Jun 18, 2025 | RECOVERY, RESOURCES
After more than 30 years, the Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery in Granite Falls,
Minnesota’s only residential program for problem gambling and one of only a handful of such programs in the nation, continues to grow and involve. Northern Light sat down with Steph Almanza, unit coordinator for Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery, to learn more about how the program is evolving to help gamblers and their affected others.
NL: What is the approach you employ when treating problem gamblers?
SA: At Project Turnabout, a holistic approach to gambling recovery is at the core of our programming. Gary Van Eps leads individuals through a foundational 12-step group that explores each step in depth. This group setting encourages participants to examine their experiences with powerlessness related to gambling, while also addressing ego, character flaws and the role of spirituality in their recovery journey. Spiritual support is further provided through dedicated sessions on grief, loss and spirituality by Chaplain Robert Skjegstad. Additionally, recreational therapy is offered daily as a structured part of the healing process, helping clients rediscover joy and build healthy coping strategies.
Our program is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has a strong evidence base for addressing both substance and behavioral addictions, including gambling. A core component of CBT involves identifying and restructuring cognitive distortions and negative automatic thoughts, unhelpful patterns of thinking that often reinforce gambling behavior, minimize consequences and drive emotional distress. Through this approach, clients gain the insight and tools needed to respond differently to emotional triggers, rather than reverting to gambling as a coping mechanism.
NL: What role does shame play in diagnosis and treatment?
SA: We spend a lot of time exploring shame, as it can be a significant barrier to healing. Many clients experience shame not just for their actions, but as a reflection of who they believe they are. Without addressing shame, it can become a hidden driver of relapse. By teaching the difference between guilt and shame, and encouraging clients to develop self-compassion, we support a more sustainable and forgiving path toward change.
As part of this process, clients also learn when and how to apply coping skills, shifting from reactive patterns to more intentional behaviors. We help them build emotional regulation skills that are applicable both inside and outside of treatment.
NL: What else do you focus on?
SA: We also focus heavily on communication and boundaries. These skills are essential for long-term recovery and for repairing the relational harm that often accompanies gambling addiction. Clients explore past patterns of people-pleasing, avoidance, dishonesty or conflict, and learn to set healthy boundaries with themselves and others. These relational tools not only support accountability but also reduce the likelihood of returning to toxic dynamics that may trigger relapse.
NL: How do you incorporate family into the treatment process?
SA: We provide dedicated family sessions, as gambling rarely impacts the individual alone. Loved ones are often affected by broken trust, financial loss and emotional trauma. Family work helps reestablish communication, set healthy expectations and create a supportive post-treatment environment—one where both the individual and their support system can continue to heal together.
NL: What else is on the horizon for Vanguard?
SA: Recognizing the lack of resources in rural areas, Project Turnabout has established Growth Group, a monthly alumni meeting held on the third Saturday of each month. This group invites former clients—who are at least six months post-treatment—to return, share progress, discuss challenges and offer peer support to current participants. This continuity fosters a strong sense of community and ongoing accountability.
NL: What kind of practical emphasis is provided to clients?
SA: In addition to emotional and spiritual care, the program places a strong emphasis on mental health and practical life skills. Clients receive weekly one-on-one therapy sessions and can consult with a psychiatrist for medication management, if needed. Financial education is also a vital part of the curriculum, covering budgeting, debt management and connection to relevant community resources.
The program also integrates practical tools to aid in relapse prevention. One such tool is Gamban, an online self-exclusion service for individuals seeking to block access to gambling websites. For those looking to exclude themselves from physical gambling establishments, staff provide hands-on support to navigate this often-complex process. This includes assistance with completing self-exclusion forms, gathering required identification, securing notarization and submitting documents by mail. Clients are also guided through the additional step of contacting casinos to stop promotional mailers, emails and other marketing communications—all common relapse triggers.
Together, these services create a comprehensive, compassionate framework to support lasting recovery from gambling addiction.
Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery is a residential program solely for those suffering from problem gambling. The Center provides men and women aged 18 and older with the tools necessary to begin their process to recovery from gambling and discover some of the obstacles in their lives that may challenge long-term recovery. For more information, visit https://www.projectturnabout.org/treatment/gambling-recovery/vanguard.
