Gambers Anonymous in Moose Jaw

Gambers Anonymous in Moose Jaw
Carter Haydu
Times-Herald

Meet Gerry. Within two months of Casino Moose Jaw opening in 2002, Gerry had already lost $48,000 at the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation facility.

Gerry is a gambler. An addict. But he has been on the road to recovery for many years.

“Nothing good happens until you admit you’re absolutely powerless,” he told the Times-Herald on Thursday.

Gerry’s story might seem perhaps a bit incredible to some, but certainly it’s not extraordinary.

In fact, the member of “Monday at 7 GA Step Recovery Group” said while there might be about 18 problem gamblers between the two Gambling Anonymous support groups locally, he predicts there could be as many as 50 times that many people in the Moose Jaw area who might need help with their addiction, but have yet to seek it out.

“Not many people think they have a problem,” Gerry said, adding gambling is indeed an issue in the Friendly City and he believes there should be more GA groups than the two currently available locally.

According to Gerry, Alcoholics Anonymous went through similar issues gathering support from addicts in its earlier years. However, over the decades the AA model has proven more effective and there are currently several AA groups locally, offering meetings on a fairly steady basis.

Gerry said there are some misconceptions people have about Gambling Anonymous that he believes keeps many people who would otherwise attend the group from doing so. One of the main misconceptions, he said, is the notion one must believe in God in order to join an Anonymous group.

“You don’t have to worship a deity in order to recover.”

It is important, Gerry said, to accept in GA that there is a power greater than the self that can restore the self. However, that “power” doesn’t necessarily need to refer to a supernatural god. It can be anything.

While more should be done locally, Gerry said there are positive things for problem gamblers in Moose Jaw.

Currently, people can have themselves voluntarily banned from Casino Moose Jaw and Gerry said that is a system that has worked out well for some local gambling addicts.

He encourages anyone who thinks he or she might have a gambling addiction to reach out for help. There is contact information for such help at the casino, as well as through Saskatchewan Health.