Gambling Debt Help: Free Support and First Steps

Get support for the gambling

The National Gambling Helpline is run by GamCare. It is free, completely confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can call 0808 8020 133, or use live chat or WhatsApp. It can offer a brief conversation and refer you to other support in the network.

GamCare also offers free, confidential one-to-one support for anyone affected by gambling harm, including family and friends, online treatment and an online community. If you are worried about someone else's gambling, you can use these services too.

Get free debt advice

Talking to a debt adviser is often the first step. GamCare says advisers can help without judgement, and that a free debt adviser can tailor a solution to your situation. Free services include StepChangeStepChange Explained: What It Does and How It WorksWhat the debt charity StepChange offers, how its free debt advice and debt management plans work, who it suits and what to expect when you contact them.Read more → (0800 138 1111), National DebtlineNational Debtline: How It Works, When to CallWhat National Debtline is, who runs it, what it can help with, how to get free advice by phone, webchat or online tools, and what to expect.Read more → (0808 808 4000), Citizens Advice and PayPlan. See our list of debt helplines for hours and other options.

With your permission, advisers can record your circumstances so you do not need to repeat your story. You can also use a free service to look at your options, which can include a debt management plan, a Debt Relief Order, an IVA or bankruptcy. In England and Wales, an adviser can also help you apply for Breathing Space, which gives most people 60 days of protection from creditorHow to Deal with Creditors: Communication and NegotiationPractical advice on communicating with creditors, negotiating affordable repayments, and understanding your rights when dealing with the companies you owe.Read more → action.

Block access to gambling

Making it harder to gamble gives you space to deal with your finances. GamCare points to three kinds of tools: blocking software, bank gambling blocks and self-exclusion schemes.

GAMSTOP is the free national scheme for online gambling. The Gambling Commission explains that once you register, you are blocked from gambling sites and apps run by businesses licensed in Great Britain, for a period you choose. It covers online gambling only. Land-based gambling, such as betting shops, casinos, bingo premises and arcades, is covered by separate schemes, and the Gambling Commission lists them.

Many banks also let you block gambling transactions on your card. Ask your bank what it offers.

Practical steps for the debt

Dealing with the money can feel impossible when you are anxious, so take it in small steps.

1. Stop chasing losses. GamCare says gambling is not a way out of debt, and that it very often makes financial difficulties worse.
2. Open your post and list what you owe. Knowing the full figure is the first step. Our guide to how to deal with debt can help.
3. Contact a free debt adviser. They will help you work out what you can afford and what options exist.
4. Protect priority debts first, such as rent or mortgage, council tax and energy. See priority and non-priority debts.
5. Avoid new borrowing to pay off old debts. A new loan can feel like a fix but may deepen the problem. See should you take a loan to pay off debt?.
6. Tell someone you trust if you feel able to. Support from people close to you can make a big difference.

If creditors are chasing you

Creditors can be persistent, and the pressure can make things feel worse. Free advisers can help you speak to creditors and explain your options. Our guides to how to deal with creditors and debt collection in the UK explain your rights. If you are in urgent difficulty, see urgent debt help.

Helping someone else

If someone close to you is in debt because of gambling, you cannot fix it for them, but you can support them. GamCare offers support for family and friends, and free debt services can talk through what is possible. Be careful about paying off their debts without advice, as it can sometimes make a problem worse and you may be left out of pocket.

What to have ready before you call

Free advisers can work faster, and give you better advice, if you have your details to hand. You do not need everything in perfect order, and you can still call if you are missing some papers.

• A list of what you owe, who each debt is with and roughly how much, including any letters from collectors
• Your income from all sources, and how often it is paid
• Your main regular outgoings, such as rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, food and travel
• Any court papers, default noticesDefault Notice for Debt: What It Means and How to Respond (UK)Received a default notice? Find out what it means, the 14-day rule for credit agreements, how to put things right and what happens if you do not.Read more → or letters threatening action, with the dates they arrived
• Details of anything you own of value, and any savings

Looking after your wellbeing

Debt and gambling harm can affect sleep, mood and relationships. It is common to feel shame or fear, but those feelings can make it harder to ask for help. Talking to a helpline adviser, a friend or a family member is a practical step as well as an emotional one, and many people find the first conversation is easier than they expected.

You can recover

People do turn things around, and getting help early gives you the most options. The first step does not have to be the biggest one. Calling the helpline, registering with GAMSTOP or speaking to a debt adviser each counts. We checked the phone numbers and opening hours in this guide against each organisation's own website on 20 October 2026. Hours change, especially around bank holidays, so check the website before you call.