If you are reading this because gambling feels like more than fun for you you've already taken a big step.
It takes a lot of courage to admit you have a gambling problem.
Getting help is actually easier than you might think.
This page doesn't have any sponsored links.
We don't get any money from the resources listed here.
These are resources for people, in the UK who need help with gambling.
If you need to talk to someone you can call the National Gambling Helpline at 0808 8020 133.
This service is free and confidential.
The National Gambling Helpline is available 24 hours a day to talk to you about your gambling problems and the National Gambling Helpline is there to support you.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling develops gradually. Many people don't recognise it until it has significantly affected their finances, relationships, or wellbeing. These are the most common signs:
- Gambling with money you can't afford to lose — using rent, bills, or food money to gamble
- Chasing losses — returning to try to win back money you've already lost
- Being unable to stop — continuing to gamble even when you've decided to stop
- Lying about gambling — hiding how much you gamble or how much you've lost from family or friends
- Borrowing money to gamble — taking loans, using credit, or asking others for money to fund gambling
- Gambling affecting work or relationships — missing work, neglecting family, or arguments caused by gambling
- Feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling — restlessness, mood swings, or difficulty concentrating away from gambling
- Using gambling to cope with stress or problems — treating gambling as an escape from real-life difficulties
- Needing to gamble larger amounts for the same feeling — escalating bets to maintain excitement (tolerance)
- Spending most of your free time thinking about gambling — planning your next session, reliving past games, or researching ways to gamble more
If three or more of these apply to you, please reach out for help. Problem gambling is treatable — and the sooner you seek support, the easier recovery is.
GamStop. How to Stop Playing at All UK Casinos
GamStop is like a safety net for people in the UK who want to stop gambling. It's free and easy to set up taking only a few minutes. Once you're registered all casinos in the UK that are properly licensed have to block your account. Won't let you open new ones.
How to Register with GamStop. Step by Step
- Go to gamstop.co.uk
- Click on "Register for Self-Exclusion"
- Enter your details like name, date of birth email addresses and phone numbers you use for gambling
- Choose how you want to be excluded: 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. You can't change this decision once you've made it.
- Confirm your registration. GamStop will send you a confirmation email.
Self-exclusion starts working within 24 hours. Your existing casino accounts will be blocked. Any pending withdrawals will be processed.
Important Things to Know About GamStop
- GamStop covers, over 900 websites, including all UK casinos, betting sites, poker rooms and bingo sites.
- It doesn't cover sites that are not licensed in the UK.
- Make sure to include all email addresses and phone numbers you've used to register at gambling sites.
- GamStop is completely free. Don't pay for "self-exclusion" services that claim to do the same thing.
- After your exclusion period ends there's a 7-day wait before you can access things again. This helps prevent you from making decisions to start gambling again.
Free Help Organisations for UK Players
All of the following services are free of charge. No referral is needed. All offer confidential support.
BeGambleAware
The UK's leading responsible gambling charity. Offers free advice, self-help tools, and access to the National Gambling Helpline. The website includes a confidential live chat service and can help you find local treatment services.
National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
Free · Confidential · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
GamCare
Provides free information, advice, and support for anyone affected by problem gambling — including friends and family members. Offers individual counselling, a peer support forum, and the same National Gambling Helpline number. GamCare also runs a Young People's service for those under 18.
Gamblers Anonymous UK
A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope to recover from compulsive gambling. The programme is based on 12 steps, similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Meetings are held across the UK — in person and online. There is no charge and no requirement to disclose your full name.
Gambling Therapy
A free international service offering online support for problem gamblers and their families. Provides a live chat support service, moderated forums, and a range of self-help tools. Particularly useful for those who prefer online support rather than phone calls or in-person meetings. Available in multiple languages.
NHS — Gambling Addiction
The NHS provides information on recognising gambling addiction and accessing treatment. NHS-funded treatment is available through your GP — you can be referred to a specialist gambling clinic. The NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic in London and Northern Gambling Service are two specialist options accessible via GP referral.
