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| Formation | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Rick Benson |
| Type | Residential addiction treatment facility |
| Purpose | Gambling addiction treatment |
| Headquarters | Goodyear, Arizona, U.S. |
| Location |
|
| Services | Residential gambling addiction treatment |
Algamus Recovery Centers (also known as Algamus Gambling Treatment Services) is a residential treatment facility for gambling addiction located in Goodyear, Arizona, United States. It was founded in 1992 by Rick Benson.[1]
History
[edit]Founder Rick Benson has described developing a gambling addiction of his own in his twenties, beginning with horse racing and progressing through what he later characterized as three stages common to gambling addiction: a winning phase, a losing phase, and a "chasing" or desperation phase in which a gambler tries to bet their way out of mounting losses.[1] Benson's own addiction escalated after he moved to Las Vegas believing he could succeed as a professional blackjack player; as his losses grew, he says his personal life deteriorated.[1] Benson has said that when he sought residential treatment for his own gambling addiction, no gambling-specific program existed, which led him to found Algamus in 1992.[1] The organization has operated for over three decades.[1]
Program
[edit]Algamus offers a residential program typically lasting four to six weeks, incorporating individual and group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and aftercare planning. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the facility has capacity for about a dozen clients at a time, and its treatment approach also includes dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness-based practice, yoga, and the Enneagram personality framework, alongside attendance at local Gamblers Anonymous meetings.[2] A residential stay costs approximately $26,000, which is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.[1]
Industry context
[edit]Coverage of Algamus has situated it within a broader shortage of dedicated gambling-addiction treatment in the United States; reporting describes fewer than ten residential facilities nationwide that treat gambling addiction exclusively, compared to thousands dedicated to drug and alcohol treatment, despite federal estimates that millions of Americans have a gambling problem.[1] Unlike substance use disorder treatment, which receives substantial funding through Medicaid, gambling disorder treatment receives no equivalent federal support, leaving providers such as Algamus reliant on private insurance and out-of-pocket payment.[1] Reporting has contrasted Algamus's residential model with newer telehealth-based approaches to gambling addiction treatment, such as Birches Health, which offer lower-cost, insurance-covered remote therapy as an alternative or complement to residential care.[1]
Media coverage
[edit]In 2026, Algamus and founder Rick Benson were profiled by Fast Company in an article examining gaps in U.S. gambling addiction treatment infrastructure amid the rise of online sports betting.[1] The facility also received coverage from FOX 10 Phoenix in connection with reporting on a college athlete gambling scandal.[2] A gambling addiction treatment facility associated with Rick Benson's program was referenced in a 2005 CNN Larry King Live segment on A&E's Intervention, in which a recovering gambling addict described being sent to a residential facility in South Carolina for treatment.[3]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "America's gambling rehab crisis". Fast Company. 2026-06-28. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- 1 2 Krasean, Nicole. "Arizona gambling rehab facility highlights treatment trends amid Brendan Sorsby scandal". FOX 10 Phoenix. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ "Interventions". Larry King Live. CNN. 2005-08-19. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
External links
[edit]Category:Organizations based in Arizona Category:Gambling in the United States