Friends & Family · Support
Support for you, not just them
What this is doing to you matters too. You can ask for help even if the other person does not.
Last reviewed: 13 August 2026
Support in your own right
You are allowed to ask for support in your own right.
You do not need their agreement or participation to discuss how the situation is affecting you.
What do you need most today?
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 meetingSupport for the family member
These services focus on people affected by someone else's gambling, including family and peer support.
Peer support
Gam-Anon UK & Ireland
Meetings for partners, relatives and friends affected by another person's gambling. Check the current finder because arrangements can change.
Visit Gam-Anon UK & IrelandFamily peer support
GamFam
Structured peer support and signposting for people directly or indirectly affected by gambling harm.
Visit GamFamPeer meetings may be online or in person. Use each service's current finder rather than relying on a saved schedule.
Your mental health
Stress, fear, loss of trust and financial pressure can affect your mental health. If the impact is severe or you need urgent support, use the region-aware routes on Immediate Help. For non-urgent support, a GP or appropriate local mental-health service can help you consider options.
Financial support
If bills, borrowing or debt are affected, seek free or qualified debt guidance. The Support & Help page provides regional gambling-support routes, while the shared-finances guide explains the distinction between personal debt, joint commitments, fraud and coercion.
Home does not feel safe
Safety comes before resolving the gambling issue.
If there are threats, coercion, violence or fear, use the safety guidance or Immediate Help rather than trying to finish a difficult conversation.
Bereavement support
Gambling with Lives
Specialist support for people bereaved by a gambling-related suicide. This is not a general gambling-treatment service.
Editorial source
NICE NG248 recommendations for families and people affected by another person's gambling