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EnglishWhat Is GambleAware.org and What Kind of Help Does It Offer?
Updated
GambleAware.org is a free, confidential gambling help service for people in Great Britain. It is designed for anyone worried about their own gambling or someone else's, and it offers self-assessment tools, a spending calculator, a local support finder, blocking and self-exclusion guidance, and one-to-one advice by phone or online chat. If you want practical, non-judgemental help to understand or change your gambling, it is a suitable starting point; if you need emergency medical or crisis help, contact emergency services instead.
Who the site is for
The service addresses two broad groups:
- People concerned about their own gambling — whether you want to cut down, stop, or simply understand how much time and money gambling takes up.
- Family members and friends — if someone else's gambling is affecting you, the site provides guidance on what you can do and what you need to know.
The site states its support is free and confidential, and available across Great Britain.
Tools you can use directly
The homepage highlights several self-service tools. Each has a clear input and output:
| Tool | What you do | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling harms self-assessment | Answer 7 quick questions | An insight into how gambling may be affecting you or someone you care about, plus tailored advice and support |
| Gambling spend calculator | Spend a few minutes entering information | A better understanding of the time and money you spend gambling, with recommendations to reduce your risk |
| Friends and family check-in | Answer short questions | Information on what you can do and need to know if you're impacted by someone's gambling |
| Service finder | Enter your postcode | A list of free, confidential and tailored support services near you |
The service finder also offers a "View all support providers" option if a postcode search does not return results.
Blocking and self-exclusion
If your goal is to stop or limit gambling, the site points to free gambling blocking tools and services. These are presented as a way to help you feel more in control. The site does not list specific providers in the excerpt, so use the "Explore gambling blocking tools" link to see current options.
Common concerns the site addresses
The "We're here to help" section groups frequent questions into three areas:
- Signs of gambling harms — how to recognise them, since they can be hard to spot.
- Help with finances — advice on setting spending limits, tracking expenses, and finding support for debt.
- Supporting someone else — guidance for helping another person while also looking after yourself.
Talking to an adviser
Beyond self-service tools, GambleAware offers one-to-one contact with an adviser by phone or online chat. The site describes this as confidential advice, information and support, available "whenever you need it." This is the route to take if you want to discuss your situation rather than work through a tool on your own.
How to decide if it fits your situation
- Use the self-assessment first if you are unsure whether gambling is a problem for you. Seven questions is a low-commitment way to get a clearer picture.
- Use the spend calculator if your main question is how much gambling is actually costing you in time and money.
- Use the service finder if you already know you want local, in-person or tailored support.
- Use the friends and family check-in if the concern is someone else's gambling rather than your own.
- Call or chat if you would rather speak to a person directly, or if the tools raise questions you want to talk through.