Samaritans
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, please call the Samaritans on 116 123 — free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day. You do not need to be suicidal to call — they help with any emotional distress.
Self-Help Tools Available at UKGC-Licensed Casinos
All UK Gambling Commission-licensed casinos are required to offer a range of responsible gambling tools. These are available on your account at any time — you do not need to explain yourself or justify using them. Here's what to look for:
Deposit Limits
Set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on how much you can deposit. Limits can be lowered immediately, but increases require a cooling-off period (usually 24–72 hours) to take effect. This prevents you from raising limits in the heat of the moment.
Loss Limits
Cap how much you can lose over a set period. Some casinos offer this separately from deposit limits — I'd recommend setting both. Once your loss limit is reached, you cannot continue playing until the period resets.
Session Limits
Set a maximum time for each gambling session. When the limit is reached, you are automatically logged out. This is particularly useful if you find yourself losing track of time while playing.
Reality Checks
Pop-up reminders that appear at set intervals (e.g., every 30 or 60 minutes) showing how long you've been playing and your net win/loss for the session. These interruptions are designed to help you make a conscious decision about whether to continue.
Cool-Off Periods
A short-term break from gambling — typically 24 hours to 6 weeks. During a cool-off, you cannot log in, deposit, or play. Unlike self-exclusion, cool-offs expire automatically. Useful if you feel you need a break but don't want a long-term exclusion.
Self-Exclusion Per Casino
You can self-exclude from any individual UKGC-licensed casino directly through your account settings. This is separate from GamStop and takes effect immediately. For full protection, use GamStop alongside individual self-exclusions.
Where to find these tools: Look in your account settings under "Responsible Gambling", "Safer Gambling", or "Player Protection". All UKGC casinos are required to make these tools easy to find. If a casino makes it difficult to set limits, report it to the UKGC at gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
For Family Members. How to Help Someone With a Gambling Problem
Living with someone who has a gambling problem can be really tough. It is exhausting and confusing. It can also be very frightening. You cannot make someone stop gambling. You can do things to protect yourself and make it easier for them to get help.
Protect Your Finances
If you share money with someone who has a gambling problem think about having separate accounts and do not let them use the shared money. Do not give them money to gamble with because this will just make things worse. Set some rules. Make sure you stick to them.
Have the Conversation
Choose a time to talk to them not when they are upset or angry about money. Tell them what you have seen and how it is affecting you and your family. Try not to say things like "you have to stop" but make it clear that things cannot stay the same. GamCare has some advice on how to have these conversations.
Get Support for Yourself
There is a group called Gam-Anon you can find them at gamanon.org.uk. They are for people who have family or friends with gambling problems. They can give you support from people who know what you are going through. GamCare also has a phone line for families you can call them on 0808 8020 133.
Encourage Professional Help
Offer to help find treatment options — not to make the call for them, but to remove barriers. BeGambleAware and GamCare can provide a list of local counsellors and treatment services. The NHS provides free treatment via GP referral. Some people respond better to peer support (Gamblers Anonymous); others prefer one-to-one counselling.
Blocking Software — Block All Gambling Sites on Your Devices
GamStop covers all UKGC-licensed sites, but there are thousands of unlicensed offshore gambling sites not covered by the scheme. Blocking software provides a complementary layer of protection by preventing your devices from accessing gambling sites entirely.
Gamban
Gamban blocks over 55,000 gambling websites and apps across all your devices — smartphone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. It works at the device level, making it very difficult to bypass. Gamban costs a small annual fee, but free access is available for people in treatment for gambling disorder. Trusted by GamCare and BeGambleAware.
BetBlocker
BetBlocker is completely free and blocks over 28,000 gambling websites. It runs quietly in the background on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. You can set it for any period from 24 hours to lifetime. BetBlocker is a registered charity — it exists solely to help people restrict access to gambling sites.
Recommendation: Use both GamStop and BetBlocker together for the strongest possible protection. GamStop handles UKGC-licensed sites; BetBlocker handles everything else.