Last reviewed 9 October 2026
Gambling can harm your finances, relationships and health. No gambling activity is risk-free, and choosing not to gamble is always an option. This page explains how to recognise harm, put barriers in place and find support for yourself or someone you care about.
Get help now
GamCare provides free, confidential support through the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also use its live chat. You can contact the service about your own gambling or someone else’s.
If you feel overwhelmed or need someone to listen, call Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time.
If someone is in immediate danger, or you cannot keep yourself or another person safe, call 999 or go to the nearest A&E department.
Recognising gambling harm
The amount you lose is only part of the picture. Gambling may be causing harm when it takes over your attention, affects your relationships or becomes difficult to stop. Signs to take seriously include:
- Spending more money or time gambling than you intended.
- Returning to gambling to try to recover previous losses.
- Borrowing, selling possessions or using money needed for bills to fund gambling.
- Hiding gambling activity or being dishonest about the money involved.
- Missing sleep, work, study or time with other people because of gambling.
- Feeling anxious, distressed or preoccupied with gambling, or using it to escape difficult feelings.
You do not need to recognise every sign or reach a particular level of debt before seeking help. If gambling concerns you, speaking to a support service is a reasonable next step.
Reducing risks if you choose to gamble
Limits can help you notice and restrict spending, but they cannot make gambling safe. If you are already finding it difficult to stop, consider self-exclusion and specialist support rather than relying on a budget alone.
- Protect essential spending first. Keep rent, food, household bills and debt payments separate from any money you might gamble.
- Decide in advance the most you can lose without affecting your needs or commitments. Never borrow or use credit to continue gambling.
- Set money limits in your account where available. Check whether each tool limits deposits, losses or spending, because these are different measures.
- Set a stopping time and take breaks. Session reminders can help you notice how long you have been playing.
- Keep track of money and time across all your accounts. A limit at one operator does not restrict what you spend elsewhere.
- Avoid gambling when distressed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Do not use it as a way to manage difficult feelings.
- Stop when you reach a limit. Do not increase it to recover a loss or meet a bonus deadline. Gambling is not a way to pay bills or earn a dependable income.
Taking a break or stopping gambling
You can combine several tools to reduce access to gambling. Self-exclusion, device blocking and bank controls address different routes, while support services can help you decide what to do next.
Account breaks and self exclusion
A time-out pauses access for a shorter period. Self-exclusion is a more formal restriction intended to help you stop gambling for a longer period. Ordinary account closure may not provide the same protection, so use the specific self-exclusion process when that is what you need.
Ask the operator which accounts and brands the exclusion covers, when it takes effect and how it handles marketing. Keep the confirmation. If you also gamble in physical venues, arrange the relevant venue or multi-operator exclusion separately.
GAMSTOP Online
GAMSTOP Online is a free service that blocks you from using accounts with participating gambling websites and apps licensed in Great Britain. It offers exclusion periods from six months to five years, with an automatic renewal option.
You cannot cancel an exclusion during the period you choose. It does not automatically end when that minimum period finishes. Read the current terms when registering and keep your personal details up to date so operators can identify your registration.
GAMSTOP Online does not replace arrangements for physical gambling venues or block every gambling website worldwide. If you have self-excluded, do not look for another operator or use someone else’s account to continue gambling. Ask for support and add further barriers if you need them.
Blocking software and gambling messages
Software such as Gamban can block access to gambling websites and apps on supported devices. Check device compatibility and current access options, and install protection on every device you use. Blocking software works alongside self-exclusion; neither should be treated as a guarantee on its own.
Remove gambling apps, unsubscribe from promotional messages and turn off gambling notifications. You can also adjust advertising preferences and unfollow gambling accounts. These steps can reduce reminders and triggers, although they may not remove every advert.
Bank gambling blocks
Ask your bank whether it offers a gambling transaction block and switch it on for the relevant cards or accounts. Ask what it covers and whether there is a delay before it can be switched off. Coverage varies, so use it alongside other support and controls.
What a gambling licence does and does not mean
Regulon explains gambling licences, but a licence does not make gambling risk-free or show that it is suitable for you. Casino ratings, welcome offers and published withdrawal times are not reasons to continue when gambling is causing harm.
For online casino services offered to people in England, Scotland and Wales, operators need the appropriate Gambling Commission permission. A licence issued elsewhere does not replace that requirement. Self-exclusion and other protections should not be assumed from the country named in a casino’s footer.
If you are stopping gambling, changing casinos or licensing jurisdictions does not address the harm. Support remains relevant regardless of where the operator is based.
When gambling has affected your finances
Avoid trying to clear gambling debt with another bet. Protect essential household payments and seek advice before taking on further borrowing. Gather details of what you owe, including missed payments, so an adviser can help you understand your options.
MoneyHelper’s gambling and debt guidance explains practical steps and how to find free debt advice. Tell your bank or creditors if you are struggling; ask what support is available rather than leaving payment difficulties unaddressed.
Getting treatment and ongoing support
A GP or gambling support service can help you find care appropriate to your circumstances. In England, specialist NHS gambling clinics accept self-referrals, subject to their service criteria. The NHS guide to gambling support explains treatment options and how to find services. Access arrangements differ across the UK.
You can seek help even if you are unsure whether you want to stop completely. If you gamble again after a break, contact support and review the barriers around your accounts, devices and money. You can take another step towards stopping without trying to win back what you lost.
If you are affected by someone else’s gambling
Partners, relatives and friends can seek support for themselves, whether or not the person gambling is ready to get help. If it feels safe to talk, choose a calm moment and describe specific effects, such as missed bills or changes in behaviour. Listen without blame.
Set boundaries around lending money and access to your accounts. Ask your bank or a debt adviser how to protect shared finances, and avoid taking responsibility for managing the situation alone. GamCare can support affected family members and friends as well as the person gambling.
Protecting children and young people
Regulon’s casino and betting content is intended for adults aged 18 and over. Keep gambling accounts and payment details inaccessible to children, log out on shared devices and use parental controls where appropriate. Never allow a child to gamble through an adult’s account.
If a young person is affected by gambling, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult or a suitable support service. Under-19s in the UK can contact Childline free on 0800 1111.
Regulon’s role
Regulon is an information and comparison publisher. We do not run gambling accounts, process deposits, provide treatment or administer self-exclusion. Those actions need to be taken with the relevant operator, exclusion scheme or support service.
Our licence guides are not personal advice to gamble, and we do not recommend using gambling to solve financial problems or bypass an exclusion. The support links on this page are provided for help and information, with no casino promotions.
If you spot an incorrect support detail on this page, please tell us through our contact page. For immediate help, use the support contacts above rather than waiting for an editorial reply.