Talk to someone
Everything below is free and confidential, and answered by people who do only this. You don’t have to have reached any particular point to ring them.
Each entry says which language it is answered in.
If you are thinking about harming yourself
Ring emergency services now. This is exactly what those numbers are for, and nobody answering them will think you are wasting their time.
United Kingdom
National Gambling Helpline (GamCare)
Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, answered in English. Advisers talk through what is going on and can refer you into free support near you.
- 0808 8020 133Free from the UK, 24 hours. Also on WhatsApp at the same number.
- gamcare.org.uk
GAMSTOP
Free self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks your access to online gambling accounts with participating companies licensed in Great Britain. The site is in English.
Samaritans
For when it has stopped being about the money. Free to call, day or night, from the UK and Ireland. Answered in English. You don’t have to be in crisis to ring them.
- 116 123Free from the UK and Ireland, 24 hours. Does not appear on your phone bill.
- samaritans.org
Ireland
Gambling Care
Freephone helpline run by Dunlewey Addiction Services, open 24 hours, every day of the year, answered in English. They talk it through and refer on to counselling.
- 1800 936 725Free from Ireland, 24 hours, 365 days.
- gamblingcare.ie
Gamblers Anonymous Ireland
Peer meetings across Ireland, most days of the week, held in English. Free, and you don’t have to give your real name.
- 01 872 1133Dublin line, listed as the national contact.
- gamblersanonymous.ieMeeting times and regional numbers.
Problem Gambling Ireland
Information, a directory of meetings and online support groups. In English.
- problemgambling.ieCurrent contact details are on their site.
Samaritans
For when it has stopped being about the money. Free to call, day or night, from the UK and Ireland. Answered in English. You don’t have to be in crisis to ring them.
- 116 123Free from the UK and Ireland, 24 hours. Does not appear on your phone bill.
- samaritans.org
France
Joueurs Info Service
National helpline, anonymous, seven days a week, answered in French. Advisers can point you to a service near you.
- 09 74 75 13 13Seven days a week. Charged as an ordinary call, no premium rate.
- joueurs-info-service.fr
Germany
Telefonberatung zur Glücksspielsucht (BZgA)
Free, anonymous phone counselling from the German federal health-education agency, in German. Their site also lists advice centres by region.
- 0800 1 37 27 00Free from Germany, and anonymous.
- check-dein-spiel.de
United States
National Problem Gambling Helpline
Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, answered in English. Routes you to a contact centre in your state.
- 1-800-MY-RESETCall or text, from the US. Dials as 1-800-697-3738.
- ncpgambling.org
International and online
Gamblers Anonymous
Free peer meetings worldwide, in person and online. The site is in English and lists groups by country, so local meetings are held in the local language.
- gamblersanonymous.orgMeeting directory.
Gambling Therapy
Free online groups, moderated forums and one-to-one chat, in more than forty languages. Run by the UK charity Gordon Moody.
Find a Helpline
If your country is not listed above: a directory of free, confidential lines by country and topic.