Help with gambling, from a phone call to a GP
By the Lobby Set editorial teamUpdated 9 October 2026
Who to call when gambling feels out of hand
GamCare's National Gambling Helpline, on 0808 8020 133. The call is free and confidential, and the line never closes, weekends and holidays included.
There's no threshold to reach before you ring. Advisers talk with people who have only just started to worry, and with family and friends who are worried about someone else. They can also refer you on to support services in your area. If a call feels like too much, GamCare offers live chat on its website and WhatsApp on the same number. Typing is fine.
- Callers in Wales can also use the NHS Wales gambling helpline, 0808 281 9265, which is free and answers round the clock.
- If you feel you can't cope, or think about ending your life, Samaritans pick up on 116 123 for free, day or night. In England, NHS 111 also has a mental health option. In an emergency, dial 999.
More about the helpline and GamCare's other services is at gamcare.org.uk.
What the early signs of harm look like
Harm often starts quietly, and the signs are easy to explain away.
Look out for these in yourself:
- thinking about gambling for much of the day, or planning the next session while doing something else
- pulling away from friends, family or work to make time to play
- gambling to escape stress, boredom or low mood
- chasing losses, which means playing on to win back what has gone
- hiding how much time or money it takes, or borrowing to cover bills
In someone close to you, the signs can look different. They might lose interest in things they used to enjoy, or seem tense or low for no clear reason. Poor sleep, money running short and stories that don't add up can all be signs too.
The NHS has a short self-check on its gambling help page. It asks nine questions, such as whether you've bet more than you could afford to lose. A score from 1 to 7 means gambling may already be harming your life, and a score of 8 or more means harm is likely.
Which tools put distance between you and gambling
Three tools work well together: self-exclusion, blocking software and a block on gambling payments at your bank.
- GAMSTOP, the free self-exclusion scheme, covers gambling websites and apps that work under a Great Britain licence, and its own help pages recommend using blocking software and a bank's gambling block alongside it. An exclusion lasts half a year, a year or five years, as you choose. A five-year exclusion can be set to renew itself. When the minimum ends, it doesn't lapse at once. It stays active for up to 7 years after that date, and lifting it sooner means contacting GAMSTOP, then a wait of 24 hours or more. Registration is at gamstop.co.uk.
- Blocking software keeps a phone, tablet or computer from opening gambling websites and apps. Some programs are free and others charge. Parental-control settings can do a similar job. Ask someone you trust to set the password, so it isn't yours to change on a bad night.
- Bank gambling blocks stop card payments categorised as gambling, and most UK banks offer one free. You switch it on in your banking app, by phone or in a branch. Turning a block off usually means waiting out a cooling-off delay of two or three days, and having one doesn't affect your credit score.
Your internet provider may also offer a filter for gambling sites. It's worth one call to ask.
When it helps to see a GP
When gambling is affecting your sleep, your mood or your health, a GP is a good place to start.
You can talk to a GP about the stress, anxiety or low mood that gambling harm can bring, and ask what treatment is offered near you. In England, specialist NHS gambling clinics have psychiatrists and psychologists on their teams. You can refer yourself, or go through your GP. In Wales, the same NHS Wales service that runs the helpline also offers treatment. If gambling is seriously affecting your mental health and you need help urgently, nhs.uk lists where to get it.
Which bills to protect first when money is tight
Pay the essentials first, on the day your money arrives.
Rent or mortgage, energy and council tax can go out by direct debit or standing order on payday, before there's any chance to gamble with them. Then look at any debts, with free advice if you want it. The National Debtline and Citizens Advice both give it, and talking to one of them before borrowing more can change what happens next.
Tell someone you trust what's going on. Spend more of your time with people who don't gamble. And treat money you gamble as spent, never as income.
Where family and friends can find support
GamCare's helpline takes calls from partners, parents and friends as well as from people who gamble.
The NHS clinics in England support families too. Gam-Anon runs meetings for the partners and relatives of people who gamble, where you can hear from others in the same position. Looking after your own sleep, money and health isn't selfish while you support someone else. It's part of the support.
Everything on Lobby Set is written for adults aged 18 and over. If you take one thing from this page, take the number: 0808 8020 133, free and confidential, at any hour.