Problem gambling affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. This page provides links to several charities and organisations committed to supporting anyone who might be at risk of addiction to gambling.
If you or a loved one are looking for help with gambling addiction, plenty of support is available. We promote the use of gambling help services like GambleAware, GamStop, and others to anyone seeking somewhere to turn. You can find details and links to organisations in addition to other valuable resources, below.
GambleAware is a UK-based charity dedicated to providing free support and help with gambling addiction. Their focus is to fund research into safer gambling and create more refined gambling help processes for those at risk of gambling-related harms. But most of all, GambleAware is there to help.
GambleAware forms part of the National Gambling Support Network. All agents are fully trained to provide confidential advice to anyone who requires help to stop gambling. You can discuss ways to gamble responsibly, as well as the risks of gambling, by speaking to an agent on their confidential helplines or live chat services.
GamCare provides free and confidential advice via their gambling problems helplines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach an agent by calling the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) or by using the live chat function (also available 24/7) on the GamCare website.
Need help to stop gambling? If so, you can use GamCare’s face-to-face counselling service. GamCare has other helpful tools and resources on their website, such as links to forums where you can find gambling problems help centres and support groups.
The GamCare website also provides online chatrooms and groups on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. GamCare forms part of the National Gambling Support Network with GambleAware and other bodies. We encourage anyone seeking gambling addiction help to reach out to the service for support.
You can discuss the effects of gambling with Gamcare, even as a precautionary method. They offer advice on gambling prevention methods and can even direct you to legal advice in certain circumstances.
Gamblers Anonymous (GA) is a network of volunteers and problem gamblers who come together to support other addicts. GA offers in-person and online meetings, as well as other gambling help resources to anyone struggling with addiction.
Gamblers Anonymous provides an effective approach to dealing with the dangers of gambling. They promote awareness of gambling harms and encourage using helpful anti-gambling sites like GamStop and others.
Many people seeking gambling addiction help turn to Gamblers Anonymous UK for support. It has been providing safe and understanding support to British gambling addicts since 1964.
GamStop is a free, self-exclusion tool for players seeking help with gambling addiction. By signing up for the GamStop service, you can voluntarily ban yourself from accessing all online gambling sites and casinos that have signed up with the commercial gambling exclusion scheme.
You can use GamStop to put preventative measures in place that will restrict gambling activity. If you wish to do so, you can take advantage of the tool’s multi-operator self-exclusion tool, which also applies to in-person betting shops and land-based casinos.
GamStop provides the function to take action on problem gambling habits by limiting access to gambling sites. When used in conjunction with gambling helplines and counselling services, this tool can help with gambling addiction. We like to see digital gambling platforms and bookies we rate offering this service to players, as it is effective.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) also provides help for gambling addiction, offering services such as independent advice and gambling therapy. They have a free and confidential quiz to help you decide if your gambling is problematic. More than this, they provide links to specialist services available in your region.
The NHS provides comprehensive confidential gambling help services for anyone struggling with addiction. They also have the means to assist partners and families of anyone affected by gambling addiction. Visit the NHS gambling addiction services website to find out more about special addiction therapy and their recovery toolkit.