Gambling addiction: signs and where to get help

Gambling disorder is gambling that continues despite the damage it does to money, work, health or relationships. It is listed in the DSM-5, the manual doctors use to diagnose mental health conditions, alongside other addictive disorders. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.2% of adults worldwide have a gambling disorder, and that people who gamble at harmful levels account for around 60% of what gamblers lose.

The nine signs doctors look for

A doctor diagnoses gambling disorder when at least four of these signs appear within a 12-month period. You can use the list as a self-check; it does not replace a conversation with a professional.

1. You need to bet more money to feel the same excitement.
2. You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down or stop.
3. You have tried to control, cut down or stop gambling and failed more than once.
4. You think about gambling most of the time: past sessions, the next one, how to find money to play.
5. You gamble when you feel stressed, guilty, anxious or low.
6. After losing money, you come back to win it back.
7. You lie to people close to you about how much you gamble.
8. Gambling has put a relationship, a job or your studies at risk, or cost you one.
9. You rely on others to give you money to cover gambling debts.

What to do first

1. Stop depositing. Remove saved cards and e-wallets from casino accounts.
2. Block gambling sites on every device with a tool such as Gamban or BetBlocker, which is free.
3. Close or self-exclude the casino accounts you have. Each self-exclusion only covers that one casino.
4. Tell one person you trust what is happening.
5. Contact a free support service. You do not have to stop gambling before you call or write.

Self-exclusion and blocking

Most licensed casinos let you self-exclude from your account settings for a set period. That closes only the account at that casino. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP excludes you from every online gambling company licensed there at once, and taking part is compulsory for them. Casinos licensed elsewhere, including most new casinos, are outside such schemes, which is why a device-wide blocker matters if you play at offshore sites.

If someone close to you gambles

Pick a calm moment and talk about what you have noticed, such as missed bills, borrowing or secrecy, rather than about gambling in general. Do not lend money to cover losses. Gam-Anon runs groups for family and friends, and Gambling Therapy supports people affected by someone else's gambling.

Recovery

People do recover from gambling disorder. Support groups, counselling and treatment from a doctor all help, and many people use more than one. Slips are common and are not a reason to give up. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local emergency number now.

Why the signs build up slowly

Gambling disorder rarely starts with one bad decision. Many people first gamble for the mood it gives them, then to escape stress, and later to win back money they have already lost. Each stage makes the next one easier to reach, which is why the signs in the list are worth checking early rather than after a crisis.

Early on, the signs are often private. A person may play late after a shift, move money between accounts, or go quiet about what a session cost. Family members often notice the knock-on effects first, such as missed bills, borrowing or sudden secrecy about money. Those changes are a useful prompt for a calm conversation, and for the support options described above.

Where to start, and how to get help

Where do I start in the UK, the US or Ontario? Start with the free helpline for your region. In Great Britain, GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, and it is open around the clock. In Ontario, ConnexOntario takes calls on 1-866-531-2600, also around the clock. In the United States, the National Problem Gambling Helpline takes calls, texts and chats. You do not need to have stopped gambling, or to be in crisis, before you make contact. Families and friends can call too, and the services in the list above include groups for them.

What should I say to someone who wants to stop? Keep it calm and specific. Name the effect you have seen, such as missed bills or borrowing, and say you want to help them find support. Avoid arguing about single bets or wins, because that tends to turn into a debate about the game. Do not give them money to cover losses, even in an emergency, since that usually keeps the cycle going. Then offer to look at a support option together, and let them choose the first step.

Cutting down: how offers and apps fit in

Why are online casinos harder to step away from? Online play removes the natural breaks that a venue imposes. A player can open an account from bed, a phone or a commute, and games can run in quick rounds with no queue or closing time to end the session. Many sites also send bonuses, reminders and account messages that bring a player back. None of this causes addiction on its own, but it makes an existing urge easier to act on. Setting a deposit limit before the first session, and switching off marketing messages, reduces that pull. For tools to set those limits, see our responsible gaming page.

Is gambling addiction just a bad run of luck? No. A bad run of luck ends when the money runs out or the session stops. Gambling disorder is defined by what happens next: the person keeps playing, often to win back losses, even after the harm is plain to see. The difference lies in lost control, not in the size of one loss. That is why the signs above describe behaviour, such as chasing losses and lying about time spent, rather than the amount a person has lost.

For limits and tools to keep gambling under control before it becomes a problem, see our responsible gaming page.