gambling/help/ga: Difference between revisions

Gamblers Anonymous
Category	Support community
Founded	September 13, 1957
Address	Upland, CA, USA
Official website	https://gamblersanonymous.org
Help and Support
Help & Support settings	In-person, Online, Phone
Helpline hours	24/7
Helpline number	9099319056
Email	[email protected]
Social Media
Instagram	Visit
Threads	Visit
LinkedIn	Visit
X (Twitter)	Visit
Last Updated	16.03.2026

Latest revision as of 09:12, 16 March 2026

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is an international, peer-led fellowship for people who wish to stop gambling. It operates on a 12-Step model, requires no membership fees or dues, and places no requirement on members other than a genuine desire to stop gambling. The organisation is non-affiliated with any religion, political body, or outside institution.

What is Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from a gambling problem. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.

Gamblers Anonymous uses the term "Compulsive Gambling" rather than "pathological gambling," "problem gambling," or "gambling disorder" - terms preferred by clinicians and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).^[1]

The programme centres on a 12-Step recovery model adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, combining peer accountability with personal reflection. Members share their experiences, struggles, wisdom, and support at regular meetings. GA is welcoming of people of all ages, religions, and racial backgrounds.^[2]

Role in the Industry

Gamblers Anonymous is the most widely used intervention for problem gambling, with around 1,000 chapters operating across the United States.^[3]

GA is described as one of the most cost-effective and easily accessible resources for individuals living with problem gambling issues.^[4]

Research indicates that outcomes improve when GA is combined with professional therapy.

History and Reach

The fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous grew out of a chance meeting between two men in January 1957. Both had a deeply troubled history with compulsive gambling. As they began meeting regularly, neither returned to gambling.^[5]

By 2005, there were over 1,000 GA groups in the United States, operating in all 50 states. Australia became the second country to establish a GA group, when the first Australian meeting was held in Sydney on November 25, 1961, and by 2005, Australia had 200 GA meetings per week. Today, GA groups operate worldwide across dozens of countries.

Support Options

Support type	Description
Offline meetings	Local group sessions held across all 50 U.S. states and internationally
Online meetings	Online meetings accessible via video conferencing platforms
Phone support	Group meetings conducted by phone for those without internet access

Gamblers Anonymous Reviews

Research on Gamblers Anonymous reveals mixed results regarding its effectiveness in treating compulsive gambling. Only about 8% of GA attendees maintain long-term abstinence after one year. Researchers highlight the importance of addressing the financial and legal challenges specific to gambling addiction, which GA uniquely prioritises.^[6]^[7]

Gamblers Anonymous alternatives

Community	Country	Help for Problem Gambling
Gam-Anon	Global	Find a meeting
SMART Recovery	Global	Find a meeting
GambleAware	UK	Find local support
GamCare	UK	Find local support
Evive	UK	Find support
GamLEARN	UK	Get justice support
GamFam	UK	Visit website
Gambling with Lives	UK	Get help
Betknowmore (BKM)	UK	Get help
Adferiad Recovery	UK	Get help
Gordon Moody Association	UK	Get help
EPIC Restart Foundation	UK	Get help
Breakeven	UK	Find support group
Ara Recovery for All	UK	Get help
Aquarius	UK	Get help
GamblingCare	IE	Get help
NCPG	US	Get help by state
PGF Group	NZ	Get help
Safer Gambling Aotearoa	NZ	Find local support
Amity Community Services	AU	Get help
Gambling Harm Support SA	AU	Find local support
GamblePause	NG	Find local support
GambleAlert	NG	Find local support
Responsible Gambling Kenya	KE	Find local support
South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)	ZA	Find local support

References

[1] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblers_Anonymous

[2] ttps://projectknow.com/support-groups/gamblers-anonymous/

[3] ttps://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/ps.50.8.1021

[4] ttps://www.psypost.org/gamblers-anonymous-work-study-suggests-associated-progress/

[5] ttps://gamblersanonymous.org/history-2/

[6] ttps://rg.org/guides/problem-gambling/gamblers-anonymous-review

[7] ttps://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gamblers-anonymous-more-effective-paired-with-therapy-0407161

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[2]

[3]

