Gambling support services UK
The main gambling support services in the UK are the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24 hours a day, GamCare's online chat and forums, specialist NHS gambling clinics, and peer groups such as Gamblers Anonymous. Free debt advice and support for families sit alongside them. This guide explains what each service does and how to choose where to start.
By the Best Slots UK team. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, is free and confidential on 0808 8020 133, 24/7, with live chat and WhatsApp as well.
- NHS specialist gambling clinics offer treatment in England; the helpline can explain local options.
- Free debt advice is available from charities such as StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.
- Families and friends affected by someone's gambling can get support in their own right.
- GambleAware closed on 31 March 2026; use the helpline and services listed here instead.
- National Gambling Helpline
- 0808 8020 133
- Hours
- 24 hours, every day
- Cost
- Free and confidential
- Other channels
- Live chat, WhatsApp
- Crisis support
- Samaritans 116 123
Gambling support services UK at a glance
Different services suit different needs. Some people want to talk to someone tonight; others want structured treatment, a group, or help with debts that have built up. All of the services below are free to use.
| Service | What it offers | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) | Confidential advice, information and referral, 24/7 | Phone or WhatsApp 0808 8020 133, or live chat |
| GamCare online community | Forums, daily chatrooms and the MyGamCare self-help tool | GamCare website |
| NHS gambling clinics | Specialist assessment and treatment | NHS website or via the helpline |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment and online support | Gordon Moody website |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings | Gamblers Anonymous UK website |
| GAMSTOP | Self-exclusion from all UK-licensed online gambling | GAMSTOP website |
| StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice | Free debt and money advice | Each charity's website or phone line |
| Samaritans | Emotional support in a crisis, any time | 116 123 |
If you are not sure which fits, the helpline is the best first call. Advisers can talk through what is happening and point you to the right service.
The National Gambling Helpline: what to expect
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline. It is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by phone on 0808 8020 133, by WhatsApp on the same number, or by live chat. You do not need to be in crisis, or even sure you have a problem, to get in touch.
- Choose the channel that feels easiest: phone, WhatsApp or live chat.
- Say as much or as little as you like; you do not have to give your full name.
- An adviser listens and asks about what has been happening, including money, mood and relationships.
- They explain the options, which can include self-help tools, blocking, self-exclusion and local treatment.
- If you want ongoing help, they can explain how to access it and what happens next.
Online and self-help support from GamCare
Not everyone wants to talk on the phone. GamCare's online community offers forums and daily chatrooms where people share experiences, and MyGamCare lets you set personal goals, track mood and urges, and read resources. Its recovery toolkit covers self-guided resources, self-exclusion, blocking software and money management.
GamCare also lists specialist pathways, including a Women's Pathway, support connected to the criminal justice system, and a section for children and young people. Its website has a tool to find support in your local area.
NHS gambling treatment
The NHS runs specialist gambling clinics in England for people experiencing gambling harm, offering assessment and treatment such as talking therapies. The NHS website lists the clinics and how to contact them, and the National Gambling Helpline can also explain local options. Your GP is another starting point, particularly if gambling is affecting your mental or physical health.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the helpline can explain what is available where you live.
Residential treatment and peer support
Gordon Moody is a UK charity that provides residential treatment programmes for people severely affected by gambling, alongside online support. Residential treatment suits a smaller number of people who need intensive help away from everyday triggers.
Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings where people with gambling problems share experience and support each other, following a structured recovery programme. Many people use peer support alongside professional help rather than instead of it. A related fellowship, GamAnon, supports relatives and friends.
Help with debts and money caused by gambling
Gambling harm and money problems often arrive together, and debts can make it harder to stop. Free, impartial debt advice is available from charities including StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice. They can help you list what you owe, deal with creditors and set up a plan. Avoid paid debt management companies that charge for what these charities offer at no cost.
- Turn on a gambling block in your banking app so new deposits are refused.
- Tell your bank if you are struggling; many have teams trained to help customers in difficulty.
- Ask someone you trust to help manage money for a while, if that feels right.
- Never borrow to gamble, and never gamble to repay debts. Gambling is not a way to solve money problems.
Our guide on how to block gambling sites explains bank blocks and blocking software step by step.
Support for families and friends
Gambling harm affects partners, parents, children and friends, often through money worries, broken trust and stress. GamCare's helpline and online services are open to people affected by someone else's gambling, and GamAnon offers peer support specifically for them. You do not need the person who gambles to agree to get help before you seek support yourself.
Practical steps that can help include separating finances, agreeing on bank gambling blocks, and supporting the person to register with GAMSTOP. Our checklist of signs slots are becoming a problem includes signs to look for in someone else.
