Gambling help and helplines

Signs that gambling stops being fun

Gambling should be a game you choose to play, not something that controls your time, money or mood. These signs mean it may be time to pause and get support:

• You spend more money or time than you planned.
• You try to win back money you lost.
• You borrow money, sell things or skip bills to gamble.
• You hide your gambling from family or friends.
• You feel restless, anxious or angry when you try to stop.
• You gamble to escape stress, sadness or boredom.
• You lose sleep or miss work, school or family time because of gambling.

Seeing even a few of these signs is a good reason to talk to someone. You do not need to wait until things get worse.

Simple steps to stay in control

These steps are simple and they help. They do not make gambling safe, but they make it easier to keep it small.

• Set limits before you start. Decide how much money and how much time you will spend, and stop when you reach either limit.
• Take breaks. Step away often, eat, drink water and check the clock.
• Never chase losses. Money you lost is gone. Trying to win it back usually leads to bigger losses, because the house edge works against you over time.
• Only use money you can afford to lose. Never use money meant for rent, bills, food or savings.
• Do not gamble when upset, tired or after drinking. These states make it harder to stop.
• Talk to someone. A friend, a family member, a doctor or a helpline can listen without judging.

Help is usually free and confidential

The helplines listed above are usually free to contact. You can call, text or chat, depending on the service.

Helplines usually keep your conversation confidential, and many let you stay anonymous. You will not be judged, and you can ask the service about its privacy policy.

• Trained advisers listen and help you make a plan.
• They can point you to counseling and local support groups.
• Many services also help family members and friends who are worried about someone else.

You can reach out at any stage – whether you are a little worried or very worried.

Self-exclusion and blocking tools

Many places offer self-exclusion tools. Self-exclusion means you ask to be blocked from gambling venues or gambling websites for a set period of time.

• Some tools block you from gambling venues in your area.
• Some tools block you from many gambling websites at once.
• Banks and card providers in many places let you block gambling payments.
• Blocking software can stop gambling sites from loading on your phone or computer.

A helpline adviser can tell you which tools are available where you live and how to sign up.

Questions