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 | type          = Support community
 | founded       = 1957-09-13
-| address       = 1306 Monte Vista Avenue, Suite 5, Upland, CA 91786, USA
+| address       = Upland, CA, USA
 | website       = https://gamblersanonymous.org
 | settings      = In-person, Online, Phone
-| working-hours = 7 days/week (offline); 24/7 online
+| working-hours = 24/7
-| helpline      = 9099319056 (International Office)
+| helpline      = 9099319056
 | email         = [email protected]
-| instagram     =
+| instagram     = https://www.instagram.com/gamblersanonuk/
-| threads       =
+| threads       = https://www.threads.com/@gamblersanonuk
 | tiktok        =
 | facebook      =
-| linkedin      =
+| linkedin      = https://www.linkedin.com/company/gamblers-anonymous
-| twitter       =
+| twitter       = https://x.com/GambAnonymous
 | reddit        =
 | ios-app       =
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ! Support type !! Description
 |-
-| '''Offline meetings''' || Local group sessions held across all 50 U.S. states and internationally.
+| '''Offline meetings''' || Local group sessions held across all 50 U.S. states and internationally
 |-
-| '''Online meetings''' || Online meetings accessible via video conferencing platforms.
+| '''Online meetings''' || Online meetings accessible via video conferencing platforms
 |-
-| '''Phone support''' || Group meetings conducted by phone for those without internet access.
+| '''Phone support''' || Group meetings conducted by phone for those without internet access
 |}
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 Research on Gamblers Anonymous reveals mixed results regarding its effectiveness in treating compulsive gambling. Only about 8% of GA attendees maintain long-term abstinence after one year. Researchers highlight the importance of addressing the financial and legal challenges specific to gambling addiction, which GA uniquely prioritises.<ref>https://rg.org/guides/problem-gambling/gamblers-anonymous-review</ref><ref>https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/gamblers-anonymous-more-effective-paired-with-therapy-0407161</ref>
 == Gamblers Anonymous alternatives ==
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
-! Community
+! Community !! Country !! Help for Problem Gambling
-! Website
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gam-anon|Gam-Anon]] || Global || [https://www.gam-anon.org/meeting-directory/international-meetings Find a meeting]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/smartrecovery|SMART Recovery]] || Global || [https://www.smartrecoveryinternational.org/meetings Find a meeting]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gambleaware|GambleAware]] || UK || [https://www.gambleaware.org/tools-and-support/support-in-your-area/service-finder-results/?find=true Find local support]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gamcare|GamCare]] || UK || [https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/find-local-support/ Find local support]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/evive|Evive]] || UK || [https://www.getevive.com/ Find support]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gamlearn|GamLEARN]] || UK || [https://gamlearn.org.uk/cjs-referal-form Get justice support]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gamfam|GamFam]] || UK || [https://gamfam.org.uk/ Visit website]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gwl|Gambling with Lives]] || UK || [https://gamblingwithlives.beaconforms.com/form/12aea293 Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/betknowmore|Betknowmore (BKM)]] || UK || [https://airtable.com/appCroq1jjv2RuHd6/shr9hMKZkOjAD2ooI Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/adferiad-recovery|Adferiad Recovery]] || UK || [https://adferiad.org/our-services/gambling/ Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gordonmoody|Gordon Moody Association]] || UK || [https://gordonmoody.org.uk/treatment-options/ Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/epic-restart|EPIC Restart Foundation]] || UK || [https://www.epicrestartfoundation.org/pages/our-programmes Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/breakeven|Breakeven]] || UK || [https://www.breakeven.org.uk/support-groups Find support group]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/ara|Ara Recovery for All]] || UK || [https://www.recovery4all.co.uk//contact-us/ Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/aquarius|Aquarius]] || UK || [https://aquarius.org.uk/services/gambling-support/ Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/gamblingcare|GamblingCare]] || IE || [https://gamblingcare.ie/get-help/get-help-for-problem-gambling/ Get help]
+|-
+| [[gambling/help/ncpg|NCPG]] || US || [https://www.ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/help-by-state/ Get help by state]
 |-
-| SMART Recovery
+| [[gambling/help/pgf|PGF Group]] || NZ || [https://www.pgf.nz/free-counselling Get help]
-| [https://smartrecovery.org/ smartrecovery.org]
 |-
-| Evive Community
+| [[gambling/help/sga|Safer Gambling Aotearoa]] || NZ || [https://www.safergambling.org.nz/help-and-support/services-near-you Find local support]
-| [https://www.getevive.com/gamtalk getevive.com]
 |-
-| Gam-Anon
+| [[gambling/help/amity|Amity Community Services]] || AU || [https://www.amity.org.au/counselling Get help]
-| [https://gamanon.org.uk/ gamanon.org.uk]
 |-
-| GamCare
+| [[gambling/help/ghs|Gambling Harm Support SA]] || AU || [https://gamblingharmsupport.sa.gov.au/get-support/support-options/find-a-help-service Find local support]
-| [https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ gamcare.org.uk]<br>[https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/find-local-support/ Find Local Support]
 |-
-| GambleAware
+| [[gambling/help/gamblepause|GamblePause]] || NG || [https://www.gamblepause.com/local-support Find local support]
-| [https://www.gambleaware.org/ gambleaware.org]
 |-
-| BetKnowMore (BKM)
+| [[gambling/help/gamblealert|GambleAlert]] || NG || [https://gamblealert.org/ Find local support]
-| [https://www.betknowmoreuk.org/ betknowmoreuk.org]
 |-
-| Gordon Moody Association
+| [[gambling/help/rgk|Responsible Gambling Kenya]] || KE || [https://www.responsiblegambling.or.ke/ Find local support]
-| [https://gordonmoody.org.uk/ gordonmoody.org.uk]
 |-
-| Adferiad Recovery
+| [[gambling/help/sargf|South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF)]] || ZA || [https://responsiblegambling.org.za/ Find local support]
-| [https://parklandplace.co.uk/ parklandplace.co.uk]
 |}
@@ Line 87: / Line 112: @@
 {{#seo:
 |title = Gamblers Anonymous » Gambling Addiction Help and Support Groups
-|description = Gamblers Anonymous (founded 1957) is a free, peer-led international fellowship offering in-person, online and phone meetings for people struggling with compulsive gambling.}}
+|description = Gamblers Anonymous (founded 1957) is a free, peer-led international fellowship offering in-person, online and phone meetings for people struggling with compulsive gambling.
+|image = gamblers-anonymous-logo.png}}