Gam-Anon Resources
For Families of Compulsive Gamblers
Gam-Anon is a 12 Step fellowship of men and women who are husbands, wives, relatives or close friends of compulsive gamblers who have been affected by the gambling problem.
Problem Gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruption in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. Many times compulsive gambling goes hand-in-hand with other obsessive behaviors, such as alcoholism.
The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological," or "Compulsive" Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, "chasing" losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences.
According to the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, Gam-Anon's purpose is threefold: "To Learn acceptance and understanding of the gambling illness; to use the program and its problem solving suggestions as aides in rebuilding our lives and to give appropriate aid to the gambler; and, upon our recovery, then to give assistance to others like ourselves."
Gam-Anon may be able to help you if your life has been affected by someone else's gambling. Answering these 20 Questions can help determine if the program may help you.
Few Online Resources
Although Al-Anon Family Groups provide support for the families of alcoholics and have many online meetings available on the Internet, there are few resources available on the Web for members of Gam-Anon.There is a chat meeting scheduled at 11 p.m. also on Delphi Forums but you must first register as a Delphi member.
There are some online resources for Gamblers Anonymous and there are several resources for Compulsive Gambling, but very few for friends and families of problem gamblers.
For more information about Gam-Anon and to learn how to start a local meeting in your area, call or write:
Gam-Anon I.S.O.
P.O. Box 157
Whitestone, NY 11357
(718) 352-1671
Gam-Anon Resources
20 Questions
Do you find yourself constantly bothered by bill collectors? Here are more questions from Gam-Anon.About Gam-Anon
A fact sheet from the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling about the Gam-Anon program.Gam-Anon ISO
The "official" web site for the International Service Office of Gam-Anon.Gamblers Anonymous
The official web site for G.A. which gives background on the group and a history of how it started.National Council on Problem Gambling
A non-profit health agency whose mission is to disseminate information about problem and pathological (compulsive) gambling.
