Gambling Addiction & Recovery Support Group

Compulsive gambling is an urge or addiction to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. A preferred term among many professionals is problem gambling, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others rather...

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itsjustmeagain 05/01/2015

i was on the wed call and not sure if anyone else was, but i didnt realize that GA does not support or shall i say promote the self ban?

it is because with or without it, you must learn to live g free

islapoppy 05/01/2015

I didn't know that... But then again, the self ban is what worked for me, while attending a G A meeting made me want to go gamble right after the meeting. Everyone has to find what works for them. Last night I had a dream that I won the largest slot machine jackpot ever... some "feature" with all wild symbols that paid something like $64,000. I was initially very excited but then I thought, oh no, I'm self banned, I can't collect this jackpot and moreover, they'll probably arrest me once they get my I.d. to issue the 1099-g. All the panicking I felt woke me up, and I wasn't sorry to discover I hadn't really won a jackpot. I was only relieved I hadn't really gambled. It has been almost six years since I self-banned... Took a couple years after that to really be over it mentally. It's not a magic bullet but a really effective tool, for me at least.

Qwit4Good 05/02/2015

I have a difficult time believing that there is an "official" stance by GA on self-banning. That may have been the opinion at the meeting you attended, but it has been my experience that they advocate whatever works for you. (Short of switching to a new addiction.)

Nowadays, I attend support groups connected with a treatment center for compulsive gamblers. (Not GA) I did not use self-banning as a tool, as my gambling was literally at thousands of deli's, restaurants and bars that have state sanctioned video poker/slot machines. The task of self banning would have been monumental. For me I just had to get the mind set that I could not risk gambling again. I employed many other tools, and still do, to get to my nearly six months of abstinence and hopefully stay abstinent.

Something to note: You are in charge of your recovery, not your counselor, GA, your sponsor or your spouse. You are the only one that really can decide if something helps you or not. You are the only one that really knows if you are working your program, being honest with yourself, or making any progress. If I thought self-ban was possible for me and would maybe help I would do it regardless of what my support group, or GA or anyone says.

itsjustmeagain 05/02/2015

im serious QUIT4GOOD, the moderator interrupted a woman who offered advice to another to self ban, said its NOT GA stance - he said PLEASE REFRAIN from offering that type of advice

Qwit4Good 05/04/2015

Interesting.

afreshmind 05/04/2015

Well said Qwit4Good "you are in charge of your recovery...."

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