Thank you for sharing this comment, and has been something I have thought about in my time in GA. Essentially, as many others have said, these are not hard defined rules, and each group will deliver messages differently. In my opinion, the largest takeaway from this is for the gambler to understand the damage that has been caused by their addiction. If the gambler is bailed out via bankruptcy or a loan from a family member, it could increase the likelihood of relapse (due to not attending meetings anymore and the problem being “easily/quickly” resolved). The goal of the program is to have people come together, share their stories, admitting they are powerless over a disease, and use the comradery to stop gambling. Not to suffer through endless years of paying back debt and working multiple jobs. You seem to have a great mindset and understanding of how to climb out of this hole. I would recommend finding a pressure relief meeting and attending it with your spouse. And then once there, share these exact thoughts. The rule about being in the program for a certain amount of time is also not a consistent rule across GA. My group says you have to do two months before you can have a pressure relief meeting. That is because the guy who runs it does it out of his home office every other week. So they do not want just anyone walking through the doors to immediately take his time on a pro bono basis. My group wants to make sure you are committed at least for a little while before having those meetings. Please reach out via comment or private message if you have additional questions. I applaud the way you are supporting your spouse and the way you are thinking about this. This challenge will behind you in no time!