Nov 12, 2024 | CONCERNED OTHERS, HELP, PROBLEM GAMBLING, RESOURCES
Perhaps no other addiction damages one’s financial resources as much as gambling disorder. Indeed, the ability to regain financial health is a critical aspect of recovery from the addiction.
Recognizing the unique interplay between financial discipline and gambling recovery, MNAPG is excited to share a new and valuable resource for those experiencing issues from gambling — whether for the gambler or a family member affected by the gambler’s behavior. Starting in October, MNAPG began offering specialized financial counseling through the Financial Choice services of LSS Financial Counseling.
This joint effort pairs the financial expertise of LSS counselors with the problem gambling awareness training offered by MNAPG. Those who take advantage of this service will meet with a financial counselor who understands how gambling can negatively impact an individual or family’s finances.
This benefit provides access to six free and confidential financial counseling sessions. These sessions provide the guidance and support needed to address financial challenges brought on by problem gambling and to chart a path forward to financial stability.
The experienced and non-judgmental counselors at LSS Financial Counseling can help:
· Assess one’s current financial situation
· Create a personalized budget and debt management plan
· Develop strategies to avoid future financial pitfalls
· Set and achieve long-term financial goals
Sessions are available in person, by phone or online — whichever is most comfortable. Those interested in taking advantage of this free service should contact LSS Financial Counseling at 800-528-2926 and mention assistance for problem gambling to schedule an appointment. LSS Financial Counseling is an experienced nonprofit, full-service credit counseling agency.
May 23, 2024 | ABOUT MNAPG, PROBLEM GAMBLING, PROFESSIONALS, RESOURCES
Minnesota Conference
The Minnesota Conference on Problem Gambling takes place on Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington. While we’re still finalizing the day’s sessions, here are some topics we plan to cover:
- The intersection of gambling and suicide
- Financial counseling for families
- The impact of gambling on families
- Community leader panel discussion about gambling
- Update on sports betting legislation
- National gambling attitudes survey results
Please check mnapg.org in the coming months for additional information about the conference as we solidify the agenda.
National Conference
The National Conference on Gambling Addiction & Responsible Gambling takes place in San Diego on July 17-19. The conference brings together world-class presenters to deliver powerful and insightful messages about problem gambling and responsible gambling. For more information and to register, visit ncpgconference.org.
May 22, 2024 | HELP, PROBLEM GAMBLING, RESOURCES
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is making significant improvements to the National Problem Gambling Helpline. The changes are expected to provide consistent standards across participating states and provide insights into those calling the helplines, ultimately making help more accessible to people in need of problem gambling information and support services.
There are four primary aspects to the modernization project, which began in 2021. The first was establishing a national helpline number, 1-800-GAMBLER, something that was initiated in 2022. The single national number means a reduction in the number of state helpline numbers that need to be listed in national gambling ads. It also ensures that anyone living in participating states will be automatically routed to their local state helpline when I dialing 1-800-GAMBLER.
The second part of the project is upgrading the technology. This involved improving telephony and routing systems, synchronizing text and chat data collection forms, and ensuring access to language translation for services for all contact centers within the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network. While this work isn’t flashy to the public, it ensures that everyone gets connected to their contact center efficiently and effectively, and that language is not a barrier to care.
The third portion of the project involves working with the 27 contact centers that comprise the network to help each one grow, standardize communication and training, and ensure the centers obtain accreditation with the appropriate governing body.
The final aspect of the project relates to data collection. NCPG is working with the various contact centers to get permission to gather specific helpline data. This will provide insights into trends about callers using the service and the reason for their call, ultimately allowing NCPG to better support advocacy efforts at the national and state levels.
NCPG’s Helpline Committee has developed more than 15 data points they’re seeking to obtain from the contact centers. Some of the information includes who is calling the helpline (family member, individual who gambles, etc.), the kind of gambling that has caused problems (sports gambling, lottery, etc.), and the type of referrals made (to treatment, to peer support, warm transfer to crisis services, etc.).
“This information will allow us to identify and forecast trends, which will inform state and national advocacy efforts,” says Jaime Costello, director of programs for NCPG. “For example, if we see that peer services are becoming a more common referral option, we’ll be able to help the states advocate for more resources. Data strengthens advocacy efforts.”
NCPG hopes to complete the initial stages of the National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernization Project by the end of the year and is hoping to extend the work beyond 2024. NCPG is seeking to secure additional or extended funding to ensure that the project can be continued through to completion. Funding for the National Problem Gambling Helpline Modernization has been provided by the NFL via the NFL Foundation.
