A person experiencing gambling harms may notice a negative impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. This can include anxiety, depression, and suicidal feelings. Gambling can harm relationships, lead to isolation, cause financial hardship and loss of social connections due to stigma. These harms can also be felt by family, friends, and colleagues.
Individuals experiencing harm from gambling, or their families or carers, rarely present to health or social care services with problem gambling as their presenting condition, and it can manifest in a range of different ways, including physical and mental health problems, relationship breakdowns as well as social care and financial issues.
Someone experiencing gambling harms may not notice all of these issues, or even realise the cause of them. By asking the right questions, you can support early identification of potential harms and direct them to appropriate help and support. Conversation can be powerful - it can help to reduce stigma, reduce feelings of isolation, and raise awareness about available help.
If appropriate, you could open up a conversation. People who have experienced harm from gambling talk about:
Gambling harm is often hidden. It can be hard for someone to talk about because of stigma or a fear of being judged – but give reassurance that there is lots of support available. It can be helpful to remain open-minded and focus on listening rather than asking ‘why’ or ‘how much’. Try to keep language and conversation blame-free.
Reassure the person that they are not alone, this is not their fault, and that talking about this takes courage and is a sign of strength. They may also be helped by knowing that gambling harms can affect anyone – gambling products and environments are designed to make you want to gamble and keep on gambling even when it’s harmful. People can be bombarded with marketing and incentives to gamble that are very difficult to avoid – these are also often targeted at people already at risk or experiencing harm.
It can be reassuring to know that it is possible to stop gambling, and that there is free, confidential and effective treatment available.
With permission, ask if the individual would like more information about gambling harms, how these can affect someone, and where to access further help and support. You can also offer to direct to guidance on self-exclusion and banning/blocking tools.
If someone is in crisis and needs urgent help, especially if experiencing suicidal feelings:
Share sources of information and support appropriate to the person’s requests. These can include:
Chapter One
Chapter One is an information and support hub for everyone affected by gambling.
This is your place to find information that will help you understand the causes of gambling harm, and where to access the right help. The valuable resource contains details on help for an individual and others that might be affected by gambling.
Website: https://www.chapter-one.org/
*Chapter One has been developed by experts, research and lived experience and is free from gambling industry influence.
BeGambleAware
The BeGambleAware website has a short series of questions you can complete if you are concerned about your gambling. This has direct link to help, support and advice about problem gambling.Â
Web:Â https://www.begambleaware.org/gambling-problems/do-i-have-a-gambling-problem/
National Gambling Helpline and Support
The National Gambling Helpline provides advisors who are available 24/7 online or via the telephone. They can signpost you to a range of confidential and free support services, such as counselling and therapy, as part of the National Gambling Support Network.
You can speak to an advisor or refer yourself to the National Gambling Support Network by contacting 0808 8020 133.
The National Gambling Helpline and Support Network is commissioned by the charity GambleAware, which receives voluntary donations from the gambling industry.
Website: https://www.begambleaware.org/ngsn
The NetLine provides confidential advice, information and emotional support throughout Great Britain to anyone experiencing problems with gambling. The NetLine is an online text ‘chat’ service, where the ‘caller’ and advisor talk by typing to each other. This is offered on a one to one basis. The service can accessed via a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop PC. As well as reading what the adviser types, the adviser can also send the caller documents and links to read later. (Available 8am to midnight, seven days a week, 365 days a year on the GamCare website).Â
The GamCare Forum is an online message board, providing a safe and secure space for users (who may be gamblers or their partners,iends and family) to share experiences, thoughts and feelings about problem gambling. Although the Forum is moderated by the GamCare Team, it is designed first and foremost for people to come together in similar situations, working through similar concerns and problems. (Available 24/7 via the GamCare website, 365 days a year).  fr
We run regular sessions in the GamCare online Chatroom, where users can use live text chat to talk about issues related to problem gambling. Our Chatroom is a welcoming, friendly, safe and supportive environment. Each session is moderated by a GamCare Adviser, who is welcoming and on hand to ensure everyone is supported.
