Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over and always carries financial risk. Warning signs include betting more than you can afford, chasing losses and borrowing to gamble. Deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion and blocking software can help. Free support is available internationally from Gambling Therapy, Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon, and from national helplines listed below.
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Gambling is for adults and involves risk
KiraBet is written for readers aged 18 and over. Gambling is a form of paid entertainment with uncertain outcomes. Casino games are built with an advantage for the house, which our guide to house edge explains.
No system, pattern or strategy guarantees a win. If you choose to gamble, only use money you can afford to lose.
Warning signs
Gambling can become a problem gradually. The NHS lists questions that point to possible harm, including whether you bet more than you can afford to lose, need larger amounts to get the same feeling, try to win back money you have lost, or have borrowed money or sold things to gamble1.
It also asks whether gambling has caused stress or anxiety, or financial problems for you or your household1.
Other things worth noticing in yourself:
- hiding gambling from family or friends
- gambling to escape worry, boredom or low mood
- spending more time gambling than planned
- feeling irritable when trying to cut down
Questions to ask yourself
A quick self-check can help you step back. Answer honestly, thinking about the last 12 months:
- Have I gambled with money I needed for bills, rent or food?
- Have I gone back another day to try to win back losses?
- Have I needed to stake more to feel the same excitement?
- Have I borrowed money or sold something to fund gambling?
- Has anyone close to me raised concerns about my gambling?
- Have I felt guilty about how I gamble or what happens when I do?
These questions are a prompt for reflection, not a diagnosis. The NHS page includes a scored nine-question assessment, where a total of 8 or more suggests gambling-related harm is likely1. Gambling Therapy also offers self-assessment tools2.
If you answered yes to any of the questions, it is worth talking to one of the organisations below.
Tools that can help
Most licensed gambling operators provide tools to control spending and time. The details vary by operator and country, so check what is available and set limits before you start.
Deposit and spending limits
A limit caps how much you can deposit, stake or lose over a period such as a day, week or month. In Great Britain, for example, reductions to a financial limit must take effect immediately, while increases require a cooling-off period of at least 24 hours3.
Time-outs and reality checks
A time-out blocks access to your account for a short, fixed period. Reality checks display how long you have been playing. Both are designed to interrupt long sessions.
Self-exclusion
Self-exclusion means asking a gambling company to stop you gambling with it for a set period, usually between six months and five years4. Some countries run schemes that cover many operators at once. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP is a free scheme that blocks access to accounts on gambling websites and apps5.
Blocking software and bank blocks
Blocking software stops gambling websites and apps loading on your devices. BetBlocker, for instance, is a free tool run by a registered charity in Scotland and is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS6.
GamCare also recommends using gambling blocks offered by banks to restrict card and account payments, alongside self-exclusion4.
Tools work best in combination. None of them replaces talking to someone.
Where to get free support
| Organisation | Coverage | What it offers | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling Therapy (Gordon Moody) | International, online | Free practical advice and emotional support, forums and self-assessment, in 37 languages2 | gamblingtherapy.org |
| Gamblers Anonymous | International Service Office and regional offices | Peer support meetings with no dues or fees, held in person, virtually or by telephone9 | gamblersanonymous.org |
| Gam-Anon | International meetings | Support for people affected by someone else's gambling10 | gam-anon.org |
| National Gambling Helpline | Great Britain | Free, 24 hours a day: 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland), 0808 2819 265 (Wales)7 | gamcare.org.uk8 |
| National Problem Gambling Helpline | United States | Call, text or chat connecting to local resources in all 50 states: 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738)11 | ncpgambling.org |
| Gambling Helpline | Australia | Free, confidential support 24 hours a day: 1800 858 85812 | gamblinghelponline.org.au |
If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency services.
If gambling is causing harm. Losses cannot be recovered by playing more, and no game offers a guaranteed return. Free, confidential support is available, including services you can reach from the Maldives.
If someone close to you gambles
Gambling harm affects families, partners and friends as well as the person gambling. Gam-Anon exists specifically for people whose lives are affected by someone else's gambling10, and Gambling Therapy has dedicated support for family and friends2.
Australia's Gambling Helpline supports family members and friends as well as people who gamble12. The NHS lists GamFam and GamAnon among the options for those affected by another person's gambling1.
Practical steps that many families find useful:
- Talk at a calm moment, focusing on specific effects rather than blame.
- Protect your own finances, for example by separating accounts.
- Avoid paying off gambling debts without a plan, as this can remove the pressure to seek help.
- Look after your own wellbeing and seek support for yourself, even if the person gambling does not.
Support in the Maldives
Information for readers in the Maldives, including local context, is on our Maldives responsible gambling page. International online services such as Gambling Therapy are not limited to one country2.
How we handle gambling content
We do not publish invitations to gamble, bonus offers or claims of guaranteed wins. We never explain how to get around self-exclusion, age checks or national restrictions.
Our standards are set out in the editorial policy.