Gamblers Anonymous (GA)

What Is Gamblers Anonymous (GA)?

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a peer-led recovery program for people whose gambling has become destructive. Known clinically as a gambling disorder, this condition can lead to significant financial problems, emotional distress, and damaged relationships.

A gambling addiction can take many forms, including:

• Casino games like slots, blackjack, or roulette.
• Sports betting or fantasy sports leagues.
• Online gambling platforms, including poker and digital casinos.
• Lottery tickets, raffles, or other games of chance.

GA helps members address the underlying causes of their gambling while providing practical tools for staying free from its grip.

How Does Gamblers Anonymous Work?

GA uses a structured 12-Step approach, adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, to help members change their relationship with gambling and themselves.

Through regular participation, members:

• Attend meetings where they share stories, challenges, and successes with others in recovery.
• Work through the 12 Steps, which involve self-examination, accountability, and personal growth.
• Connect with a sponsor, a more experienced member who can provide guidance and support.
• Practice abstinence from all forms of gambling to break the cycle of addiction.

The 12 Steps of Gamblers Anonymous

The 12 Steps provide a framework for recovery, guiding members through a process of self-honesty and spiritual growth.

1. We admitted we were powerless over gambling – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to a normal way of thinking and living.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of this Power of our own understanding.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral and financial inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have these defects of character removed.
7. Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having made an effort to practice these principles in all our affairs, we tried to carry this message to other compulsive gamblers.

Who Can Join Gamblers Anonymous?

GA is open to anyone who wants to stop gambling. There are no membership fees or eligibility requirements. GA welcomes people from all walks of life, particularly those who have experienced financial loss, are struggling to maintain relationships, or use gambling as a way to escape stress.

Support for Family and Loved Ones

Compulsive gambling deeply impacts family members and friends.

While GA is for the person with the gambling problem, support is available for loved ones through Gam-Anon, a separate but related 12-step fellowship designed specifically for them.

What to Expect at a GA Meeting

Walking into your first GA meeting can feel overwhelming, but you’ll find a welcoming and judgment-free space. Meetings are the heart of the program, providing a safe place to share experiences and learn from others.

GA meetings are:

• Free and confidential. There are no dues or fees, and your anonymity is a core principle.
• Available worldwide. Meetings are offered in person, online, and by phone.
• Welcoming to newcomers. You don’t have to talk if you’re not ready. Many people choose to simply listen at their first meeting.

A typical meeting involves members sharing personal stories and discussing recovery tools like the 12 Steps. It’s a respectful, private environment where you can find understanding and hope.

Finding a Gamblers Anonymous Meeting

Taking the first step is simple. GA offers in‑person, online, and phone meetings so you can choose the format that feels most comfortable.

You can search for meetings through GA’s official meeting directory.

Find Addiction Treatment and Support

If you or a loved one is struggling with a gambling disorder, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Effective and confidential options are available. Call the free SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 to learn about treatment options.

Our Find Treatment Help page has additional resources to help you take the next step.

Written by

Jessica Miller

Editorial Director

Jessica Miller is the Editorial Director of Addiction Help. Jessica graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with an English degree and combines her writing expertise and passion for helping others to deliver reliable information to those impacted by addiction. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica's empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community.

Reviewed by

• Fact-Checked
• Editor

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O.

Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer

Kent S. Hoffman, D.O. has been an expert in addiction medicine for more than 15 years. In addition to managing a successful family medical practice, Dr. Hoffman is board certified in addiction medicine by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM). Dr. Hoffman has successfully treated hundreds of patients battling addiction. Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality.