Is your gambling a problem?

Compulsive Gambling also known as "problem gambling" and "pathological gambling" is an illness, progressive in its nature, which can never be cured, but can be arrested. Compulsive gambling is the uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on your life and those around you. 

Compulsive Gamblers generally report:  

• Having a preoccupation with gambling, thinking about gambling all the time. 
• Over time, feeling the need to bet more and more often. 
• Desperately trying to win money back, "chasing loses".
• Being powerless over gambling, can't control themselves once they start or not being able to stop after a win but instead continuing to gamble until nothing is left. 
• In some cases, compulsive gambling can lead to bankruptcy, legal problems, loss of jobs, fractured families and relationships, and in more serious cases, thoughts of suicide. 

Our experience shows that compulsive gamblers cannot stop gambling for very long without help, even if they express a desire to do so.

A compulsive gambler needs to reach the point where they are willing to admit defeat and that they are powerless over gambling before they may finally be ready to accept help. 

Recovery Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over gambling, that our lives had become unmanageable 

Anonymity has great practical value in maintaining unity within our fellowship. Through its practice at the level of press, radio, films, television and internet.   

As Gamblers Anonymous has no opinion on outsides, any individual member wishing to speak publicly about their own gambling problem, is free to do so but without referring to Gamblers Anonymous or any Gamblers Anonymous members. This practice protects the integrity of Gamblers Anonymous from any controversy, and protects the privacy of our members whilst eliminating the possibility of individuals being considered spokespersons for Gamblers Anonymous. 

Anonymity also has great value in attracting new members who initially might feel there is a stigma attached to their gambling problem, it also has tremendous spiritual significance, representing a powerful reminder that we need always place principles above personalities.

Unity Step 10. Gamblers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues, hence the Gamblers Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
Unity Step 11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television, and Internet.
Unity Step 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of the Gamblers Anonymous program, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.  

Gamblers Anonymous is Anonymous, our meetings are informal and during a meeting you will identify yourself by just using your first name.

During the sharing part of the meeting, if you are called to share your experience, you can decline to share if you wish and if you do speak you decide what you disclose. 

Your privacy and anonymity will be respected. 

Unity Step 1 Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television, and Internet. 

Unity Step 12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of the Gamblers Anonymous program, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.  

Anyone who has a desire to stop gambling can join Gamblers Anonymous by attending a meeting.

Someone becomes a member of Gamblers Anonymous by attending a meeting, identifying as a compulsive gambler and then by attending regular meetings, whether that be 1, 2 or 7 meetings per week.

Recovery Step 1  We admitted we were powerless over gambling, that our lives had become unmanageable. 

Unity Step 3  The only requirement for Gamblers Anonymous membership is a desire to stop gambling. 

Gamblers Anonymous is not religious, we welcome all irrespective of their religious backgrounds. In fact, Gamblers Anonymous is composed of people from many religions, along with agnostics and atheists. 

Our Recovery Program is based on acceptance of certain spiritual values which the individual member is free to interpret as he or she chooses. 

We do often hold our meetings in church halls as we are fully self-supporting through voluntary contributions from members and these locations offer reasonable rent for meeting spaces. 

Unity Step 5  Gamblers Anonymous has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the compulsive gambler who still suffers. 

Unity Step 7 Every Gamblers Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 

Gamblers Anonymous is fully self-supporting, only accepting voluntary contributions from Gamblers Anonymous members. We believe it is important that we do not accept any financial funding or assistance from outside the fellowship. 

We feel that it is vitally important to the process of recovery that our members now pay their own way, to make amends for their actions whilst in "action" like handouts, bailouts, loans and for some, theft. 

Our group expenses (rent, literature, tea and coffee, admin cost, cakes for celebrations etc) are not expensive, so at the close of each meeting a collection is taken for members to donate a small amount if they choose too but this is not a mandatory requirement for membership. 

Any excess money from each group is generally then donated to the our Regional Service Office, to cover the larger expenses associated with Gamblers Anonymous activities (answering phones, printing and distributing literature, public relations activities and supporting the International Service Office in Los Angeles).

Unity Step 7 Every Gamblers Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 

There is no charge to join Gamblers Anonymous or attend a meeting. As mentioned above,  a collection is taken at the end of each meeting for members to donate a small amount, if they choose too, but it is not a requirement for membership. Most Gamblers Anonymous members who can contribute make a donation between $1 and $5, which is used to pay for rent, literature and tea and coffee. 

Unity Step 3  The only requirement for Gamblers Anonymous membership is a desire to stop gambling. 

Unity Step 7 Every Gamblers Anonymous group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. 

Gamblers Anonymous does not provide comment or opinion on any outside issues including gambling reform and we are not affiliated with any private or public organisations, governments, councils or social support services. 

On request to our public relations committee we can provide speakers to tell their story and explain the benefits of attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings but we do not have any involvement or affiliation with these organisatons and we do not charge a fee or accept a donation from them.

Gamblers Anonymous does not offer any counselling services, psychiatric or medical treatment and does not involve itself in research or education about compulsive or pathological gambling. Our primary purpose is to help the compulsive gamblers who is still suffering.

Unity Step 5  Gamblers Anonymous has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the compulsive gambler who still suffers. 

Unity Step 6. Gamblers Anonymous ought never endorse, finance, or lend the Gamblers Anonymous name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. 

Unity Step 10. Gamblers Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues, hence the Gamblers Anonymous name ought never be drawn into public controversy.