If gambling is hurting you, start here
Help comes before anything else. Free, confidential support is available right now, and separately, if an operator failed in its duties, the money side may not be finished business.
Need support now? Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day. Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or chat online with GamCare. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call 999 in an emergency, or the Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time.
Nobody plans to end up here. Gambling harm builds quietly, and by the time it is obvious, money, sleep and self-respect have usually taken the hit together. Two things are true at once: you can get free help today, and if an operator ignored the rules that were meant to protect you, the losses may still be recoverable. Help first.
Free support that helps
Talk to someone today. The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133, run by GamCare) is free, confidential and open around the clock. They will not judge you, and they have heard every version of this story.
Block the gambling. GAMSTOP self-excludes you from every UK-licensed site in one free registration, for six months, one year or five years. Pair it with device-level blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker on every phone, tablet and computer, and switch on your bank's gambling block; most UK banks now offer one with a cooling-off period.
Deal with the debt. StepChange and National Debtline give free, regulated debt advice and can agree realistic plans with creditors. Gambling debt is debt; it responds to the same tools, and advisers see it every day. Never pay for debt advice.
Look after the person, not just the problem. The NHS runs free specialist gambling clinics (nhs.uk), GamAnon supports family members, and your GP is a legitimate first call. Gambling disorder is a recognised health condition, not a verdict on your character.
When the system failed you
Self-exclusion and affordability rules exist because the law accepts that gambling harm removes free choice. When they work, they save people. When an operator ignores them, by letting you play while on GamStop, taking deposit after deposit with no checks, or marketing to you after you asked to be excluded, the harm that follows is not only yours to carry.
That is the point at which the money side may be worth a look. Not as a way to fund more gambling, and never as a substitute for support, but because operators that break their duties can sometimes be made to give the money back. If that might describe you, our guide to getting your money back after gambling on GamStop explains how it works, honestly, and our self-exclusion failure service sets out what we look at. When you are ready, and only then, a free eligibility check is confidential and carries no obligation.
Common questions about getting help
Is the National Gambling Helpline really confidential?
Yes. You do not have to give your name, and nothing is passed to your bank, your employer or your family. The helpline is free, runs 24 hours a day and is answered by trained advisers. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Does GAMSTOP block every casino?
It blocks every site licensed in Great Britain, in one free registration. Offshore sites sit outside it, which is why pairing GAMSTOP with device-level blocking software such as Gamban or BetBlocker and a bank gambling block gives far better cover than any single tool.
I have serious gambling debt. Where do I start?
Free, regulated debt advice from StepChange or National Debtline. Gambling debt responds to the same tools as any other debt, and advisers see it every day. Do not pay for debt advice, and be wary of anyone who cold-contacts you promising to clear debts or win refunds.
Can I get gambling losses refunded?
Sometimes, where an operator breached its duties, such as letting you gamble while self-excluded or taking deposits with no checks despite obvious harm. It is never guaranteed, and the honest starting point is a free assessment of what actually happened in your case.
Is Clinton & Co a treatment or support service?
No. We are a claims consultancy for people failed by gambling operators, and we work with regulated legal partners. For health, crisis and debt support, the services on this page are the right doors, and we will always point you to them first.
Support first. The rest can wait.
If you only do one thing today, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. It is free, confidential and open now.
Call 0808 8020 133