Where to get help for gambling addiction

You want help. Or you are not sure whether you need it. Or someone close to you has said something.

That is a big step. I gambled for more than eight years, and I know how high the bar feels to say: I cannot do this on my own.

This page sets out where you can go in the UK. What is available, what it costs and what to expect. So you do not have to search at the moment when things are already hard enough.

Need help right now?

• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133. Free, 24/7, run by GamCare. You can also chat online.
• Thinking about suicide? Call Samaritans on 116 123, free, day or night.
• In immediate danger? Call 999.

You do not have to be sure it is "bad enough" to call. Doubt is reason enough.

When to look for help

There is no line you have to cross first. But these are signs it is time:

• You have tried to stop and could not.
• You gamble to win back losses.
• You lie about gambling, to your partner, your family or yourself.
• You have debts because of gambling, or borrow money to gamble.
• You think about gambling a lot, even when you are not playing.
• You feel low, anxious or desperate about money or about yourself.

If you recognise one or more of these, looking for help is not an overreaction. More on the signs in Gambling addiction symptoms and signs.

1. A first conversation: the National Gambling Helpline

Want to talk to someone first? Call or chat with the National Gambling Helpline. It is free, confidential and open 24/7. You can tell your story, ask questions and hear what support is available near you, including free treatment through GamCare and its partners.

For many people this is the easiest first step. You do not have to decide anything yet.

2. NHS gambling clinics

In England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic. You do not need a referral from your GP, although you can also ask your GP about services in your area. The NHS website lists the clinics and how to contact them.

3. Your GP

Your GP can talk through what is going on, help with things like sleep problems, low mood or anxiety, and point you to local services. Be honest about the gambling. GPs hear this more often than you might think.

4. Support groups

Talking to people who have been through the same thing helps many people. You hear that you are not the only one, and you hear how others do it.

Gamblers Anonymous runs meetings across the UK. For partners and families there is GamAnon.

5. Help with debt

Gambling and debt often go together. Do not wait until the gambling is "sorted".

• StepChange and National Debtline (0808 808 4000) give free, impartial debt advice.
• In England and Wales, a debt adviser can apply for Breathing Space for you, which pauses most creditor action for up to 60 days.

More in How to pay off gambling debt and rebuild your finances.

What you can do yourself today

Outside help works best when you also close the door yourself. You can start today:

• Sign up to GamStop. It excludes you from gambling companies licensed in Great Britain. See Can you cancel GamStop early? for how it works.
• Block gambling on your phone and laptop, and turn on your bank's gambling block. See How to block gambling sites, apps and bank payments.
• Tell one person. How to tell someone you have a gambling problem helps with that conversation.

What to expect

Getting help does not mean you have to tell everything or change everything at once. A first conversation is mostly listening and questions. What is going on, for how long, what you have already tried.

You will not be judged. People who work in gambling support talk to people in your situation every day. You are not the exception.

For family and friends

Are you the partner, parent, child or friend of someone who gambles? You can get support yourself, even if they are not ready. The National Gambling Helpline is there for you too. Read My partner has a gambling problem as well.

Afterbetting alongside support

Afterbetting is not treatment and does not replace a professional. The app is for the hours in between: the evenings, the weekends, the moments you are on your own. Many people use it next to treatment or a support group.

The first step

You do not have to sort everything out today. One step is enough.

Call the National Gambling Helpline. Or refer yourself to an NHS clinic. Or send one person a message.

That is the start.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get help for gambling addiction in the UK?

Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and 24/7. In England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic, or ask your GP. Gamblers Anonymous runs support groups, and GamAnon is there for families.

Is gambling addiction treatment free in the UK?

Yes, NHS gambling clinics and the treatment offered through GamCare and its partners are free. Call the National Gambling Helpline to hear what is available near you.

Is the National Gambling Helpline confidential?

Yes. The National Gambling Helpline gives free, confidential information, advice and support, by phone or online chat, 24/7.

Sources

• NHS, Help for problems with gambling
• GamCare, National Gambling Helpline
• National Debtline, Breathing Space