Tools you can use alongside support
Support services work well alongside the controls every UK-licensed slot site must offer. These tools stop gambling at the account level while support helps with everything else.
| Tool | What it does | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Caps how much you can pay in | How to set deposit limits |
| Time-out | Locks an account for up to six weeks | How to take a break from slots |
| GAMSTOP | Self-excludes you from all UK-licensed online sites | How to self-exclude |
| Blocking software and bank blocks | Stops sites loading and payments going through | How to block gambling sites |
Our responsible gambling hub brings these tools together in one place.
GambleAware has closed: where to go now
GambleAware, the charity that previously commissioned much of Great Britain's gambling support, closed on 31 March 2026. Older leaflets, adverts and web pages may still mention it. If you come across those references, use the services on this page instead: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is the number to call.
If you need help right now
If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any time, or call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency. NHS 111 can also help with urgent mental health concerns.
Reaching out is a sign of strength. Gambling problems are common, treatable and nothing to be ashamed of, and many people who contact these services go on to regain control.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Gambling Helpline number?
Call 0808 8020 133. The helpline is run by GamCare, free to call, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also message on WhatsApp using the same number, or use live chat on the GamCare website if you prefer not to speak. Advisers can talk through any worry about gambling, whether it is yours or someone else's, and explain options including local treatment. Our guide to signs slots are becoming a problem may help you decide what to say.
Is gambling support free in the UK?
Yes. GamCare's helpline and online services, NHS gambling clinics, peer support such as Gamblers Anonymous, and debt advice from charities like StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice are all free to use. GAMSTOP self-exclusion and bank gambling blocks are free too. Be cautious of anyone charging for services these organisations offer at no cost, especially debt management. Some blocking software is paid, though free options exist. Our guide on how to block gambling sites covers the options.
Can I get gambling treatment on the NHS?
Yes. The NHS runs specialist gambling clinics in England offering assessment and treatment, typically including talking therapies. The NHS website lists the clinics and explains how to get in touch, and the National Gambling Helpline can tell you what is available near you. Your GP is another route, particularly if gambling is affecting your sleep, mood or physical health. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the helpline can explain local options. Our responsible gambling hub lists further sources of help.
What does GamCare do?
GamCare is a UK charity that runs the National Gambling Helpline and provides information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harm. Besides the 24/7 helpline, live chat and WhatsApp, it runs an online community with forums and daily chatrooms, a self-help tool called MyGamCare, a recovery toolkit, and specialist pathways including a Women's Pathway and support for children and young people. It also helps people find support in their local area. Our guide on taking a break from slots explains tools GamCare recommends.
Where can family members get help?
People affected by someone else's gambling can contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 in their own right, without the person who gambles being involved. GamCare's online community also has space for affected others, and GamAnon offers peer support meetings for relatives and friends. Debt charities can help if household finances have been affected. Practical steps such as separating finances and agreeing bank gambling blocks often help both sides. Our checklist of signs slots are becoming a problem includes signs to look for in someone else.
What happened to GambleAware?
GambleAware closed on 31 March 2026. It was a charity that commissioned research, education and much of the treatment and support available in Great Britain. Some older adverts, leaflets and websites may still refer to it, but it is no longer the place to go for help. GamCare's National Gambling Helpline remains available 24/7 on 0808 8020 133, and the other services on this page continue to offer support. Our responsible gambling hub is updated with current services.
Can I get help with gambling debts?
Yes, free and impartial debt advice is available from charities including StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice. They can help you work out what you owe, prioritise bills, talk to creditors and set up a manageable plan. Telling your bank you are struggling can also help, as many have specialist support teams. Turning on a gambling block in your banking app stops new deposits while you sort things out. Never gamble to try to clear debts; it usually makes them worse. Our guide to setting deposit limits explains account-level controls.
Do I need to have a serious problem to contact a support service?
No. Support services are for anyone with a concern about gambling, at any level. Many people get in touch because they have noticed early signs, such as spending more than planned or playing longer than intended, and want to change things before they get worse. Talking to an adviser does not commit you to treatment or label you. It is simply a confidential conversation about what is happening and what might help. Our self-check guide on signs slots are becoming a problem includes the nine PGSI questions.
How do I self-exclude from all gambling sites?
Register with GAMSTOP, the free national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain. You choose six months, one year or five years, and the exclusion cannot be cancelled early. You need to give every email address, phone number and address you have used with gambling sites. Betting shops, land-based casinos and unlicensed websites need separate measures such as venue schemes, bank blocks and blocking software. Our step-by-step guide on how to self-exclude from slot sites walks through registration.