If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships or wellbeing, getting support matters more than finding another offer. You do not need to wait until the situation becomes severe to speak to someone.
Get support now
Choose a service for your country from the contacts below. If you are in immediate danger or cannot keep yourself safe, contact your local emergency services. The gambling helplines listed here are not a substitute for emergency care.
Gambling support by country
| Location | Service | Contact and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | GamCare | 0808 8020 133; support available 24/7. Live chat and other options are provided on GamCare’s website. |
| France | Joueurs Info Service | 09 74 75 13 13; telephone service daily, 08:00–23:00 French local time. Chat daily, 12:00–19:00, from 1 October 2026. |
| United States | National Council on Problem Gambling | Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET; chat is available through the official website. The service connects people with support resources 24/7. |
| Spain | DGOJ self-exclusion information | Official information about the RGIAJ exclusion register, registration routes and its scope. |
| Other locations | GamCare international support contacts | Find a service for your country, or ask a local healthcare professional about specialist help. |
Contacts checked on 1 October 2026. Service availability can change; follow the official links for the current options.
Recognising when gambling is causing harm
Warning signs can include gambling more than you intended, chasing losses, borrowing to continue, hiding the amount spent or finding it difficult to stop. Concern from someone close to you is also a reason to pause and seek support. These signs are not a diagnosis; a specialist service can help you assess what is happening.
You can seek help whether you gamble with money, cryptocurrency, skins or in-game assets. A virtual balance can still represent a meaningful loss. Do not treat gambling as income or as a way to solve a debt problem.
Practical steps to create distance from gambling
- Pause the activity. Close gambling apps and avoid following promotional links while you seek help.
- Use account controls. Ask an operator about a timeout, closure or self-exclusion. Read the scope and duration of the option.
- Block access where possible. Consider a relevant exclusion scheme and device blocking software.
- Ask your bank about payment blocks. Available controls depend on the bank and payment method.
- Protect essential spending. Prioritise bills and everyday needs, and seek independent debt support if necessary.
- Talk to someone. A trusted person or specialist adviser can help you take the next step.
If you feel unable to control gambling, a higher spending limit or a different promotion is not a solution. Ask a support service about stopping and about controls suited to your circumstances.
Understand the scope of self-exclusion
Gamstop Online explains its online self-exclusion service and the operators it covers. Spain’s RGIAJ register has its own scope and registration process. A national scheme should not be assumed to block every independent website, skin service or cryptocurrency transaction.
Use the official service to understand eligibility and coverage. Do not open another account, use someone else’s identity or switch services to get around an exclusion. Where a payment method falls outside a bank block, ask a specialist adviser about additional controls.
Skins, GP and game-account risks
Item deposits and internal balances can make spending harder to recognise. Keep track of the value at risk rather than only the unit displayed on a site. Publisher account rules are a separate issue: for example, Jagex’s rules prohibit games of chance involving GP or items and warn of account bans for involvement with unofficial services.
Support for friends and family
You can ask for help even if the person gambling is not ready to do so. Specialist services can explain support for affected family members and friends. Avoid making payments to an operator or handing over account credentials in an attempt to resolve another person’s gambling losses.
Our role
FlashyFlashy publishes comparisons and informational content. This page provides routes to independent support; it is not an operator support desk or a treatment service. Assistance with an operator account, a payout or self-exclusion must be requested from the relevant provider or scheme.
Further information: NHS help for problems with gambling. Our commercial relationships are explained in the Affiliate Disclosure.
Common questions
Where can I get help with gambling?
Use a specialist service for your country, such as GamCare in Great Britain, Joueurs Info Service in France or the National Council on Problem Gambling in the United States. The support links on this page lead to the services themselves.
Does self-exclusion block every gambling website?
No. A scheme covers the operators and products within its scope. Combine appropriate self-exclusion with operator account controls, device blocking and bank payment blocks where available. A specialist adviser can help you understand the options.
Are skins, GP and cryptocurrency different from gambling with money?
They can still expose you to loss and gambling-related harm. Their labels do not remove the value at risk. Some game publishers also prohibit wagering involving their assets.
Can friends and family ask for support?
Yes. Services such as GamCare and the National Council on Problem Gambling also provide information or referrals for people affected by someone else’s gambling.