Gambling addiction recovery isn’t just about stopping the behavior—it’s about rebuilding emotional clarity, restoring relationships, and reshaping your identity. Books can offer reflection, structure, and support at every stage of healing.
Whether you’re beginning recovery, seeking emotional stability after relapse, or supporting a loved one, these recommended titles can guide your journey with insight, structure, and compassion.
1. Addiction by Design
Author: Natasha Dow Schüll
Why Read It: This research-based book explores how slot machines and casino environments are scientifically designed to encourage compulsive behavior. A powerful examination of how gambling hijacks decision-making and emotional regulation.
2. Gambling: The Hidden Addiction
Author: Kerry Dennis
Why Read It: A practical workbook rooted in the Twelve Steps, this book guides readers through emotional healing, reflection, and rebuilding. Offers a blend of structure and personal insight.
3. Bet on Yourself
Author: Susana Abdella
Why Read It: A deeply personal story of overcoming gambling addiction. Focuses on building emotional strength, setting boundaries, and rebuilding life with confidence and self-worth.
4. The Girl Gambler
Author: Stacey Goodwin
Why Read It: This candid memoir offers a relatable account of addiction, shame, and healing. Especially powerful for women navigating secrecy and self-repair during recovery.
5. The Gambling Disorder Treatment Handbook
Authors: Jody Bechtold & Alyssa Wilson
Why Read It: A trusted guide used in therapy settings, offering CBT strategies, trauma-informed care, and relapse prevention tools. Ideal for those in individual or couples therapy.
6. Overcome Your Gambling Addiction: A Self-Coaching Recovery Journal
Author: C.W.V. Straaten
Why Read It: A structured self-help journal with prompts to reflect on triggers, goals, and accountability. Excellent for people who prefer working on recovery in private or alongside therapy.
7. How to Use CBT to Stop Gambling
Author: Edward Smith
Why Read It: A short, action-oriented guide for using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to identify gambling triggers and shift thinking patterns. Great for beginners or those looking for clarity and tools.
Final Reflection
Books are not a cure, but they can serve as powerful companions through the healing process. Each page turned is a step forward in recovery—toward self-understanding, emotional regulation, and restored trust.
No matter where you are in your journey, there is wisdom in stories and structure in strategies. You are not alone—and these authors walk beside you.
