Gamblers Anonymous (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Support group for recovering compulsive gamblers

Gamblers Anonymous

Formation 1957; 67 years ago (1957)
Founder Jim W.
Founded at Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Legal status Fellowship
Purpose Healthcare, community
Website Official website

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is an international fellowship of people who have a compulsive gambling problem. They meet regularly to share their "experiences, strength and hope",[1][2] so they can help each other solve the problems compulsive gambling has created in their lives, and to help others recover from the addiction of compulsive gambling.[3][4][5][_self-published source?_] The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling, as stated in the GA Combo book page 2.[6][5]

Gamblers Anonymous uses the term "Compulsive Gambling" instead of "pathological gambling" or "problem gambling" or a "gambling disorder", terms preferred by clinicians and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).[7]

Gamblers Anonymous was founded in 1957 by Jim W. He was an alcoholic who used his experience in Alcoholics Anonymous as the foundation in forming Gamblers Anonymous into a 12 step program.[2][8][9]

Due to favorable publicity by the newspaper columnist and TV commentator Paul Coates,[8] of the Los Angeles Mirror, Gamblers Anonymous held its First Group Meeting, on September 13, 1957 in Los Angeles, California. 13 people attended the First Gamblers Anonymous meeting.[8] The UPI article also states that 13 people attended the first GA meeting in LA.[_citation needed_]

The organization began in Los Angeles on September 13, 1957. By 2005 there were over 1000 GA groups in the United States, and groups had been established in:

Due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, most GA meetings moved to online platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeetings, telephone conference calls, or a combination of these medium. In person gatherings at physical locations were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 Task Force Guidelines, and other regulatory guidelines in other countries throughout the globe.[30][_citation needed_]

Gamblers Anonymous members use the 20 Questions[31][32][_self-published source?_] as a guide to determine whether they are compulsive gamblers. This is not a definitive evaluation, and only the individual with the aid of their doctor can make the determination as to whether they have a compulsive gambling problem.[_citation needed_]

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnosis Criteria of a Gambling Disorder lists the need of a compulsive gambler to increase the amount of money bet, borrowing money to cover loses, lying to conceal the extent of one's gambling, "loss of relationships and jobs", and "frequent thoughts of gambling".[33][34]

The National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) uses the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 to describe the symptoms of a gambling disorder, aka compulsive gambling, to be "chasing" loses, inability to stop, cut back or control their gambling.[35] A Gambling disorder is the only non-substance use addiction identified in the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5.[36]

The Mayo Clinic offers a list of symptoms for compulsive gambling, which include "preoccupation with gambling", "trying to control, cut back or stop", and lying. A compulsive gambler may sell personal property, or engage in illegal activity to finance the gambling addiction.[37][38]

NOAA lists "Indicators of Compulsive Gambling:", borrowing money, and spending exceedingly long hours gambling.[39] NOAA also lists some of the "Behaviors Observable in the Workplace" of a compulsive gambler.[39]

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) suggests counseling can help the compulsive gambler. The APA also offers ""Dos" and "Don'ts" for Partners or Family Members", which include seeking support from GAM-ANON, along with money management strategies.[40]

Gamblers Anonymous offers members a number of suggestions for abstaining from gambling, these include not going near or into a gambling establishment.[41]

GA meetings are the core of the fellowship,[2][17] "Meetings Make It". Participating in GA meetings along with individual psychotherapy, is the preferred form of treatment according to the UCLA gambling studies program.[7] There are a few different meeting formats offered by Gamblers Anonymous:

"Modified closed meetings" are held when a group votes to include health professionals or persons from other 12 step fellowships or guest attending with a newcomer to Gamblers Anonymous.[44][_self-published source?_]

Gam-Anon is the sister 12 step program[48] of Gamblers Anonymous, modeled after Al-Anon/Alateen for spouses, partners, family and friends of a compulsive gambler, who are suffering from the stresses and problems caused by the compulsive gambler's gambling and behaviors.[17][49][50][51][52] Gam-Anon worldwide was started in NYC by Ruth Sachar, and her husband Irving Sachar started the NYC chapter of Gambler's Anonymous.[_citation needed_]

Incidence rate and evaluation

[edit]

Problem gambling is estimated to occur in 1.6% of the adult population in the United States.[53] GA has a list of twenty questions that can be used to self-diagnose compulsive gambling. The results from their instrument have correlated strongly with other tests that screen for compulsive gambling (e.g. the Total Sensation Seeking Scale, Boredom Susceptibility, Experience Seeking, South Oaks Gambling Screen, and Disinhibition subscales).[54][55]