Note: Minnesota will continue to advertise its own helpline number 1-800-333-HOPE (4673) for in-state messaging. If sports betting is approved, the NCPG helpline number will be used in ads to eliminate the need to have multiple numbers printed. Regardless of which number a Minnesotan calls, they will be connected to the state’s help center vendor.
Mar 15, 2024 | RECOVERY, RESOURCES
Kurt Dahl, a Minnesotan who resides primarily in Washington state, has self-published a new book called “The New Millennium 5 Step Program: A powerful guide to living a gambling-free life.” The book re-examines the traditional 12-step Gamblers Anonymous (GA) program and offers an alternative. He continues to support individual’s participation in GA meetings, but believes the 12-step program, originally designed in the 1930s, needs a more updated approach.
Some of you may have read Kurt’s first book, “Gambling Addiction,” in which he writes about the prevalence of suicide among gamblers. Kurt is in long-term recovery and is an alumnus of the Vanguard Center for Gambling Recovery, which he credits for saving his life.
Kurt advocated for these five steps:
- Get ready, get set
- Go all in
- Take care of yourself
- Recovery is forever
- Pay it forward
As times change, it’s important that approaches to helping those with gambling addiction be evaluated to make sure they are current and applicable. Our last edition of Northern Light (Fall 2023) noted that the GA Blue Book underwent a significant revision, acknowledging that the book wasn’t as relevant as it could be. Members were seeking an updated guide that would facilitate meetings, work with sponsors, provide clarity on the process and help any reader better understand the program.
Note that MNAPG does not endorse any particular path to recovery. Individuals need to find what works best for them and, if it keeps them out of harm’s way, stick with it.
Nov 29, 2023 | RECOVERY, RESOURCES
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) has unveiled an updated Blue Book, the first such revision in nearly 40 years. The purpose of the book is to better serve both new and current members in their search for recovery from gambling addiction.
Specifically, members wanted a book that would:
o Function as a how-to for GA
o Facilitate working with sponsees
o Help members quickly understand the process
o Be something that would help anyone understand what the program is
The existing Blue Book was dated and generally not being used by the fellowship, according to Tom S., a member of the committee charged with producing an updated book. Considerable changes have taken place in gambling since 1984, including online sports betting and the proliferation of casinos.
“Mostly gone are the days of cigar-smoking horse players and sports bettors dropping a dime in a payphone and calling a bookie,” says Tom. “The gamblers coming to our meetings today are more likely to be casino gamblers, gamblers caught up in state-sponsored gambling, female gamblers and younger gamblers. They didn’t find a connection to the Blue Book of 1984.”
The revised book reflects changes that have already occurred in most GA meetings, including an effort to be more inclusive and an emphasis that meetings be solution-based — including recovery steps — rather than “war story” based.
The book was eight years in the making (partially delayed by the pandemic) and was produced by eight active Minnesota GA members with combined sobriety of approximately 120 years. The book is comprised of all original material, with no language borrowed from other twelve-step fellowships (although twelve-step principles and philosophy are woven throughout).
The book encapsulates the vast experience of its contributors and is a storehouse of ideas for recovering gamblers, covering issues such as how to deal with gambling urges, how to go to a meeting, how to get involved in GA, how to choose a sponsor, how to grow in recovery and how to repair relationships. The book also incorporates material from the GA Combo Book.
New chapters were added that address suicide, relapse, sponsorship, and hope and persistence.
“The chapter on suicide is extremely important and, until now, was completely missing from GA literature,” says Tom.
The new book does not include declaratives, such as “you must” or “you have to” statements. Different viewpoints are discussed and the suggestion is made for gamblers to discuss these perspectives with their sponsor or mentors.
The book is valuable for clients of counselors and therapists who choose to pursue their personal recovery journey in GA. Clients may also see themselves in the experiences depicted in the stories section of the book.
“I would encourage those who work with compulsive or problem gamblers to read this book from cover to cover, as it captures both the despair experienced by compulsive gamblers and the better way of life promised by GA,” says Jeannie B., who was also involved in producing the new book. “Professionals can also use the book to deepen their understanding of the GA program.”
To order a copy of the book, please visit gamblersanonymous.org.
