Support starts with a conversation

Talk to GamCare

GamCare offers free, confidential support. You can call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 from England or Scotland, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Wales is covered by its own NHS service: ring 0808 2819 265. GamCare's website also provides live chat and other ways to speak to an adviser.

You do not need to have a particular amount of debt or know exactly what to say. You can describe what has been happening and ask about the support available. Friends and family can contact the service about the effect of someone else’s gambling too.

Use GAMSTOP to block online accounts

GAMSTOP Online is a free self-exclusion service. It blocks access to accounts with online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain and prevents new accounts being created with those companies. Its current options start at six months and extend to five years, with an automatic-renewal option. When the period you chose ends, the exclusion stays in place for a further 7 years unless you contact GAMSTOP to remove it.

Keep the details in your GAMSTOP account up to date; GAMSTOP says the block protects you best when they are current. It is a barrier to online gambling; it does not itself resolve debt, provide treatment or cover every form of gambling.

Do not use a different account or website to work around an exclusion. If you feel an urge to do that, contact a support service or someone you trust while the urge is present.

Create some breathing space today

Close gambling apps and step away from the screen. Turn off marketing messages where you can, and ask your bank about its gambling-payment controls. Blocking software stops the device it is installed on from opening a large number of gambling sites worldwide, and account restrictions add further barriers; ask a support adviser which tools fit your situation.

An operator’s short time-out and a longer self-exclusion can serve different purposes. Read what each does to the account and how long it lasts. If you want to stop, a promotion’s expiry or a bonus balance is not a reason to delay taking that step.

Keep essential money out of gambling

Rent, bills, food and other essentials need to remain available for their intended purpose. If gambling has already affected them, speak to a support adviser about getting help with money concerns. Another deposit is not a reliable way to repair a loss.

Since 31 October 2025, companies licensed by the Gambling Commission must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit and link to limit settings from their homepage and deposit pages. Limits can help create boundaries, but repeatedly raising them is a reason to pause and talk to someone. Pay attention to time spent as well as money: interrupted sleep, hiding activity or finding it hard to stop can matter even when the amounts seem small.

If you are worried about someone else

You can seek support without waiting for the person who gambles to agree. Describe the effect on you and ask for help with boundaries, shared finances or a conversation you are finding difficult. You do not have to manage the situation alone. GAMSTOP notes that registering yourself stops your details being used by someone else to open or use online accounts with the companies it covers.

Choose a calm moment to talk about specific things you have noticed and how they affect you. A support adviser can help you plan that conversation and find further services if needed.

Urgent help

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. GamCare also directs people needing urgent emotional support to Samaritans on 116 123.

About this page

This publication’s casino content is for adults aged 18 and over. It provides information, not gambling accounts, treatment or a helpline. A licence does not remove the risk of harm, and a brand collection is not a reason to begin gambling.

Support details were checked against the official services on 29 September 2026. Follow their current information for contact options and service scope.