Gambling can be an enjoyable leisure activity, but it carries real risks. Understanding those risks and knowing how to manage your play are steps anyone can take, regardless of where or how they gamble.
Recognising Problem Gambling
Problem gambling is not simply about how much money is spent. It is better understood through the effect gambling has on a person's life. Some signs worth reflecting on honestly include:
- Spending more time or money gambling than you intended
- Chasing losses — continuing to play to recover money already lost
- Feeling irritable, anxious, or preoccupied when not gambling
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Neglecting work, study, family, or personal health because of gambling
- Lying to others about the extent of your gambling activity
Experiencing one or more of these does not automatically mean you have a serious problem, but it is a reason to pause, reflect, and consider seeking support.
Practical Steps to Stay in Control
Keeping gambling within boundaries you decide in advance — rather than in the moment — is one of the most effective approaches. Practical measures include:
- Set a budget before you play and treat any losses as the cost of entertainment, not as money to be recovered.
- Use a time limit. Set an alarm before you start so you are not relying on your own sense of time passing.
- Avoid gambling when stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or other substances, as decision-making is impaired.
- Balance gambling with other activities. If gambling is your primary source of excitement or relaxation, that imbalance is worth addressing.
- Take regular breaks during sessions rather than playing continuously.
Getting Help and Support
GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline in Great Britain. They provide counselling, advice, and a peer-support forum. You can reach them by phone on 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day) or through their website at gamcare.org.uk.
Gamblers Anonymous runs peer-support meetings worldwide, based on a twelve-step programme. Details of meetings and online groups are available at gamblersanonymous.org.
GamAnon specifically supports family members and friends of people affected by problem gambling. Information is available at gamanon.org.
BeGambleAware provides information, self-assessment tools, and referrals to treatment. Their website is begambleaware.org.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion allows a person to request that they be blocked from gambling with a particular operator or across a range of operators for a set period. Registering at gamstop.co.uk applies the exclusion across all participating sites simultaneously. If you are concerned about your gambling, self-exclusion is a concrete step you can take today, independent of any individual platform.
Gambling and Young People
Gambling products are intended only for adults. If you share devices with younger people in your household, consider using parental control software to restrict access to gambling websites. Organisations such as GamCare also offer resources specifically aimed at preventing young people from developing harmful relationships with gambling.