Gambling is entertainment, and for most people it stays that way. However, it can become harmful when it stops being a leisure activity and starts affecting finances, relationships, or mental health. The information on this page is intended to help you stay in control and to point you toward support if you need it.
Recognising Problem Gambling
Problem gambling does not always look the same for everyone, but there are common warning signs worth knowing:
- Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
- Chasing losses by continuing to play in an attempt to win back money
- Feeling irritable or anxious when you try to cut back or stop
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Neglecting work, study, or family responsibilities because of gambling
- Lying to friends or family about the extent of your gambling
- Using gambling as a way to escape stress, anxiety, or low mood
If any of these patterns feel familiar, it is worth taking them seriously. Recognising a problem early makes it considerably easier to address.
Practical Steps to Stay in Control
There are straightforward habits that can help keep gambling within healthy limits. Setting a strict budget before you play — and treating any losses as the cost of entertainment rather than money to recover — is one of the most effective approaches. Keeping track of time spent gambling matters too, as sessions can extend longer than planned without a deliberate limit in place.
Taking regular breaks, avoiding gambling when you are upset or under pressure, and never gambling with money set aside for essentials such as rent or food are all practical measures that reduce risk. Gambling should never be treated as a way to generate income or to solve financial difficulties.
Support and Where to Find Help
If you are concerned about your own gambling, or about someone else's, reaching out to one of these services is a meaningful step:
- GamCare — Provides a National Gambling Helpline, online chat, and counselling services for people in Great Britain. Available at gamcare.org.uk.
- Gamblers Anonymous — A peer-support programme with meetings available in many countries. Details at gamblersanonymous.org.
- BeGambleAware — Offers guidance, self-assessment tools, and referrals to treatment. Available at begambleaware.org.
- Gordon Moody — Provides residential and online treatment programmes for people with severe gambling problems. Available at gordonmoody.org.uk.
If gambling-related stress is affecting your mental health more broadly, general mental health services such as the Samaritans (samaritans.org) offer around-the-clock emotional support.
Protecting Younger People
Gambling products are intended for adults only. If you share a device with children or young people, it is advisable to keep accounts secure with strong, unique passwords and to log out after each session. Third-party parental control software can also be used to restrict access to gambling websites at the network or device level.
Self-Exclusion Options
Self-exclusion schemes allow individuals to request that they be blocked from gambling sites for a set period. Registering with GAMSTOP is one of the most direct steps available to someone who wants to pause or stop online gambling activity.
Self-exclusion works best as part of a broader plan that may include professional support. If you choose to self-exclude, consider contacting one of the support organisations listed above at the same time.