Gambling with Lives
A charity set up by families bereaved by gambling that provides support, raises awareness of gambling disorder’s devastating effects, and campaigns for change.
Website: https://www.gamblingwithlives.org/
GamCare Treatment Services:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
GamCare provides local services for people concerned about their own gambling and for people affected by someone else’s gambling.
People can refer themselves or be referred by another professional. Following assessment we provide individually tailored support through 1-1 sessions and groups or courses. We work holistically to enhance opportunities for people to make changes in their own gambling. We support affected others by providing a safe space for them to recognise and increase their coping skills.               Â
Gamblers Anonymous
Runs local support groups for people with gambling addictions and advocates the same 12-step approach to recovery as Alcoholics Anonymous. Gamblers Anonymous also offers help and support via their website, including a forum, chat room and literature. Anyone who is seeking help for gambling addiction is able to attend meetings.
Web: https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/
GamCare Youth Services Â
Young people may be problem gamblers themselves or affected by another person’s gambling. Our full treatment services are offered to anyone 16 years or older, available through our regional partner networks.
Young people of any age can speak to our specially trained advisers on our helpline and net line and use our information and activities on bigdeal.org.uk
As of April 2018, GamCare will have a Youth Outreach Hub in Hull and the surrounding areas. This will offer free workshops for schools and youth groups, and free CPD training for youth-facing professionals.
Tel: 0808 8020 133
Web: https://www.bigdeal.org.uk
Youth Outreach: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/register-young-people-training
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Gam-Anon
Is an organisation dedicated to supporting the husbands, wives, partners, relatives or close friends of someone with a gambling problem who have also been affected by the problem. Like Gamblers Anonymous, meetings are held throughout the country, with online support also available.
Tel: 08700 50 88 80
Debt advice - Citizens Advice     Â
Citizens Advice offers free, independent, confidential and impartial debt advice through their web chat service.                                Â
Tel: 0300 330 1313Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Web: www.citizensadvice.org.uk                                    Â
Debt advice - Step Change Charity              Â
StepChange Debt Remedy provides expert advice, budget support and solutions to help someone manage their debts.                  Â
Tel: 0800 138 1111, Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-4pm                                             Â
Web: http://www.stepchange.org
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National self-exclusion schemes
New multi-operator schemes are being introduced across the five main sectors of the gambling industry to allow you to exclude yourself from each of those forms of gambling across the whole of Great Britain.
Web: http://optintoselfexclude.info/
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Individual gambling sectors self-exclusion schemes
(Bookmakers, Casinos’, Bingo venues and Arcades also offer exclusion schemed for more information click the link below:
Web: https://www.begambleaware.org/stay-in-control/how-to-self-exclude/
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Online sector self-exclusion and blocking software
If you want to self-exclude from an online (remote) gambling company then you will need to contact each of the companies with which you hold an account. This can usually be done on the responsible gambling pages of the website. You can also get email addresses and telephone numbers for online gambling companies that are part of the Remote Gambling Association here
If you are worried about online gambling then you can download a 'site blocker', which can block access to on line gambling sites. You can find further information on blocking software here
Gamcare
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others do the same.
This site offers various aids for the compulsive gambler including a forum, a chat room, literature and most importantly a meeting finder.
Meetings are the core of Gamblers Anonymous and we have meetings every day of the week throughout England, Wales and Ulster.
 Adfam
Adfam is the only national charity tackling the effects of alcohol, drug use or gambling on family members and friends. We want anyone affected by someone else's drug or alcohol use or gambling problem to have the chance to benefit from healthy relationships, be part of a loving and supportive family and enjoy mental and physical wellbeing.
Our mission is to do this by:
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others do the same.
This site offers various aids for the compulsive gambler including a forum, a chat room, literature and most importantly a meeting finder.
Meetings are the core of Gamblers Anonymous and we have meetings every day of the week throughout England, Wales and Ulster.