If someone you care about is struggling with gambling, supporting them can make a real difference, though it can be difficult to know how. This guide offers compassionate, practical advice on supporting someone with a gambling problem. It is general information, and support is available for you as well as for them.
Recognising they may need help
Signs that someone may have a gambling problem include money troubles, secrecy, mood changes and gambling more than they can afford. Our guide on signs of problem gambling covers these. Understanding the signs helps you recognise when someone may need support, as noticing patterns like financial difficulty, secrecy or distress connected to gambling can be the first step to helping, allowing you to approach the situation with understanding rather than waiting until problems become severe.
Approaching the conversation
When raising the subject, choose a calm, private moment, and approach it with care and without judgement, expressing concern rather than criticism. Understanding that a calm, non-judgemental approach works best helps you start the conversation well, as people are more likely to open up when they feel supported rather than blamed, so leading with genuine concern for their wellbeing, in a private and unhurried setting, gives the conversation the best chance of being constructive and welcomed.
Listening
Listening is one of the most valuable things you can do: let them share their feelings without interrupting or judging, so they feel heard and understood. Understanding that listening with patience and empathy is powerful helps you support them effectively, as giving someone space to talk about their experience, without rushing to solutions or criticism, can be a great relief and helps build the trust needed for them to accept help, which is often the hardest step.
Avoiding blame
Avoid blame and criticism, which tend to push people away and increase secrecy. Problem gambling is a health issue, not a moral failing. Understanding that blame is counterproductive helps you keep the relationship supportive, as criticism can make someone defensive and less likely to seek help, whereas treating the situation with compassion, recognising it as a difficulty they are facing rather than a fault, keeps the door open for them to accept support and make changes.
Not taking on their debts
It is generally wise not to take on their gambling debts or give money to cover losses, as this can enable continued gambling rather than help. Understanding that paying off gambling debts or providing money can unintentionally enable the problem helps you support them more effectively, as while it is natural to want to help financially, doing so may remove the consequences that prompt change and fund further gambling, so encouraging them towards proper support and debt advice is usually more helpful.
Encouraging them to seek help
Gently encourage them to seek professional help, such as the National Gambling Helpline or GamCare, and offer to support them in doing so. Our guide on gambling help in the UK lists sources. Understanding that encouraging professional support, rather than trying to fix it alone, is key helps you guide them well, as trained services are best placed to help with gambling difficulties, so pointing them towards this support, and offering to be there as they take that step, is one of the most valuable things you can do.
Support for you too
Supporting someone with a gambling problem can be hard on you, and support is available for affected others too, including the National Gambling Helpline and family support groups. Understanding that you can and should seek support for yourself helps you cope, as the stress of supporting someone can take a toll, and services exist specifically for friends and family affected by another person's gambling, so reaching out for your own support is both valid and important, helping you to help them.
Protecting your own wellbeing
Look after your own wellbeing and finances, setting boundaries where needed, as you cannot support someone effectively if you are overwhelmed. Understanding that protecting your own wellbeing and finances is essential, not selfish, helps you support someone sustainably, as maintaining your own health, setting sensible boundaries, and safeguarding your finances ensure you can continue to be there for them, whereas neglecting yourself can leave you unable to help and harmed in the process.
Practical steps
Practical help might include supporting them to set up self-exclusion or blocking software, or to access debt advice, if they are willing. Our guide on GAMSTOP covers online self-exclusion. Understanding that practical support, offered with their agreement, can help helps you assist constructively, as helping someone access tools like self-exclusion, or signposting debt advice, gives concrete support alongside emotional encouragement, though it is most effective when they are willing rather than pressured into it.
Patience and recovery
Recovery from gambling difficulties takes time and may involve setbacks, so patience and continued support are important. Understanding that recovery is a process, not a single event, helps you keep realistic expectations, as setbacks are common and do not mean failure, so continuing to offer support and understanding through the ups and downs, rather than expecting an immediate or permanent fix, gives the person the best chance of lasting change over time.
What not to do
Try not to lecture, control, or enable, and do not ignore your own limits. Support works best as encouragement, not pressure or rescue. Understanding what to avoid, such as lecturing, taking over, or funding the gambling, helps you support someone healthily, as these approaches tend to backfire, whereas steady, compassionate encouragement towards proper help, combined with looking after yourself, provides the kind of support that genuinely helps without harming you or enabling the problem.
provides the kind of support that genuinely helps without harming you or enabling the problem.You are making a difference
Supporting someone through gambling difficulties can feel thankless, especially during setbacks, but your patience, understanding and encouragement towards help genuinely matter. Knowing that support is available for you too can make the role more sustainable. Our guide on how gambling affects mental health may help you understand what they are going through. Understanding that your steady support makes a real difference, even when progress is slow, helps you keep going, as being there, without blame, and gently pointing towards help is one of the most valuable things you can offer someone facing gambling difficulties.
Getting support
Support is available both for the person gambling and for you. Our guide on how gambling affects mental health may also help.
If gambling is causing you or someone you know any concern, free and confidential support is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, and online through GamCare and BeGambleAware. You are not alone, and help is always available.
In short
Supporting someone with a gambling problem means recognising the signs, approaching the conversation calmly and without judgement, listening, and avoiding blame. Encourage them towards professional help rather than taking on their debts or trying to fix it alone, and offer practical support, like self-exclusion, with their agreement. Look after your own wellbeing and seek support for yourself too. Recovery takes time and patience. Free, confidential help is available for both of you.
Explore more in our Safer Gambling guides.