Gambling should be a paid-for form of entertainment, never a way to make money or to escape problems. Most people gamble without harm, but for some it becomes hard to control. This page explains the warning signs, the tools that help you stay in control, and where to get free, confidential help in your country. If you are worried about your gambling, or someone else’s, you do not have to deal with it alone.
Where can I get help with gambling?
Need to talk to someone now? In the UK, call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 (24/7). In the USA, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738, 24/7). Other countries are listed below. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services or a crisis line straight away.
Warning signs of problem gambling
Problem gambling rarely starts suddenly. These are some of the most common signs that gambling is becoming a problem:
- Spending more money or time on gambling than you planned, or finding it hard to stop.
- Chasing losses: gambling again to try to win back money you have lost.
- Needing to bet bigger amounts to get the same excitement.
- Borrowing money, selling things or using money meant for bills to gamble.
- Hiding your gambling or lying to family and friends about it.
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you try to cut down.
- Gambling to escape stress, boredom, loneliness or other problems.
- Gambling affecting your work, studies, sleep or relationships.
If several of these sound familiar, it is worth taking a short self-assessment. Gamblers Anonymous publishes 20 questions that many people use as a first check, and the helplines below can talk your answers through with you.
Fast games with short rounds, such as crash games, can make these signs appear sooner. Read our guide to Aviator and crash game addiction, and learn the tricks casinos use to keep you playing.
How to stay in control
- Set a budget before you play and treat it as the cost of entertainment. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
- Set a time limit and take regular breaks. Our free gambling budget calculator turns your budget into a session limit and time plan.
- Never chase losses. Every spin or bet is independent, and the house edge means the casino wins over time.
- Don’t gamble when you are upset, stressed or have been drinking.
- Keep gambling and essential money apart. Never use money for rent, bills or food.
- Keep other hobbies and interests so gambling doesn’t take over your free time.
- Understand the odds. Our guides to RTP and bonus wagering explain how much you can expect to lose over time.
Casino tools you can use
Licensed online casinos usually offer responsible gambling tools in your account settings. Look for these and set them up before you deposit:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month. |
| Loss and wager limits | Cap how much you can lose or stake over a set period. |
| Session limits and reality checks | Get reminders of how long you have been playing, or be logged out after a set time. |
| Time-out (cool-off) | Lock your account for a short period, from a day to several weeks. |
| Self-exclusion | Close your account for a long period, often six months or more. A good casino will not let you reopen it early. |
If a casino will not let you set limits or self-exclude, that is a red flag and a good reason to stop playing there.
National self-exclusion schemes
Some countries run free schemes that block you from every licensed gambling site at once:
- UK: GAMSTOP blocks you from British-licensed online gambling for 6 months to 5 years.
- Sweden: Spelpaus is the national self-exclusion register.
- Netherlands: Cruks excludes you from Dutch-licensed gambling for at least six months.
These schemes only cover operators licensed in that country. Blocking software and bank blocks (below) add a second layer of protection.
Blocking software and bank blocks
| Tool | Cost | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| BetBlocker | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Gamban | Paid | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| GamBlock | Paid | Windows, Android |
| Net Nanny | Paid (general parental controls with a gambling filter) | Windows, iOS, Android |
Many banks and card providers also let you block gambling transactions in their app. Check your bank’s card settings or ask your bank.
Where to get help
These services are confidential and free or charged at standard call rates. Numbers and opening hours were checked in October 2026 but can change, so check the organisation’s website.
International
- Gamblers Anonymous: peer support meetings in many countries, in person and online.
- Gambling Therapy: free online support and forums.
United Kingdom
- GamCare – National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7, with live chat on its website.
- GambleAware: advice and a directory of local treatment services.
United States
- National Council on Problem Gambling: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), 24/7, or use its online chat. The older number 1-800-522-4700 still works.
Canada
- Responsible Gambling Council: information and support resources across Canada.
- Ontario: ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600, 24/7, or text CONNEX to 247247. Other provinces run their own helplines.
Ireland
- Gambling Awareness Trust helpline: 1800 936 725, 24/7.
- HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline (also covers gambling): 1800 459 459.
- Gamblers Anonymous Ireland (Dublin): 01 872 1133.
Australia
- Gambling Help: 1800 858 858, 24/7, and Gambling Help Online for 24/7 chat and email support.
New Zealand
- Gambling Helpline: 0800 654 655 or free text 8006, 24/7.
Germany
- BIÖG (formerly BZgA) gambling addiction phone line: 0800 1 37 27 00, free. Monday to Thursday 10:00–22:00, Friday to Sunday 10:00–18:00.
France
- Joueurs Info Service: 09 74 75 13 13, 7 days a week, 8:00 to 2:00, anonymous and at standard call rates.
Netherlands
- Open Over Gokken: the Dutch gambling authority’s help platform (formerly Loket Kansspel), with links to helplines and treatment.
Norway
- Hjelpelinjen: 800 800 40, for players and their families.
Sweden
- Stödlinjen: 020-81 91 00, with chat on its website.
Keeping gambling away from under-18s
- Never share your casino login, and log out on shared phones, tablets and computers.
- Keep cards and crypto wallets that can pay a casino out of children’s reach, and don’t save card details on shared devices.
- Use parental controls: Net Nanny and the blocking tools in the table above can filter gambling sites, and most phones have built-in content filters.
Worried about someone else?
Gambling problems affect families and friends too. Most of the helplines above also support people who are worried about someone else. Talk to the person calmly when they are not gambling, avoid lending money to cover losses, and look after your own wellbeing. Organisations such as GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous (through its family groups) can advise you.
Our commitment
UltraGambler is for adults only. You must be 18 or older, or the legal gambling age in your country if that is higher, to gamble. We check for responsible gambling tools when we review casinos, and we always tell readers to check that online gambling is legal where they live before playing. Our reviews may contain affiliate links, but that never changes this advice: if gambling stops being fun, stop.
Responsible gambling FAQs
How do I know if I have a gambling problem?
Common signs include chasing losses, gambling more than you planned, borrowing to gamble, hiding it from others and feeling irritable when you try to cut down. If any of these apply, take a self-assessment and talk to a helpline.
Can I block myself from all online casinos?
You can combine a national self-exclusion scheme (such as GAMSTOP in the UK), self-exclusion at each casino, blocking software such as BetBlocker or Gamban, and a gambling block from your bank.
Is gambling help really free?
Yes. The national helplines listed on this page are free or charged at standard rates, and they are confidential.
What should I do if I want to stop right now?
Use the casino’s self-exclusion tool, install blocking software, turn on your bank’s gambling block, and call a helpline to talk through the next steps.
