Gamblers Anonymous
The History of Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is the outgrowth of a chance meeting between
two men during the month of January in 1957. These men had a
truly baffling history of trouble and misery due to an obsession
to gamble. They began to meet regularly and as the months passed
neither had returned to gambling.
They concluded from their discussions that in order to prevent
a relapse it was necessary to bring about certain character
changes within themselves. In order to accomplish this, they
used for a guide certain spiritual principles which had been
utilized by thousands of people who were recovering from other
compulsive addictions. The word spiritual can be said to describe
those characteristics of the human mind that represent the highest
and finest qualities such as kindness, generosity, honesty and
humility. Also, in order to maintain their own abstinence they
felt that it was vitally important that they carry the message
of hope to other compulsive gamblers.
As a result of favorable publicity by a prominent newspaper
columnist and TV commentator, the first group meeting of Gamblers
Anonymous was held on Friday, September 13, 1957, in Los Angeles,
California. Since that time, the fellowship has grown steadily
and groups are flourishing throughout the world.
What is Gamblers Anonymous?
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS is a fellowship of men and women who share
their experience, strength and hope with each other in order
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;
they are self-supporting through their member's 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.
TWENTY QUESTIONS
Most compulsive Gamblers will answer "Yes" to at
least seven of these 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?
Gamblers Anonymous (UK),
PO Box 88,
London
SW10 0EU
08700 50 88 80
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