Compulsive Gamblers Need an Alternative to Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is considered antiquated by many who have attempted to stop their addiction to gambling.

Gamblers Anonymous holds weekly meetings to help individuals beat their gambling addiction. At each location there are a group of people who meet once a week to share what’s happening in their life. .

At the beginning of the meeting for existing members they ask you to state your first name and your last name initial. They then ask you to state the last time you place a bet and that you admit you are a compulsive gambler. For new people entering the room, there are other procedures. These people are asked twenty questions. .

Gamblers Anonymous believes that if you answer seven or more yes then you need to decide if you believe you are a compulsive gambler. Then they ask if you believe you are a compulsive gambler then please state your first name, last name initial, last time you place a bet and that you admit you are a compulsive gambler..

For people entering the Gamblers Anonymous room for the first time this can be very overwhelming. Most rooms are made up of eclectic individuals. There is no discrimination here. There are people from all walks of life. At the table there may be a plumber, carpenter, gas station attendant, insurance agent, receptionist and or a fisherman. Gambling affects all walks of life through out this world. It was amazing to see emails from Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia and so many other countries with the same addiction as people here in the United States. .

One of the downfalls of Gamblers Anonymous is each room is run by a different personality each week. There are basic rules to be followed, but unfortunately each member or chair person has there own interpretation. .

Gamblers Anonymous is not anonymous by any means. The meetings are sometimes held in a church or a public meeting hall. It’s a small world, people running into old friends at the meeting and occasionally a college student wants to write an article on the members in the group and how they stopped gambling. There is also a call list of names for members to talk to one another for support. With today’s technology a majority of telephones have caller ID. There goes your anonymity. .

Gamblers Anonymous is self supporting, members are asked to donate at each meeting. .

As the Gamblers Anonymous meeting commences small books are distributed and each member takes a turn reading a section. Some members have a hard time reading. Other members help out. .

Who ever runs the meeting that night sets the tone. Unfortunately there were many nights where the person in charge would dictate. “No you can not talk", “I am going to ask the members to vote on changing your gambling date because of the statements you made during therapy" and even continuously monopolize the conversations. Members have felt degraded at times to the point where they either quit or changed rooms..

It’s estimated that approximately 3% will maintain weekly meetings. The other 97% struggle on there own and succeed or have gone back to gambling..

After they finish reading the book, the Gamblers Anonymous chair person asks each person present to tell the group what’s happening in their life. They call this portion Therapy. Time limits are sometimes imposed on long winded individuals. Most members have enjoyed this part of the meeting the most. This is where they realize they are not alone in their thoughts. .

The night ends where the members form a circle hold hands and recite a serenity prayer. The closing procedure may be different all over the world.

The large percentage who does not return to weekly meetings, there are now alternative ways to help stop their addiction. .