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Safe Gambling for Military and Veterans
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  • Home
  • What is Problem Gambling?
  • Getting Help
  • Safety Tips

Lori Rugle Ask for help.

No Cost Treatment is available for those with a gambling problem and/or their family members. Even if your family member is not ready to change, information can be helpful to you now.

Learn more about No Cost Treatment

"Military culture and gambling seem to go hand in hand. A lot of the things we do in the military are very similar -- risk taking, all or nothing, wins and losses, plus the on-going competitiveness. We don’t want to sound weak. We don’t want to let down our fellow military active-duty members, our fellow marines, sailors, airmen, so at work, we don’t tell anyone. We don’t tell anyone at home. We don’t tell our spouses. We don’t ask for help because by asking for help, we believe we could risk our career."

-Glenn
Nationally Certified Gambling Counselor (ICGC-II)
Certified Peer Support Specialist
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist

FIND A COUNSELOR NEAR YOU

There are counselors throughout the state who have been trained to work with individuals with Gambling Problems. No cost treatment is available.

Find a counselor near you

GA MEETINGS

Gamblers Anonymous has meeting locations throughout the state.

Find a GA Meeting near you

Closed Meeting:
Only those with a gambling problem, or those who think they may have a gambling problem, and have a desire to stop gambling, may attend and participate.

Modified Closed Meeting:
Same as a “Closed Meeting” but the members would vote to include certain groups such as health professionals, guests attending with first time members, and persons with other addictions in need of a meeting.

Open Meeting:
Spouses, family, and friends of the gambler are welcome
to attend and observe the meeting.

THE HELPLINE: 1-800-GAMBLER

Who will you speak to?
When you call this number, you will speak with someone trained to provide help for people with gambling problems. The help-line specialist will let you know about the closest self-help meeting or the closest available counselor. Gambling problems are a treatable medical condition.

Why Call?
For gamblers, family members and friends, gambling can become an urgent crisis. Gambling problems often escalate quickly, rapidly impacting more and more people, hurting family, friends and employers. People with gambling problems are at high risk for incarceration and suicide. It is very important to get help as soon as possible. Gamblers, their family, their friends, or employers are welcome to call the free and confidential helpline. Calls can be answered with TTY and in over 160 languages with the use of the AT&T language line.

What help can you expect?
-The helpline counselor will listen to your problems.
-The helpline counselor can connect you with a peer counselor (counselor who is a person in recovery)who can listen and help you decide the best path for to address any problems gambling is causing you.
-The helpline counselor will make a recommendation about services, which can offer you or your family member support.
-The helpline counselor can let you know about the closest Gamblers Anonymous Meeting. GA is an organization, which supports people with gambling problems. Attendance is free and confidential.
-The helpline can make a referral to a counselor trained to understand problem gambling.
-The helpline can provide written materials about gambling problems mailed in plain envelopes.

*THE APPEARANCE OF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD) VISUAL INFORMATION DOES NOT IMPLY OR CONSTITUTE DOD ENDORSEMENT

No Cost Treatment Now Available for Anyone Wanting Help for a Gambling Problem Learn More
university of Maryland school of medicine the Maryland center of excellence on problem gambling
Maryland Department of Health

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