Women's Recovery From Compulsive Gambling: Formal and Informal Supports

Although at least one third of problem gamblers are women, the majority of the scant literature available on treatment and recovery is based on male gamblers. Recent gender comparisons found significant differences between men and women who have sought help for problems associated with their gambling, which raises the possibility of different recovery processes. Using previously collected data, we explored this issue with a nonclinical sample of women (N = 136) who had achieved at least 6 months of abstinence from compulsive gambling. Data were gathered using a 79-item online survey. The analyses indicate that the respondents were primarily middle-aged, well-educated white women with serious gambling problems. Gamblers Anonymous (GA) was by far the most important resource in recovery, with 75% of the women reporting that they attended at least 1 GA meeting. Forty-threepercent of the women reported receiving professional help and 10% reported recovering "on their own."