GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a
fellowship of men and women
who share their experience,
strength and hope with each
other that they may solve
their common problem and
help others to recover from
a gambling problem.
The only requirement for
membership is a desire to
stop gambling. There are no
dues or fees for Gamblers
Anonymous membership; we are
self-supporting through our
own contributions. Gamblers
Anonymous is not allied with
any sect, denomination,
politics, organization or
institution; does not wish
to engage in any
controversy; neither
endorses nor opposes any
cause. Our primary purpose
is to stop gambling and to
help other compulsive
gamblers do the same.
Most of us have been
unwilling to admit we were
real problem gamblers. No
one likes to think they are
different from their
fellows. Therefore, it is
not surprising that our
gambling careers have been
characterized by countless
vain attempts to prove we
could gamble like other
people. The idea that
somehow, some day, we will
control our gambling is the
great obsession of every
compulsive gambler. The
persistence of this illusion
is astonishing. Many pursue
it into the gates of prison,
insanity or death.
We learned we had to concede
fully to our innermost
selves that we are
compulsive gamblers. This is
the first step in our
recovery. With reference to
gambling, the delusion that
we are like other people, or
presently may be, has to be
smashed. We have lost the
ability to control our
gambling. We know that no
real compulsive gambler ever
regains control. All of us
felt at times we were
regaining control, but such
intervals - usually brief
-were inevitably followed by
still less control, which
led in time to pitiful and
incomprehensible
demoralization. We are
convinced that gamblers of
our type are in the grip of
a progressive illness. Over
any considerable period of
time we get worse, never
better. Therefore, in order
to lead normal happy lives,
we try to practice to the
best of our ability, certain
principles in our daily
affairs.
THE RECOVERY PROGRAM
Here are the steps which are
a program of recovery
We admitted we were
powerless over gambling -
that our lives had become
unmanageable.
Came to believe that a Power
greater than ourselves could
restore us to a normal way
of thinking and living.
Made a decision to turn our
will and our lives over to
the care of this Power of
our own understanding.
Made a searching and
fearless moral and financial
inventory of ourselves.
Admitted to ourselves and to
another human being the
exact nature of our wrongs.
Were entirely ready to have
these defects of character
removed.
Humbly asked God (of our
understanding) to remove our
shortcomings.
Made a list of all persons
we had harmed and became
willing to make amends to
them all.
Make direct amends to such
people wherever possible,
except when to do so would
injure them or others.
Continued to take personal
inventory and when we were
wrong, promptly admitted it.
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.
Having made an effort to
practice these principles in
all our affairs, we tried to
carry this message to other
compulsive gamblers.
The 12 Step Program is
fundamentally based on
ancient spiritual principles
and rooted in sound medical
therapy. The best
recommendation for the
program is the fact that "it
works."
Gamblers Anonymous would
like to indicate that we are
not soliciting members. Our
intention is to highlight
that gambling for certain
individuals is an illness
called "compulsive
gambling." Gamblers
Anonymous provides the
message that there is an
alternative to the
destruction of compulsive
gambling and this
alternative is the Gamblers
Anonymous program.
Our ranks are filled with
members who have recovered
from the illness by stopping
gambling and attaining a
normal way of life. These
members remain ready to help
any individual who passes
through the Gamblers
Anonymous door.
Gamblers Anonymous offers
the following questions to
anyone who may have a
gambling problem. These
questions are provided to
help the individual decide
if he or she is a compulsive
gambler and wants to stop
gambling.
TWENTY QUESTIONS
Did you ever lose time from
work or school due to
gambling?
Has gambling ever made your
home life unhappy?
Did gambling affect your
reputation?
Have you ever felt remorse
after gambling?
Did you ever gamble to get
money with which to pay
debts or otherwise solve
financial difficulties?
Did gambling cause a
decrease in your ambition or
efficiency?
After losing did you feel
you must return as soon as
possible and win back your
losses?
After a win did you have a
strong urge to return and
win more?
Did you often gamble until
your last dollar was gone?
Did you ever borrow to
finance your gambling?
Have you ever sold anything
to finance gambling?
Were you reluctant to use
"gambling money" for normal
expenditures?
Did gambling make you
careless of the welfare of
yourself or your family?
Did you ever gamble longer
than you had planned?
Have you ever gambled to
escape worry or trouble?
Have you ever committed, or
considered committing, an
illegal act to finance
gambling?
Did gambling cause you to
have difficulty in sleeping?
Do arguments,
disappointments or
frustrations create within
you an urge to gamble?
Did you ever have an urge to
celebrate any good fortune
by a few hours of gambling?
Have you ever considered
self destruction or suicide
as a result of your
gambling?
Most compulsive gamblers
will answer yes to at least
seven of these questions
