Friends & Family
Worried about someone else's gambling?
Gambling-related harm can affect partners, parents, adult children, siblings and friends. You can seek support for yourself even if the person gambling does not.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026
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What do you need help with?
Choose the closest match. You do not need to decide what the other person should do before getting help for yourself.
I'm worried about their gambling
Possible signs, what to notice, and how to respond without diagnosing or policing them.
Understand what you're seeingMoney and householdMoney or household finances are affected
Protect your own money, understand joint exposure, and know when debt, fraud or coercion needs specialist help.
Protect financesSupport for youI need support for myself
You can seek support even if the person gambling does not want help or accept there is a problem.
Find support for yourselfYour situation
Your relationship changes the pressure, not your right to get support.
Choose the closest relationship to surface a few practical considerations. This does not diagnose anyone or tell you what you must do.
Partner considerations
- Shared bills or accounts may increase your financial exposure.
- Boundaries around shared money can matter.
- Your own support is important.
Practical guides
Clear help for the decisions that usually come next.
How to talk about gambling
Describe what you have noticed, explain the impact, listen and agree one realistic next step.
Open guideFinancesProtecting shared money
Protecting yourself is different from controlling someone else. Joint debts, fraud and coerced borrowing need different responses.
Open guideBoundariesWhat you can and cannot control
You can offer support and set boundaries. You cannot make another competent adult stop gambling.
Open guideSupportSupport for you, not just them
Professional and peer support is available to people affected by someone else's gambling.
Open guideSafety · Fraud · Economic abuse
Some situations need a different response.
Threats, coercion, borrowing in your name, fraud or controlling access to money are not ordinary disagreements. Gambling does not excuse abusive behaviour. If discussing gambling could put you at risk, prioritise safety and qualified support.
Children in the household
Children can be affected too.
Gambling-related harm can affect essentials, stability, relationships and education. Children may experience anxiety or take on caring responsibilities. Children are not responsible for fixing an adult's gambling.
Adults should seek appropriate support or safeguarding guidance when a child's wellbeing may be affected.
Support where you live
Region-aware support routes
Choose your location so gambling support and young-person services match the correct country.
Gambling-specific support
National Gambling Helpline
Gambling-specific support for people in England. It does not replace emergency or urgent mental-health services.
Call 0808 8020 133Young people
Childline
Childline offers general confidential support, including 1-to-1 chat and private messages. It is not a specialist gambling-treatment service.
Open Childline chat and messagesSpecialist treatment and wider gambling services for England
These services may primarily support the person gambling. Some also provide advice or support to family and friends.
Clinical treatment
NHS gambling services
Specialist NHS services for gambling-related harms in England. Local referral routes vary.
Find NHS gambling supportHelpline and gambling-harm support
GamCare
Helpline services, online support and referral to other specialist services in Great Britain.
Visit GamCareSpecialist treatment
Gordon Moody
Structured specialist programmes, including residential treatment for severe gambling problems.
View Gordon Moody treatmentPeer support
Gamblers Anonymous
Peer-led meetings for people seeking support from others with lived experience of gambling problems.
Find a Gamblers Anonymous meeting