What is a compulsive gambler?
In Bettors Anonymous, a compulsive gambler is described as a person whose gambling has caused growing and continuing problems in any department of their life. The compulsive gambler is someone who has lost the power of choice regarding when, where, and how much they bet. It is an emotional illness, progressive in nature, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to gamble coupled with an inability to stop and stay stopped by willpower alone.
How do I know if I am a compulsive gambler?
A simple and practical self-diagnostic test is available: The 20 Questions of Bettors Anonymous. Most compulsive gamblers answer "YES" to at least seven of these questions. In essence: If you find that your gambling is causing financial, emotional, family, legal, or professional problems, and yet you cannot stop even when you genuinely want to, you are likely a compulsive gambler.
Isn't compulsive gambling basically a financial problem?
No. This is one of the greatest misconceptions held by active gamblers and their families. While the destruction of finances is the most visible symptom, the root problem is emotional and spiritual. Active gamblers often believe that a large financial bailout or a "big hit" will solve all their troubles. In reality, bailing out a compulsive gambler almost always leads to more gambling. Recovery begins only when the gambler addresses the underlying personality defects and emotional reliance on gambling.
Why can't a compulsive gambler simply use willpower to stop?
Compulsive gambling is an addiction characterized by progressive loss of control. The desire to gamble becomes an irresistible obsession that bypasses normal logic, reason, and self-restraint. Relying on self-will alone is rarely equal to the task of defeating this addiction. Bettors Anonymous provides a spiritual and practical program that replaces self-will with reliance on a Higher Power and the mutual support of the fellowship.
Can a compulsive gambler ever gamble normally or socially again?
No. Based on the accumulated experience of thousands of members, a compulsive gambler can never safely place another bet of any kind. No matter how long a period of abstinence a member has enjoyed, the underlying compulsion remains dormant. A single bet—even a minor $1 lottery ticket or casual office pool—almost inevitably reawakens the full-blown obsession and leads back to catastrophic loss.
What is the "dream world" of the compulsive gambler?
The BA Book explains that compulsive gamblers spend a vast amount of time living in an emotional fantasy world. In this dream world, they envision winning huge sums of money, gaining total independence, buying luxury items, commanding admiration, and solving all life's problems with a single stroke. This fantasy serves to escape the harsh reality of emotional pain, boredom, debt, and guilt. In recovery, we learn to accept reality and live constructively in the present moment.
What are the emotional characteristics of the problem gambler?
The literature highlights four major emotional traits common to active compulsive gamblers:
- Inability and unwillingness to accept reality: Creating an internal escape through the action of the bet.
- Emotional insecurity: Feeling comfortable and powerful only when wagering or being in "action."
- Immaturity: Wanting all of life's rewards immediately with zero effort, patience, or responsibility.
- Selfishness and self-centeredness: Placing the pursuit of gambling ahead of family, friends, obligations, and basic honesty.
What are the chances of my recovery?
If you will simply practice the Program by attending two or three meetings a week, obtaining a sponsor, and honestly working the Twelve Steps, your chances of recovery are excellent. Bettors Anonymous has restored sanity, financial security, and peaceful family life to thousands of individuals who were once completely hopeless.
How much does it cost to join Bettors Anonymous?
There are no dues or fees whatsoever for BA membership. We are entirely self-supporting through voluntary contributions from our own members (the 7th Tradition). We decline all outside donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.