Gamblers Anonymous has been compared with other strategies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy as efficacy methods of psychotherapies for pathological gambling.[56] Compared to problem gamblers who do not attend GA, GA members tend to have more severe gambling problems, are older, have higher incomes, are less likely to be single, have more years of gambling problems, have larger debts, have more serious family conflicts, and less serious substance use disorders.[53] GA may not be as effective for those who have not had significant gambling problems. GA is effective to prevent "relapses" (inability to remain abstinent from gambling), but not as effective when helping members deal with the consequences of their relapse.[57]

GA spends much of its time and energy counseling members on how to deal with financial and legal problems. GA supports "pressure relief groups" where members take each other to task and encourage them to "get honest" with people in their lives and get their affairs in order. Gamblers who are able to moderate their activity are not likely to continue attending GA meetings. GA members who stopped attending meetings were more likely to consider the sharing at the meetings "meaningless" and were more critical of GA literature. Those who felt particularly elated at their first GA meetings were less likely to continue than those who had a more balanced first impression. GA, therefore, may be most suitable for severe problem gamblers who do not have compounding issues.[58]

Less than 8% of those who initially attend GA remain in the program and abstain from gambling for over a year.[59] Program participation and abstinence increase if members are involved in additional therapy, or if one or more of their family members are involved in Gam-Anon or Gam-A-Teen.[60][61][62]

Although the likelihood of attending GA is the same for males and females,[63] GA has been characterized as a predominately male fellowship. The number of female members, however, is increasing and there is an increasing sensitivity within GA to women's attitudes.[58] GA's lack of appeal towards females has been attributed to GA's lack of focus on the principles of spirituality in other twelve-step programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). A causal link, however, has not been shown. GA is often described as more secularized than AA.[64]

Among problem gamblers, it has been found that women are more focused on interpersonal issues, and that social issues were more likely to cause them to "relapse". Males more frequently discuss "external concerns" such as jobs and legal problems, and are more likely to relapse because of a substance use disorder. Therefore, it does seem plausible that GA's downplaying of spiritual, interpersonal, and psychoemotional issues, inhibits its effectiveness for women.[58][65]

Jim Willis, founder of Gamblers Anonymous (GA), was first a member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). GA is modeled after AA’s 12-step program. The first 7 pages of GA’s 17-page Yellow Book borrow almost exclusively from AA’s Big Book. The last page of the yellow book "Gamblers Anonymous" states: “...steps are the basis for the entire GA Program.”

The format of GA's Blue Book (AA's Big Book is also blue) "GA Sharing Recovery Through Gamblers Anonymous" and Red Book "GA a New Beginning" also borrow from AA. GA's Blue Book starts out with a 4-paragraph foreword from a physician. AA's Big Book has a full chapter "The Doctor’s Opinion" that sets the stage of the problem of addiction and the medical field’s failed attempts at fixing it. The concept of a disease beyond the capability of the medical community – and humans in general – is borne out of AA's professional opinions and sets the stage for the dependence upon the spiritual solution of the 12 Steps.

One of the most important parts of the steps is that they provide a framework for the continuity of the program itself. If for no other reason that this, it's important that the spiritual foundation of and the reason and actions associated with the 12 steps be emphasized for continuing the program is a spiritual act – the act of carrying the message is payback by those who have been freely given the gifts of the program.

They must rely on a power greater than themselves.

The AA Big Book and 12 & 12 are widely used as-is by many non-AA 12-step programs.

Gamblers Anonymous has several approved books used as standard literature in the group. These are some of the most popular examples:

Some states have worked with casinos, and other gambling establishments to institute a "self-exclusion" mechanism,[66] where gambling institutions would be prohibited from issuing credit, cashing a check or marketing to those who have self-excluded themselves from those establishments.[67][68][69][70]

