Where to start
If gambling has stopped feeling like fun, or you’re worried about someone who plays, you don’t have to sort this out on your own. Free, confidential help is available right now in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Start with the table below. If you’d first like to understand your own risk, our anonymous 2-minute self-assessment gives you a clear, private picture — and for safer-play habits and self-exclusion tools, see our responsible gambling guide.
Get Help Right Now
Every organization below is free to contact, and most are staffed around the clock. You don’t need to give your name, and you don’t need to wait until things feel unmanageable. Reaching out early is what tends to make the biggest difference.
| Region | Organization | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| United States | National Council on Problem Gambling | Call or text 1-800-522-4700, or the new 1-800-MY-RESET line. Chat is open 24/7. |
| United Kingdom | GamCare, National Gambling Helpline | Call 0808 8020 133, free and confidential, 24 hours a day. Live chat and WhatsApp are also available. |
| Australia | Gambling Help Online | Call 1800 858 858 or use live chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
| Canada | ConnexOntario and the Responsible Gambling Council | Ontario residents can call 1-866-531-2600. The Responsible Gambling Council lists the right helpline for every other province. |
| New Zealand | PGF Services / Gambling Helpline | Call 0800 654 655 or text 8006, free and available 24/7. |
| Anywhere | Gamblers Anonymous | Find an in-person or online meeting through the international directory. |
None of these numbers cost anything to call. None of them require a full-blown crisis before you’re allowed to use them.
Not Sure Where You Stand? Take the Self-Assessment
If you’re not sure whether your gambling has become a problem, a structured check beats guessing. Our gambling self-assessment uses the Problem Gambling Severity Index — the same nine-question screen health services use — and takes about two minutes. It’s completely anonymous: your answers never leave your device, and you’ll get a plain-language result with support options matched to it. It’s a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
Support Groups and Ongoing Help
Helplines are the fastest first step, but they’re not the only support out there. Depending on what you need, these can carry you through the longer road:
- Gamblers Anonymous runs free, anonymous 12-step meetings — in person, online, and by phone — in dozens of countries.
- SMART Recovery offers a science-based, non-12-step alternative built around practical tools for managing urges.
- Gam-Anon holds meetings specifically for partners, parents, and friends affected by someone else’s gambling.
- Financial counseling — many helplines connect you to free money-advice services (such as StepChange in the UK) that specialize in gambling-related debt.
Helping a Partner, Friend, or Family Member
Watching someone you love struggle with gambling comes with its own kind of helplessness. A few things worth knowing:
- You can call most of the helplines above yourself, even if the person gambling never does.
- Gam-Anon runs meetings built specifically for partners, parents, and friends, separate from the person gambling.
- Curiosity tends to land better than an ultimatum. “I’ve noticed X, what’s going on” opens a door that “you need to stop” usually closes.
- Protecting shared finances, separate accounts, credit checks, is a practical step, not a betrayal.
- You didn’t cause it, and you can’t fix it single-handedly. Support exists for you too, not just the person gambling.
For the warning signs of a gambling problem, safer-play habits, and self-exclusion tools like GamStop, Gamban, and BetStop, see our responsible gambling guide. And remember: reaching out for help is never something to be embarrassed about. The table near the top of this page is the fastest way to talk to someone today — it costs nothing, and it stays between you and them.