Here is a list of the Support Services, Self-Exclusion and Blocking tools and Relevant Advice Agencies Betknowmore UK works with which we think could help you. At the bottom of the Self-Exclusion and Blocking tools section, you will also find a poster showing the options for self exclusion (kindly provided by Chris Gilham of TalkGEN) which you can download and distribute/display to aid others. Treatment for gambling addiction doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach and, as such, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another, but we hope this list provides a starting place to build your journey of recovery.
The National Gambling Treatment Service, working alongside the NHS, provides free telephone, on-line and face-to-face treatment for individuals and groups affected by gambling. You can call 0808 8020 133 to start accessing the services they provide.
You can access a range of advice and tools on Gamcare's website to help stay away from gambling and look after your health and wellbeing in the process. They can refer you for clinical treatment and their website also has a forum and chatroom facility in which people with lived experience give pointers on what helped them through addiction and into recovery.
The National Problem Gambling Clinic is an NHS service providing psychological therapy, medication and aftercare for problem gambling. Its services are provided to individuals, couples and groups who have difficulties which can be described as 'complex'. You should read the details of what this means at https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/services/mental-health-services/addictions-and-substance-misuse/national-problem-gambling-clinic and if you think you fit into this category, you can email them at gambling.cnwl@nhs.net, providing your phone number in the email, or call them on 020 7381 7722 and leave a message with your phone number, and they will contact you within 24-72 hours to assess your needs.
Gordon Moody provide individually tailored gambling therapy and support to both men and women, ranging from online support to short and long stay residential treatment. They are the leading provider of residential treatment in the UK. You can apply to them by filling out their online form at https://gordonmoody.org.uk/online-application/
Gamblers Anonymous allow those harmed by gambling to meet each other and provide mutual support in free, regular, face to face and online meetings. Most groups are mixed, but some fellowships have women-preferred groups. You can find a list of all GA meetings on their website or by calling them. The meetings take place across the whole of the UK and the website allows you to put in a postcode and search for the most convenient meeting for you. They also provide online meetings via Skype and Zoom.
GamAnon is an anonymous, mutual support organisation for those who have been affected by the gambling of a family member or friend. You can attend online meetings and face to face group meetings all over the country. The meetings usually happen at the same time and place as Gamblers Anonymous meetings to facilitate both gamblers and their loved ones attendance, but the meetings are in separate rooms and what is said in each room is kept confidential. There is a list of meetings at http://gamanon.org.uk/?page_id=30
Call 0800 294 2060 to bar yourself from any betting shop or bookmaker in your area. You will be asked to provide a photograph and helped to create a list of sites from which you want to be barred. Additional shops can easily be added in the future by ringing the helpline number and requesting they're added. There is no limit to how many shops an individual can be self-excluded from and the scheme works on a yearly rolling basis.
You can prevent yourself from using gambling websites and apps (which are run by companies licensed in the UK) by signing up for GAMSTOP's service online at https://www.gamstop.co.uk/register . The block will be for a period of your choosing. GAMSTOP is a free service for users, but is only available to those resident within the United Kingdom.
Gamban provides software which runs on your computers, mobile phones and tablets to block gambling sites and apps. It normally costs £2.49/month or £24.99/year (with a seven day free trial) but can be got for free if you speak to an adviser at the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133, who can talk you through setting Gamban up. Alternatively, go to Gamban’s homepage at www.gamban.com from the device you want to block and you will be able to follow links to install their app.
SENSE allows you to bar yourself from all land-based casinos in the UK. It’s operated by the National Casino Forum. You can download the enrolment form from http://www.nationalcasinoforum.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/SENSE-Enrolment-form-2020.pdf . You should fill it out, scan it and send it with a scan of your photo ID (passport/driving license), a recent photo and proof of address to sense@bettingandgamingcouncil.com. Or you can post the filled out form with copies of your photo ID (passport/driving license), a recent photo and proof of address to SENSE, The National Casino Forum, Carlyle House, 235-237 Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V 1EJ
If you would like to bar yourself from one or more bingo halls in the UK, you can visit https://www.bingo-association.co.uk/self-exclusion and fill out your contact details. The Bingo Association will then contact you, discuss which premises you would like to be banned from, and ask you to supply a digital photograph and fill out a form to confirm this. Or, if you’re comfortable doing so, it is quicker to ask your local hall to bar you under the terms of this scheme either by visiting them or by telephoning them directly.
You can ban yourself from adult amusement arcades by calling 0207 730 6444. This helpline is operated by BACTA (the British Amusement Catering Trade Association). They will talk you through the process of providing a photograph which will be shared with the arcade operators in your area so that you can be barred for a period of between 6 and 12 months, which you can then extend in six monthly periods.
Citizens Advice is able to help you access support for gambling and for other parts of your life which have been affected by it, such as housing, debt, relationships, legal issues and anything else. You can phone their national helpline on 0800 144 8848, chat with them online at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/web-chat-service/ or go to your local office, which you can find by entering your postcode on their home page at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/.
The Gambling Commission is working with the banking industry to enable the blocking of gambling transactions in a UK bank account. You can see if your bank allows you to do this at the list at https://beta.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/page/i-want-to-know-how-to-block-gambling-transactions.
The Samaritans are there to help you by talking to you whenever you're suffering, feeling distress, or need someone to talk to for any reason. You can phone them on 116 123 for free, email them at jo@samaritans.org or write a letter to them, addressing it to "Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS" .
StepChange is the UK’s largest debt charity and offers debt advice and solutions based on an assessment of individual need. Its services are free and accessed by phone or online.