  1. ^ "Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc". azccg. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c George, Sanju; Ijeoma, Onuba; Bowden-Jones, Henrietta (2013). "Gamblers Anonymous: overlooked and underused?". Advances in Psychiatric Treatment. 19: 23–29. doi:10.1192/apt.bp.111.009332.
  3. ^ "Addiction Recovery: The Benefits of Problem Gambling Support Groups". Know The Odds. 26 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Helping you helps me: Giving and receiving social support in recovery groups for problem gamblers". APA PsycNet.
  5. ^ a b c "Gamblers Anonymous Combo Book". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  6. ^ a b c "Reverend Gordon M". Gordon Moody Association. 30 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b "UCLA Gambling Studies Program". www.uclagamblingprogram.org. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Jim Willis, the founding father of Gamblers Anonymous, died..." UPI.
  9. ^ Dickensheets, Scott (3 September 1997). "Growing Gamblers Anonymous hits 40 - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper". lasvegassun.com.
  10. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous USA". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  11. ^ "U.S. Meetings | Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  12. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous Australia & New Zealand". Gamblers Anonymous Australia.
  13. ^ a b c "A brother to many who needed support". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2005.
  14. ^ "Obituary: The Rev Gordon Moody". The Independent. 3 October 1994.
  15. ^ Quit compulsive gambling : the action plan for gamblers and their families. Thorsons. 1990. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0722516010.
  16. ^ "Our History - Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Naoko Takiguchi, Otani University (31 January 2011). "Problem Gambling in Japan". www.japanesestudies.org.uk.
  18. ^ "GA日本インフォメーションセンター<JIC>ホームページ". www.gajapan.jp.
  19. ^ Scott, Simon (24 May 2014). "Ball and chain: gambling's darker side. (GA in Osaka, and the Kansai region)". The Japan Times.
  20. ^ "How I gambled my way to abject poverty". Daily Nation. 29 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Inside the mind of a gambler". Daily Nation. 2 July 2020.
  22. ^ Okoth, Jackson. Not a chance : a true story of recovery from the addiction of gambling and smoking. Paulines Publications Africa.
  23. ^ "International Addresses | Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  24. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous Ireland". Gamblers Anonymous.
  25. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous Scotland - Gambling Addiction Help". Gamblers Anonymous Scotland.
  26. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous Toronto". Gamblers Anonymous Toronto.
  27. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous Alaska and British Columbia". gabc.ca.
  28. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous International Meetings". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  29. ^ Petry, Nancy M. (March 2005). "Gamblers Anonymous and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies for Pathological Gamblers". Journal of Gambling Studies. 21 (1): 27–33. doi:10.1007/s10899-004-1919-5. ISSN 1573-3602. PMID 15789187. S2CID 29319244.
  30. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous COVID-19 Statement on Meetings". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  31. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous 20 Questions | Division of Problem Gambling". problemgambling.az.gov.
  32. ^ "20 Questions | Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  33. ^ "Diagnostic Criteria - Gambling Disorder". Nevada Council on Problem Gambling.
  34. ^ "What Is Gambling Disorder?". www.psychiatry.org.
  35. ^ "What is problem gambling or gambling disorder? | ICRG". www.icrg.org. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Internet Gaming". www.psychiatry.org.
  37. ^ "Compulsive gambling - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic.
  38. ^ Publishing, Harvard Health (19 December 2014). "Compulsive gambling". Harvard Health.
  39. ^ a b "Gambling". www.wrc.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  40. ^ "Treatment". www.psychiatry.org.
  41. ^ "Gambling in the Golden State. Page 143" (PDF). OAG.ca.gov. State of California Department of Justice.
  42. ^ "Recovery Program | Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.
  43. ^ "Recovery Program - Gamblers Anonymous". www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
  44. ^ "Gamblers Anonymous of Southern Nevada". Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  45. ^ "GAM-ANON Meeting Directory". www.gam-anon.org.
  46. ^ "GamAnon UK | GamAnon website 2015 onwards".
