Gambling addiction: warning signs and where to get help

Warning signs

• Spending more money or time than you planned.
• Chasing losses: playing more to win back what you lost.
• Thinking about gambling constantly.
• Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
• Hiding your play or lying about it.
• Borrowing money, selling things or using essentials for gambling.
• Neglecting work, family or health.
• Playing to escape stress, sadness or boredom.

A quick self-check

Answer honestly. Two or more "yes" answers are a reason to pause and talk to someone.

1. 1In the last year, have you bet more than you could afford to lose?
2. 2Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts to feel the same excitement?
3. 3Have you tried to cut back and failed?
4. 4Have you gone back another day to try to win back losses?
5. 5Has gambling caused you money, work or relationship problems?

This is not a diagnosis. A counsellor or helpline can give you a proper assessment.

Steps you can take today

1. 1Stop playing for now. Pausing is not failure.
2. 2Tell a person you trust. Secrecy keeps the problem going.
3. 3Make access harder: delete wallets and apps, install a gambling-blocking tool and ask us to apply self-exclusion.
4. 4Hand control of your money to someone you trust, temporarily if you need to.
5. 5Talk to a helpline or counsellor.
6. 6Look after sleep, food, movement and company. Stress makes urges worse.

Where to get help

These organisations offer free, confidential support. Check which is available where you live:

• United States: the National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, with chat and text options, run by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
• United Kingdom: GamCare, 0808 8020 133, and BeGambleAware.org.
• Worldwide: Gamblers Anonymous (gamblersanonymous.org) offers peer support groups, and many countries run their own national helplines.
• Emergency: if you are thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line right away.

If someone you love is struggling

• Stay calm and talk without blame, at a time when you are both calm.
• Do not pay off their debts without a plan, which can keep the cycle going.
• Protect shared finances and your own wellbeing.
• Encourage them to speak to a counsellor, and look for support for yourself too.

Our commitment

We offer self-exclusion on request and clear information about the cost of play. We want playing here to be fun or not at all. If you ask us to stop you from buying tickets, we will, and we will confirm it in writing.

What treatment and support can look like

• Counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, which many people find effective for gambling problems.
• Peer support groups where people share experience and strategies.
• Financial counselling to deal with debts and regain control of money.
• Self-exclusion and blocking tools to remove access during recovery.
• Treatment for related conditions such as anxiety or depression, which often go together with gambling problems.

Handling urges

1. 1Delay: wait 15 minutes before acting on the urge. Urges often pass.
2. 2Distract: go for a walk, call someone or do a chore.
3. 3Decide: ask what you would tell a friend in the same position.
4. 4Do something else that reliably lifts your mood.

A note for relatives

Living with someone who gambles heavily can be exhausting and frightening. You are not to blame, and you cannot control their behaviour. You can protect your own finances, set boundaries and seek support for yourself. Many helplines also speak to family members.

What a first conversation with a counsellor is like

Many people are nervous about calling a helpline. A typical first conversation is short and friendly. You are asked how you are, what is going on, and what kind of help you want. Nobody lectures you or asks you to stop on the spot. The person can explain options, such as local counselling, peer groups and self-exclusion tools, and can stay on the line while you decide. You can remain anonymous and stop at any time. Many people say the relief of saying it aloud was the hardest and most helpful step.

Ways to make gambling harder to do

• Install a gambling-blocking tool on all your devices.
• Remove saved cards, wallets and apps.
• Ask your bank about gambling blocks on cards.
• Ask operators to self-exclude you.
• Share your finances with someone you trust for a while.