Gambling is entertainment, and it costs money. It is not a way to earn an income, repay debts or fix money worries. Gambling is for adults aged 18 or over. If it has stopped feeling like a pastime, help is free and confidential. The services listed above can talk it through with you, whatever your situation. You do not need to be sure you have a problem before you call. Many people start with one short conversation and decide what to do next from there.
Warning signs and what to do
Gambling becomes a problem when it starts to take more time, money or attention than you planned. Common signs include:
- spending more than you intended, or returning to win back money you have lost
- borrowing money, or using money meant for bills, rent or food
- hiding how much you play from family, friends or colleagues
- feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down
- playing to escape stress, low mood or worry
If you recognise any of these, stop gambling for now and take a break. Then look at what has changed: how much you have spent, whether you have borrowed, and who knows. Talk to someone you trust, or contact GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline.
Tools to control your play
Every UK-licensed operator must offer tools that help you control how you play. They include:
- deposit limits, which cap how much you can pay in over a set period
- reality checks, which remind you how long you have been playing and how much you have spent
- time-outs, which block your account for a set period
- self-exclusion, which closes your account for a longer period
GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion scheme that covers all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. Registering there blocks your access to them, so you do not have to close each account separately.
Outside the sites themselves, you can also ask your bank whether it lets you block gambling transactions in its app, or block gambling payments on your card. Many people also install software that blocks gambling websites on their phone or computer. These tools work best when you set them up before you need them.
No single tool solves everything. A deposit limit, a time-out and a payment block used together give you more control than relying on one of them.
If someone close to you is affected
If someone close to you is gambling in a way that worries you, the way you raise it matters more than finding the perfect words. Choose a calm moment, not during an argument or straight after a loss. Say what you have noticed, explain why you are worried, and avoid blame. Think twice before covering their debts or handing over money without talking it through first.
You do not need the other person to agree to talk before you get support. Helplines and support services also work with families and partners, including on setting boundaries and looking after yourself.