Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is an international nonprofit fellowship founded in Los Angeles in 1957, modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. It exists to help people with compulsive gambling problems recover by sharing experiences, strength, and hope with one another through a twelve-step program grounded in spiritual principles.

GA operates through regular group meetings—held weekly in person, virtually, and by telephone—in cities throughout the world. There are no dues or fees; the organization is entirely self-supporting through voluntary member contributions. Membership is open to anyone who has a desire to stop gambling.

The fellowship is accompanied by Gam-Anon, a related but separate organization that provides support to the families and loved ones of compulsive gamblers. GA also maintains an International Service Office and a national hotline (855-2CALLGA) to help individuals locate meetings and access support.

As a peer-support organization addressing gambling addiction, GA is directly relevant to innovations in behavioral health, addiction recovery technology, telehealth, and responsible-gambling initiatives, given its global reach and growing use of virtual and telephone-based meeting formats.