  47. ^ "Gam-Anon Chicago". www.gamanonchicago.org.
  48. ^ "PROBLEM GAMBLING AND THE LAW About Peer Support Groups page 26" (PDF). nevadacouncil.org. Nevada Council on Problem Gambling. 2010.
  49. ^ "Gam-Anon – Addiction Support for Family Members and Friends". New York Council on Problem Gambling. NYCPG New York Council on Problem Gambling.
  50. ^ "Is a Gambling Problem Affecting Your Life?". gam-anon.org. GAM-ANON.
  51. ^ "What can I do for my family member or friend who has a gambling problem?". State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. State of CA Department of Justice AG. 21 March 2012.
  52. ^ "Gam-Anon International Service Office, Onondaga County". 211cny.com. 211CNY.[_permanent dead link_]
  53. ^ a b Petry, Nancy M. (August 2003). "Patterns and correlates of Gamblers Anonymous attendance in pathological gamblers seeking professional treatment". Addictive Behaviors. 28 (6): 1049–1062. doi:10.1016/S0306-4603(02)00233-2. ISSN 0306-4603. PMID 12834650.
  54. ^ Kuley, Nadia B.; Jacobs, Durand F. (September 1988). "The relationship between dissociative-like experiences and sensation seeking among social and problem gamblers". Journal of Gambling Studies. 4 (3): 197–207. doi:10.1007/BF01018332. ISSN 1050-5350. S2CID 33989408.
  55. ^ Ursua, Maria Prieto; Uribelarrea, Luis Llavona (March 1998). "20 Questions of Gamblers Anonymous: A Psychometric Study with Population of Spain". Journal of Gambling Studies. 14 (1): 3–15. doi:10.1023/A:1023033924960. ISSN 1050-5350. PMID 12766432. S2CID 3199434.
  56. ^ "Cognitive-behavioral therapy for pathological gamblers". psycnet.apa.org.
  57. ^ Brown, R.I.F. (September 1987). "Dropouts and continuers in Gamblers Anonymous: Part four. Evaluation and summary". Journal of Gambling Studies. 3 (3): 202–210. doi:10.1007/BF01367441. ISSN 1050-5350. S2CID 34426373.
  58. ^ a b c Ferentzy, Peter (2005). "Gamblers Anonymous: A critical review of the literature". EGambling.
  59. ^ Stewart, RM; Brown, RI (February 1988). "An outcome study of Gamblers Anonymous". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 152 (2): 284–288. doi:10.1192/bjp.152.2.284. ISSN 0007-1250. PMID 3167353. S2CID 45507087.
  60. ^ Petry, Nancy M.; Armentano, Christopher (1 August 1999). "Prevalence, Assessment, and Treatment of Pathological Gambling: A Review". Psychiatric Services. 50 (8): 1021–1027. doi:10.1176/ps.50.8.1021. ISSN 1075-2730. PMID 10445649.
  61. ^ Johnson, EE; Nora, RM (December 1992). "Does spousal participation in Gamblers Anonymous benefit compulsive gamblers?". Psychological Reports. 71 (3 Pt 1): 914. doi:10.2466/pr0.1992.71.3.914. ISSN 0033-2941. PMID 1454942. S2CID 27908830.
  62. ^ Ciarrocchi, Joseph W.; Reinert, Duane F. (December 1993). "Family environment and length of recovery for married male members of Gamblers Anonymous and female members of GamAnon". Journal of Gambling Studies. 9 (4): 341–352. doi:10.1007/BF01014626. ISSN 1050-5350. S2CID 44240833.
  63. ^ Crisp, Beth R.; Thomas, Shane A.; Jackson, Alun C.; Thomason, Neil; Smith, Serena; Borrell, Jennifer; Ho, Wei-ying; Holt, Tangerine A. (1 March 2000). "Sex Differences in the Treatment Needs and Outcomes of Problem Gamblers" (abstract page). Research on Social Work Practice. 10 (2): 229–242. doi:10.1177/104973150001000205. S2CID 141592792.
  64. ^ Browne, Basil R. (September 1994). "Really not god: Secularization and pragmatism in Gamblers Anonymous". Journal of Gambling Studies. 10 (3): 247–260. doi:10.1007/BF02104966. ISSN 1050-5350. PMID 24234922. S2CID 10899000.
  65. ^ Preston, Frederick W.; Smith, Ronald W. (September 1985). "Delabeling and relabeling in Gamblers Anonymous: Problems with transferring the Alcoholics Anonymous paradigm". Journal of Gambling Studies. 1 (2): 97–105. doi:10.1007/BF01019862. ISSN 1050-5350. S2CID 33056481.
  66. ^ "5A.130Self-Exclusion. REGULATION 5A OPERATION OF INTERACTIVE GAMING". gaming.nv.gov. Nevada Gaming Control Board Gaming Commission.
  67. ^ By Charlene Wear Simmons, Ph.D. (May 2006). Gambling in the golden state, 1998 forward (PDF). California State Library, California Research Bureau. pp. 138–139. ISBN 1-58703-137-X.
  68. ^ "Bureau of Gambling Control - Self Exclusion - California Dept. of Justice - Office of the Attorney General". ems.doj.ca.gov. State of California Department of Justice.
  69. ^ "Self Exclusion from Gambling - How to Self Exclude | BeGambleAware | BeGambleAware". www.begambleaware.org.
  70. ^ "THE PROBLEM GAMBLING COALITION OF COLORADO VOLUNTARY CASINOSELF-EXCLUSION APPLICATION AND WAIVER" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  1. ^ Hutchison, Paul; Cox, Sharon; Frings, Daniel (2018). "Helping you helps me: Giving and receiving social support in recovery groups for problem gamblers". Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. 22 (4): 187–199. doi:10.1037/gdn0000090. S2CID 55803856.