I am not a GA expert and this is not an official GA site. (Here is the official GA site: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/) However here is my opinion of what may have a part in the reasoning behind it: One of the problems initially, we compulsive gamblers have is boredom and what to fill the time with. This gives us something to do in the most critical early months of recovery. Secondly, it takes an average of 90-120 days for dopamine and serotonin to return to normal levels. I felt a brain fog begin to lift at about 90 days and my emotions began to level out as well in that first 3-4 months of abstinence. Third, I think it takes that many meetings of any 12 step program to explore the variety of meetings there are and perhaps find one you can feel comfortable with as a home group for support. Fourth I think it fair to say that it may take that many meetings to really have given it a whole-hearted "college try" to be able to really make an informed decision as to whether GA is right for you or not.
I only occasionally go to a 12 step meeting now, but I use the 12 steps principles and I attend a same sex support group through the gambling addiction counseling center where I underwent treatment. Having a support group is huge help in many ways. (Another conversation) I hope this gives some insight as to why that is the recommendation. You may want to try asking the question on the GA site, as I am expressing my best thoughtful opinion/educated guess.

Thank you Qwit4good. That makes sense to me. After I asked this question I did google that question and found more answers. I didn't know about the dopamine & serotonin. I am a freelance artist and I live alone and which leaves me with alot of time on my hands. My first GA meeting will be tonight after relapsing on a 3 day binge which ate up money I needed. I haven't been able to go more than 6 weeks without gambling, so to me 90/90 will be what I must do. I'm scared right now because I put myself in a bad way. I have enough to cover my bills for this month but I need more income that is in the works as far as freelancing goes. I have been in & out of GA for the last 6 years as well as Casinos and I've had enough of this insane game I've been playing. To me this is my last chance to make things go right and keep it that way. I'm confused a bit right now, I don't know what brain fog is.

HI Happyhatter, welcome!

Brain fog ... to me its like being all hungover from going on an all nighter drunk ... a bunch of booze still rolling around in my gutt and the effects of it in my head.

My head and brain were focused on the casino .. winning money, losing money, getting there, covering my losses.. lying, cheating, stealing, etc, etc. ... My life and thoughts were consumed with this horrible thinking and behavior.

While I am only a little over 2 months gamble free ... my head is STILL fogged up with some of the above mentioned thoughts. And I know t hat its just gonna take time to replace the fog with better stuff! And, work on my part too ... meetings, coming here, praying, exercising, work, socializing in different places/enviornments. I have to fill the hole that the casino use to fill.

Again , welcome! Really glad you are here. I have found a great bunch of Folks here who have been really helpful to me .. and for this I am grateful :-)

Hi @happyhatter,

I can't answer your question. I don't know the reason.

What I will tell you is to remember that progress occurs in shades of grey. A lot of addicts, myself included, have a tendency to see everything in black and white.

If you can do 90 meetings in 90 days, great. But if you can't, and can only go to 45 meetings in 90 days, or 10 meetings in 90 days, or even 1 meeting in 90 days, that is still progress. ANY time you spend in a meeting, with a gambling counselor, on this forum, or staying away from the casino is progress. It doesn't have to be perfect.

I am 202 days in, and I have not attended any GA meetings. I have, however, seen a therapist bi-weekly during this time, and weekly for the first few weeks.

Hope this helps.

Thank all of you for your help. I have a lady who is be gamble free for 13 years and she is the one who suggested 90/90. She is also a counselor now and working on getting me into counseling 1 on 1 with her. She is also a GA member. I did have a counselor once but it didn't work out. Why? I just could't relate with him because he had never gambled and I felt like I was just a statistic in his job. I may be wrong about all of that, but I went with my intuitive feeling. I didn't gamble every day, just when the addict in me thought I could get away with it, but not this time. I took it way over the limit and I can see the progression of this addiction. Over the span of these 6 years I owe one lady $400 and another $1000 and my cousin $600 and when I had extra money the thought of paying them back didn't enter my head which is insane to me right now. I read this book called the Power of Now and it makes so much sense to me. I am applying it . Living in the moment and ignoring crazy thoughts of the ego (false self) that throws me into the past or future but never the present. I'm sorting things out. and keeping my attention into the present and that helps, because when my thoughts are in the past or future, I feel like fear and pain creep in and that to me is not healthy because that is what gets me to the Casino along with the emotion "Boredom" I not resisting that I have an addiction anymore. It is what it is and I am accepting it. Once again, thanks to all of you, I don't feel like I'm alone.

You are well on your way. Attitude is worth a lot. You are being open and willing to apply something different.
You are not alone.

I just felt this thread was worth bringing to the top again.

Thank you qwit4good, Its been 13 days now and I've attended 8 meetings. There were 3 days Jan 10-12, that I couldn't go anywhere due to just enough gas to get me to a gas station less than a 1/2 mile away which is a lesson learned on what position gambling put me in, but I was talking to GA members those 3 days. I'm doing everything I can to arrest this addiction. I'm reading great books, One is "the Addictive Personality" by Craig Nakken. OMG! I do have this personality! It saddened me that it doesn't go away but I have accepted it and like I said, doing everything I need to do to recover. It is a commitment that I am so willing to do. I know that gambling had distanced me from God/Higher Power/ Devine Presence. I turned my will over to the care of this power now. I love the serenity prayer. God willing I will make it through the next month financially, and have another job and more freelance work. there is a fear that wells up inside me about all this, but I love the Phrase for Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. It deals with future NOT the present moment of NOW, so I will keep my attention in the present and Face Everything And Recover. You really give good advice Qwit4Good. Bless all of you for your Support!!!!

Wonderful! This is great news! So glad you have a great attitude and are finding a path.
We only have to get through today.