Signs of Problem Gambling and Where to Get Help
Problem gambling rarely starts suddenly. It tends to creep up, which is why it helps to know the signs. If any of this sounds familiar, free and confidential help is available.
Common warning signs
Gambling may be becoming a problem if you:
- spend more money or time gambling than you meant to;
- find yourself chasing losses, gambling more to try to win back what you've lost;
- need to gamble with larger amounts to get the same buzz;
- borrow money, sell things or miss bills to gamble;
- feel anxious, irritable or low when you try to cut down;
- lie to family or friends about how much you gamble;
- gamble to escape stress, boredom or other problems;
- lose sleep, or find gambling affects your work or relationships.
You don't need to recognise all of these for gambling to be causing harm. Even one or two are worth taking seriously.
Signs in someone you know
It can be hard to spot gambling harm in someone else, because it's easy to hide. Things to look out for include:
- unexplained money problems, or asking to borrow money often;
- secrecy about their phone, accounts or post;
- long periods spent on betting or casino apps;
- mood swings, irritability or withdrawal from family life;
- valuables or savings going missing.
GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline also support people affected by someone else's gambling, so you can get help even if they're not ready to.
Questions to ask yourself
Take a moment to answer these honestly, thinking about the past year:
- Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
- Have you gone back another day to try to win back money you lost?
- Have people criticised your gambling, or told you that you have a problem?
- Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble, or what happens when you gamble?
- Has gambling caused you money worries, stress or anxiety?
If you answered yes to any of these, it's worth talking to someone. That doesn't mean you have a serious problem, but early support makes a real difference.
Free treatment and support
- National Gambling Helpline: run by GamCare, free, confidential and open 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133, or chat online at GamCare.
- Wales Gambling Helpline: 0808 2819 265.
- NHS gambling clinics: the NHS runs specialist gambling clinics in England that you can refer yourself to. Find out more on the NHS website.
- Gamblers Anonymous: free local and online support groups.
- Gordon Moody: residential and online treatment programmes.
- Money worries: MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice offer free, impartial money advice.
First steps you can take today
- Talk to someone. Call the helpline or tell someone you trust. Saying it out loud is often the hardest step.
- Take a break. A time-out or self-exclusion locks your accounts, and GAMSTOP covers every licensed online site at once. See self-exclusion and GAMSTOP.
- Block payments and apps. A bank gambling block and blocking software make impulse gambling much harder. See gambling blocks.
- Set limits if you carry on gambling. Our deposit limits guide explains how.
You'll find more support services on our responsible gambling page.
