GA meetings

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of people who meet regularly to support each other in recovery. The programme treats gambling addiction as an illness like any other, and applies the same 12-step approach used in AA meetings and other local support groups. GA was founded in Los Angeles in 1957 and arrived in Britain five years later, with the first UK meeting held in Belfast in October 1962. A London group followed in July 1964, and meetings now run throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with online and telephone options alongside physical groups.

GA rehab group therapy

What is the purpose of GA meetings?

The purpose of GA fellowship meetings is to help compulsive gamblers stop gambling and rebuild their lives. The programme acknowledges that self-control on its own rarely solves the problem. Members who have tried repeatedly to quit and failed often find that GA works where personal determination didn’t, because it puts them in contact with others who know exactly how the compulsion operates.

How does Gamblers Anonymous work?

GA borrows its structure from Alcoholics Anonymous. Members work through 12 steps designed to address both the gambling itself and the thinking and behaviour underneath it. GA fellowship meetings are led entirely by recovering gamblers, with no therapists or counsellors involved. Here are the basics of how GA works:

The 12 steps

The 12 steps ask you to admit that gambling has made your life unmanageable and that you need help beyond your own willpower. What follows is an honest look at your gambling history, the damage it caused, and what you can do to repair it. The later steps focus on passing what you have learned to others.

The 12 traditions

The 12 traditions basically set out how GA groups function. They stop the organisation from accepting outside money, prevent anyone from speaking for GA publicly, prevent anyone from taking control or leadership of the group, and keep meetings focused purely on gambling recovery. Confidentiality is absolute, so what members share in GA meetings is not discussed elsewhere.

GA sponsorship

A sponsor is someone in GA who has successfully stopped gambling and offers to take you through the steps. They are the person you ring when you’re standing outside a bookmaker’s or when everything in your head is telling you that one bet won’t hurt. Sponsorship isn’t mandatory, but most people who stay gamble-free credit their sponsor as essential. Hopefully, as you become more confident in your recovery, you will become a sponsor, too.

What to expect at a GA meeting

GA fellowship meetings take place in borrowed or rented spaces, including rooms attached to churches, social clubs, libraries, or other public buildings. You will typically find a circle of chairs, a few pamphlets, a kettle, and hopefully some biscuits.

GA meetings usually follow a loose structure, but generally open with a statement explaining GA’s purpose, then move to introductions. When it reaches you, your first name is all that’s expected, but staying silent is also perfectly acceptable. In fact, many newcomers often sit quietly for several weeks before speaking.

The main part of the meeting involves members sharing their experiences about what gambling did to their lives, how they stopped (if they have stopped), and what keeps them from going back. Sharing happens one at a time, with no responses or cross-talk. That silence allows people to say things they’ve never admitted before.

Once the formal part ends, most people stay for a cup of tea and a chat. This is often when contact details change hands, and you begin making connections that may become friendships. It is also when you can meet people who could potentially become your sponsor.

What are the different GA meeting types and formats?

While the above section explains generally what happens in a meeting, GA runs several formats to suit different situations and stages of recovery. These include:

In-person GA meetings

Most GA meetings happen face-to-face and run weekly on the same day, making regular attendance easier to maintain. Group sizes vary depending on location, and some meetings draw a handful of people, while others may be much bigger.

Online GA meetings

GA has run telephone meetings for a long time, but video calls became common during the pandemic because people couldn’t attend physical meetings. However, remote options still work well if no group meets nearby, you’re not ready yet to attend in person, or if your working hours or other personal responsibilities clash with local meeting times.

Closed GA meetings

These are restricted to people who believe they have a gambling problem. This restriction allows members to speak freely without worrying about who might be listening.

Open GA meetings

Open meetings welcome anyone, including partners, relatives, or professionals wanting to understand how GA works. They are less frequent than closed meetings, but useful if you want someone with you for your first visit.

Newcomers GA meetings

Some areas run specific GA fellowship meetings for people in their first weeks. These tend to focus on the basics like how to stop gambling today, what the programme involves, the role of a sponsor, and what to expect going forward.

What are the benefits of attending GA meetings?

Professional treatment for gambling addiction through behavioural rehab offers structured therapeutic support, but it can cost money and only runs for a fixed period. GA is free, and you can attend for the rest of your life if that’s what keeps you from gambling.

Other benefits of GA meetings include:

No need to see a GP or get referred first (necessary to access NHS gambling treatment services)
Meetings in the evenings and on the weekend, when betting urges often peak, and when most people are free
A room of people who have lived through the same financial worries and shame
A structured path forward when your own efforts at control have collapsed
Guidance from a sponsor who recognises the mental games gambling plays

Gambling often overlaps with alcohol addiction or drug addiction, and attending NA meetings or AA alongside GA is common. Many people find that tackling both together is more effective than dealing with one at a time.

How to find a GA meeting near you

GA lists meetings on gamblersanonymous.org.uk. You can filter by region and by whether the meeting is open, closed, or online. Phone meetings are listed separately. If you have finished treatment at a behavioural rehab programme, the team there may have suggested GA as part of your aftercare. If you are starting from scratch, your GP or local addiction service can tell you what is running nearby.

Recovery.org.uk can also help you find GA meetings or explore treatment for addiction to gambling. For guidance on next steps, use our contact us page, and we will be happy to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I’m a compulsive gambler?

GA uses a set of 20 questions to help people decide. They cover things like chasing losses, lying about gambling, borrowing money to gamble, and feeling restless when you try to stop. Most compulsive gamblers answer yes to at least seven. You can find the questions on the GA website and answer them privately before deciding whether to attend.

Can I attend GA if I’m still gambling?

Yes, GA asks only that you want to stop gambling, so you don’t have to have placed your last bet before attending. Many members were still gambling when they first came, and attending meetings helped them finally quit.

Is GA religious?

GA’s steps mention a “power greater than ourselves,” but there is no requirement to believe in God. Some members see the power as the group itself. Others understand it as the accumulated wisdom of people who have stopped gambling. You define it for yourself, and plenty of atheists and agnostics are active in GA.