What Is Gambling Therapy?
Gambling Therapy is a global online service that offers free practical advice and emotional support to anyone affected by problem gambling. It is aimed at people who are experiencing gambling harm themselves, as well as friends, family members, and colleagues affected by someone else's gambling. Support is delivered online, including self-help resources and multilingual forums.
Who the service is for
The site organises its help around two broad groups:
- Help for you — support for the person who is gambling and finding it hard to stop, or whose gambling is having a negative impact on their life.
- Their gambling — support and advice for anyone affected by someone else's gambling, whether a friend, family member, or work colleague.
If your situation fits either of these, the service is designed for you. You do not need to be the person gambling to use it.
What support is available
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Self Help & Resources | Information and self-help material, including support if gaming is having a negative impact on your life or you find it hard to stop |
| Friends and Family | Support and advice for anyone affected by someone else's gambling |
| Multilingual Forums | A space to share thoughts, feelings, and experiences of problem gambling with others facing similar situations |
The forums are a notable part of the offer: they connect you with people in comparable circumstances rather than only providing static information.
How to decide whether to use it
Consider Gambling Therapy if:
- You want practical advice or emotional support about gambling harm, for yourself or someone close to you.
- You prefer an online service you can access remotely.
- You want to hear from others in similar situations through forums, and you would benefit from a service available in multiple languages.
It is a support and information service rather than a substitute for local emergency or specialist clinical care. If you are in immediate danger or crisis, contact local emergency services.
Getting started
- Go to gamblingtherapy.org.
- Choose the section matching your situation — help for you, or help for someone else's gambling.
- Browse the self-help resources, or join the multilingual forums to read and share experiences.
The service is described as global and free, so there is no cost barrier to using the advice, resources, or forums.