finder. This is an easy-to-use tool to locate in-person and online meetings anywhere. Whether you’re looking for Gamblers Anonymous Phoenix, Arizona, or Gamblers Anonymous Washington State, the directory “Find a Meeting” can guide you.

Gamblers Anonymous Literature

The primary resource is the Gamblers Anonymous Combo Book, which includes the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions that guide the fellowship. Motivational stories from members are also featured.

Additionally, the organization provides the 20 Questions Booklet, the Questions and Answers About Gambling Booklet, the G.A. Suggestions for Coping with Urges to Gamble, and other books.

Digital versions of pamphlets and the GA Combo Book are available for free online with no restrictions.

All of this is necessary to inform people. The organization strives to explain that you should play for fun and stop in time. A large number of casinos and iGaming companies share this opinion. They provide tools and data to improve the gaming experience. For example, at Jackpot Sounds, we never encourage you to risk more than you are prepared to lose.

Special Materials: Life-Line Bulletin Newsletters

This is a monthly newsletter for and about Gamblers Anonymous members. It provides a chance for users to share their experiences with each other in the “Group News” section.

Local Gamblers Anonymous Groups and Meetings

GA is decentralized. This is a huge benefit: support is almost always nearby. Each group is autonomous and serves its local community’s needs. From Gamblers Anonymous Las Vegas, Nevada, to Gamblers Anonymous San Diego, California, the format is consistent.

Please note: the table is here for illustrative purposes only; there are thousands of meetings, and their locations and times are subject to change. We cannot name all the events, but there are many others, such as Gamblers Anonymous Nashville, Gamblers Anonymous Sacramento, or Gamblers Anonymous Milwaukee. Check the official website for updates.

What to Expect at Your First Meeting?

Newcomers are often nervous about their first meeting. You can expect to be greeted with warmth and understanding. What’s more, you can simply listen without any pressure to speak and see living proof that a life free from gambling is possible.

If you are too shy to attend virtual meetings, the Gamblers Anonymous hotline is always at your service. So, who do you call for Gamblers Anonymous? You can reach out using the hotline at +1-909-931-9056 for support and information.

Who Benefits from This Organization?

Players with ludomania, people exhibiting signs of addiction, and their relatives and partners can all benefit. Just like GamTalk, GA is ready to help anyone with a desire to stop gambling. It’s the only requirement. There are no age or regional restrictions.

Is Gamblers Anonymous Effective?

The Gamblers Anonymous success rate is around 70% abstinence for members who attended GA meetings consistently for a year, as mentioned in the study published in the Journal of Gambling Studies.

The Gamblers Anonymous organization itself is convinced that the best recommendation for the program is that “it works”, as attested to by thousands of people in recovery.

According to the independent research “Dropouts and Continuers in Gamblers Anonymous”, GA is effective in preventing “relapses” (inability to remain abstinent from gambling), but not as good when helping deal with the consequences. GA may not be as helpful for those who have not had significant gambling issues (years of gambling, large debts, or serious family conflicts).

Useful Links and Contacts

Reaching out is the first and hardest step. We hope this useful and structured table with contacts and links makes it easier. If you need immediate, responsive support, take advantage of GA’s offer.

Additionally, there are online community groups such as the Gamblers Anonymous Support Group on Facebook.

Why Can’t a Compulsive Gambler Just Use Willpower?

Willpower alone is sometimes not enough to combat the mental blank spots and trivial reasons that can trigger a bet. This is why the spiritual principles of the program exist. The fellowship is sure that it is important to seek help to keep your gambling habits in check, as a compulsive gambler cannot safely gamble again.

GA offers a new way of life in which each day is lived separately. It does not promise a cure, but it provides tools for building a future based on honesty, responsibility, and peace of mind.

If you are ready to admit that you are in the grip of a progressive illness and want to recover, Gamblers Anonymous can help. We urge you to visit the official website, find a meeting, and just listen. Pick up the phone and dial the Gamblers Anonymous number. It is a confidential call that costs you nothing but could restore your life.