If betting has stopped being a choice, get help today.
Wanting to stop and feeling unable to is not a weakness or a moral failing — it's a recognised condition, and it's treatable. The organisations below are independent, free, and confidential. Reaching out is the bravest and most useful thing you can do right now.
Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Outside the UK, see the organisations below for help where you live.
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger or crisis, contact your local emergency services. For gambling specifically, these services can help you stop, get treatment, and protect your money and relationships:
National Gambling Helpline (GamCare)
UK · 24/7, free & confidentialFree support, information and counselling for anyone affected by gambling. Live chat available on their site.
BeGambleAware
UKAdvice, self-assessment tools and a directory of free treatment near you.
Gamblers Anonymous
UK / InternationalLocal peer-support meetings (in person and online) for people who want to stop gambling.
GamStop
UKFree self-exclusion: block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites and apps in one place.
National Council on Problem Gambling
US · call or text 1-800-522-470024/7 confidential helpline and treatment referrals across the United States.
Gambling Therapy
International · multilingualFree online support and resources for people anywhere in the world.
A few things that help right now
- Self-exclude. Use GamStop (UK) to block every licensed gambling site at once, and turn on banking gambling-blocks if your bank offers them.
- Tell one person. Saying it out loud to someone you trust breaks the isolation the habit relies on.
- Remove the means. Delete betting apps, block sites, and hand card details to someone you trust for a while.
- Use the mirror, not the bookmaker. If you want to scratch the itch, place it in BetMirror — virtually — and watch what it would have cost instead.
Many of these services offer live chat if calling feels like too much. 18+.
Frequently asked: getting help
How do I stop gambling right now?
Take three immediate steps: self-exclude from gambling sites (use GamStop in the UK to block them all at once), remove the means by deleting betting apps and turning on bank gambling-blocks, and tell one person you trust. Then call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 for free, confidential support.
Where can I get free gambling-addiction help?
Free, independent help is available from the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare (0808 8020 133, UK), BeGambleAware, Gamblers Anonymous, Gordon Moody, and the National Council on Problem Gambling (1-800-522-4700, US). Most offer 24/7 phone and live-chat support.
Is gambling-support help confidential and free?
Yes. The helplines and organisations listed here are independent, free to use, and confidential. Reaching out does not commit you to anything — it's simply the fastest way to get support.