Safer Gambling Guides and Support

Recognise when gambling is affecting everyday life

It can help to look at what has changed: spending more time or money than intended, trying to recover losses, hiding activity or finding it difficult to stop. These experiences are reasons to talk about what is happening, rather than tests you must pass before asking for help.

You do not need to calculate an exact loss or attach a label to yourself to start a conversation. Consider speaking with someone you trust or a gambling-support service. If an immediate safety emergency exists, contact the emergency service for your location. An information website cannot provide emergency or individual clinical care.

Understand what different limits control

A deposit limit concerns money added to an account. A loss limit and a wagering limit concern different measures, while a time limit relates to participation or access. Read the tool's definition, the period it covers and when a change becomes effective.

A limit at one operator may not cover activity elsewhere. Look at the broader picture, including other accounts and payment methods. Controls can support boundaries, but do not make gambling risk-free. If you repeatedly want to raise or bypass a limit, a break and additional support may be more useful than adjusting the number again.

Compare breaks and self-exclusion

A time-out generally concerns a defined break under the operator's process. Self-exclusion is a request to restrict gambling access under a particular scheme or service. The duration, scope, enrolment process and arrangements afterward vary, so read the applicable explanation carefully.

Check which accounts, brands or services are covered rather than assuming one action blocks everything. Keep any confirmation and ask about unclear coverage. Do not open another account to work around an exclusion. If stopping feels difficult, a support organisation can help you explore additional steps suited to your circumstances.

Reduce easy access and promotional prompts

Depending on your location and services, options may include gambling-blocking software, payment controls and changes to marketing preferences. These address different routes back to gambling, so understand what each tool covers and where gaps remain.

For information relevant to Great Britain, GambleAware provides resources on blocking, self-exclusion and finding support. Availability differs elsewhere; look for an appropriate local service rather than assuming a scheme operates worldwide. Keeping support links easy to reach can be more useful than continuing to follow bonus notifications.

Address money concerns without chasing losses

Trying to win back money can add further losses and delay dealing with the underlying problem. If gambling has affected essential spending or debts, consider pausing access and speaking with an appropriate debt-advice or financial-support service in your location. Keep records that help explain the situation.

You do not have to resolve every financial question before seeking gambling support. The two forms of help can address different needs. Be cautious of anyone promising guaranteed recovery in exchange for another payment, and do not treat a promotional offer as a solution to a shortfall.

Find support for yourself or someone else

Support can begin with a conversation about what is happening and what you want to change. Check a service's geographic coverage, available languages and contact options. In Great Britain, GambleAware's support information includes routes for people affected by their own gambling and for family and friends.

If you are supporting someone else, your wellbeing matters too. You can seek advice about the impact on you without taking responsibility for controlling every part of another person's behaviour. This section is general information; a suitable support professional can help discuss individual circumstances and available options.