Gambling Support Services in the UK

You do not have to deal with a gambling problem on your own, and in the UK most of the help available is free. Some services are there for a single phone call at 2am, some offer structured treatment over several weeks, and some are run by people who have been through the same thing. There is also help for family and friends, for debt and for moments of crisis. This guide sets out what each service offers and how to get in touch.

Gamstop Guide is an independent self-help resource. We are not part of any of the services below and we do not run a helpline. Every contact detail here goes directly to the organisation concerned. Details were checked in October 2026.

The services at a glance

National Gambling Helpline

The National Gambling Helpline is run by GamCare and is often the easiest first step. You can call free on 0808 8020 133 or use live chat on gamcare.org.uk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Calls are confidential and free from UK landlines and mobiles, and they do not show on itemised bills. The Gambling Commission lists 0808 2819 265 for callers in Wales.

You will speak to a trained adviser who can listen, talk through your options and help you reach further support, including longer-term treatment. Through the helpline, GamCare can also arrange a free licence for Gamban blocking software. You do not need to have decided to stop completely, and you do not need to have reached any particular point. People call about their own gambling, about someone else’s, about money worries and about exclusions that are coming to an end.

GAMSTOP and other self-exclusion schemes

Self-exclusion is a practical tool rather than a support service, but it is often the first thing people do. GAMSTOP, run by Gamstop Online, is free and covers every online gambling business licensed in Great Britain. Gamstop Betting Shops (formerly MOSES) covers high street bookmakers on free phone 0800 294 2060, SENSE covers land-based casinos, and Bacta and the Bingo Association run schemes for arcades and bingo venues. Our guide on how to block gambling explains each one.

NHS gambling services

In England, the NHS runs specialist gambling treatment services. According to the NHS website, you can refer yourself to a clinic near you, or ask a GP for information about services in your area. You do not need a GP appointment first. The NHS website names these services:

• NHS National Centre for Behavioural Addictions and the National Problem Gambling Clinic
• NHS Northern Gambling Service
• NHS Southern Gambling Service
• NHS West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic
• NHS East Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic
• NHS East of England Gambling Service
• NHS South West Gambling Service

Treatment usually involves talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and support with recovery. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the National Gambling Helpline can tell you about services near you, and a GP is a good starting point for local health support.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of people who have experienced problem gambling themselves. Groups follow a 12-step approach to recovery. According to its website, meetings take place every day of the week across England, Wales and Ulster, and you do not need an appointment. Formats include newcomers’ meetings, step meetings for people further into recovery, women-preferred meetings and LGBTQ+ meetings. You can call 0330 094 0322.

Peer support suits some people more than others. Many find it powerful to hear from people who really understand, while others prefer one-to-one help. Plenty of people use both.

Support for family and friends

If someone close to you gambles, you may be dealing with lost money, broken trust, worry and sometimes anger. You are entitled to support in your own right.

• National Gambling Helpline. Takes calls from anyone affected by someone else’s gambling, on 0808 8020 133.
• GamFam. A registered charity set up by people with lived experience of gambling harm in families. It runs a structured five-stage peer support programme in small online groups with trained facilitators, as well as one-to-one peer support, for families and for people in recovery. You can get in touch through the contact form on its website.
• Gam-Anon. Support groups for the family and friends of people who gamble, across the UK and Ireland. Details are available through Gamblers Anonymous.
• BeGambleAware. Information and advice, including for people worried about someone else.

You cannot register another adult with GAMSTOP or set up their bank block. You can protect your own money, for example by separating accounts or coming off joint cards, and you can make the tools easy to find for when they are ready.

Help with debt

Debt often comes with gambling problems, and money pressure can make urges stronger. Free, confidential debt advice can help you see where you stand, deal with priority bills first and talk to lenders.

• StepChange. A debt charity offering free advice on 0800 138 1111, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm, and an online advice tool that is open 24 hours a day. It can help with options such as debt management plans and the Breathing Space scheme.
• Citizens Advice. Free help with debt, benefits and living costs, online or through a local office. Its guidance on gambling problems also explains when you may be able to complain to a lender that gave you credit you could not afford, for example if your bank statements showed gambling.

If you are in crisis

Gambling problems can bring very heavy feelings, particularly when debts feel overwhelming or a secret has come out. If you are struggling to cope, call Samaritans free on 116 123, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The number will not show on your phone bill. There is also a Welsh language line on 0808 164 0123.

Which service should I start with?

There is no wrong door. If you are not sure where to begin, the National Gambling Helpline can listen and point you in the right direction. Many people put a few things in place at once: a GAMSTOP registration and a bank block to buy time, a call to the helpline to talk it through and then treatment, peer support or debt advice depending on what they need. Our guide on how to take control of gambling covers self-help you can start today, and our UKGC licensed operator register explains how to check that your exclusion covers the sites you used.