Problem Gambling Help

Last updated: April 2026

If you or someone close to you is struggling with gambling, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day in the US, UK and Australia. This page lists every major problem-gambling support service we recommend, with phone, text and chat details for each, plus the specialist services that sit behind the main helplines.

Contents

United States

National Problem Gambling Helpline (NCPG)

The National Council on Problem Gambling runs the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network, a single point of access to 24 contact centres across the United States staffed by trained counsellors. The line is free, confidential and available 24/7.

1-800-MY-RESET replaced 1-800-GAMBLER as the NCPG national helpline number in January 2026. 1-800-GAMBLER still functions as a regional service in New Jersey and several other states but routes differently. The legacy national line, 1-800-522-4700, also remains active as an alternative access point. Dialling any of the three numbers will connect you with a trained counsellor who can help.

NCPG also publishes a free, anonymous self-assessment screening tool at ncpgambling.org/help-treatment/screening-tools/. The screen takes ten minutes, is based on the DSM-5 gambling-disorder criteria, and is a useful first step if you are not sure whether your relationship with gambling has crossed a line.

State-level problem gambling resources (selected)

StateCouncil / helplineContact
New JerseyCouncil on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey1-800-GAMBLER • 800gambler.org
NevadaNevada Council on Problem Gambling1-800-522-4700 • nevadacouncil.org
PennsylvaniaCouncil on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania1-800-426-2537 • pacouncil.com
CaliforniaCalifornia Council on Problem Gambling1-800-522-4700 • calpg.org
New YorkNew York Council on Problem Gambling1-877-846-7369 • nyproblemgambling.org
MichiganMichigan Department of Health, Problem Gambling1-800-270-7117
MassachusettsMassachusetts Council on Gaming and Health1-800-426-1234 • masscompulsivegambling.org
OhioOhio for Responsible Gambling1-800-589-9966 (text 4HOPE to 741741)
IllinoisIllinois Council on Problem Gambling1-800-426-2537 • illinoiscouncilonproblemgambling.org
ConnecticutConnecticut Council on Problem Gambling1-888-789-7777 • ccpg.org
IndianaIndiana Council on Problem Gambling1-800-994-8448 • indianapg.org

If your state isn’t listed, call 1-800-MY-RESET and the network will route you to the nearest treatment provider. Many state programmes fund free counselling regardless of insurance status.

Gamblers Anonymous (US and international)

Gamblers Anonymous is a 12-step peer-support fellowship for people who want to stop gambling. Meetings are free, anonymous and open to anyone with a problem with gambling. In-person meetings run in every US state and most major cities; online and phone meetings cover the rest. Find a meeting at gamblersanonymous.org.

United Kingdom

GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline

GamCare is the largest provider of information, advice and treatment for gambling harms in Great Britain. The National Gambling Helpline is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

GamCare also runs structured treatment: one-to-one counselling by phone, video or in person; group therapy; peer-support forums; and dedicated programmes for young people, women, and friends and family.

NHS Gambling Clinics (England)

The NHS operates specialist gambling clinics across England for people whose gambling has reached the severity of a clinical disorder. Referral is via your GP or self-referral. Treatment is free.

  • Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (National Centre for Gaming Disorders)
  • Leeds Gambling Clinic
  • Manchester Gambling Clinic
  • Sheffield Gambling Clinic
  • West Midlands Gambling Harm Clinic
  • Primary Care Gambling Service (nationwide via GP referral)

GambleAware

GambleAware is an independent charity that commissions prevention and treatment services in Great Britain, funded by a levy on the industry. GambleAware does not run a direct helpline itself but funds GamCare, the UK National Gambling Treatment Service and extensive research and awareness work. Find information at begambleaware.org.

GamFin (UK financial harm)

GamFin is a UK charity that provides specialist help with the financial impact of gambling: debt structuring, dealing with creditors, money management for people in recovery, and signposting to legal and financial advice. The service is free and works alongside GamCare and the NHS clinics. Find information at gamfin.org.uk.

Australia

Gambling Help Online

Gambling Help Online is the Australian Government’s free 24/7 national service, funded by state and territory governments. Specialist counsellors provide confidential support by phone, live chat and email.

  • Phone: 1800 858 858 (free from Australian landlines and mobiles)
  • Live chat: gamblinghelponline.org.au
  • Email counselling: via the website, usually within 24 hours
  • Online peer-support forum: accessible from the website

State and territory services

State / territoryServiceContact
New South WalesGambleAware NSW1800 858 858 • gambleaware.nsw.gov.au
VictoriaGambler’s Help1800 858 858 • gamblershelp.com.au
QueenslandGambling Help Queensland1800 858 858
South AustraliaGambling Help SA1800 858 858 • gamblinghelpsa.org.au
Western AustraliaGambling Help WA1800 858 858
TasmaniaGambling Help Tasmania1800 858 858
ACTGambling Help ACT1800 858 858
Northern TerritoryAmity Community Services08 8944 6565 • 1800 858 858

Lifeline (Australia, crisis support)

If gambling harm is linked to thoughts of self-harm or suicide, Lifeline Australia provides 24/7 crisis support. Phone 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au.

Support for Friends and Family (all three countries)

  • Gam-Anon (international 12-step for affected others): gam-anon.org
  • GamCare (UK): dedicated affected-others support via 0808 8020 133 and live chat
  • NCPG (US): family resources via 1-800-MY-RESET
  • Gambling Help Online (AU): family and friends support via 1800 858 858

Financial Help for Gambling-Linked Debt

  • UK: StepChange Debt Charity, 0800 138 1111 • stepchange.org
  • UK: National Debtline, 0808 808 4000 • nationaldebtline.org
  • Australia: National Debt Helpline, 1800 007 007 • ndh.org.au
  • US: National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 1-800-388-2227 • nfcc.org
  • US: GreenPath Financial Wellness, 1-800-550-1961 • greenpath.com (gambling-debt-trained counsellors available)

Talking to a debt counsellor before you talk to creditors is usually the right order. The counsellor can negotiate on your behalf, set up a structured repayment that protects essential expenses, and document the situation in a way that supports any clinical treatment programme.

Online and Digital Treatment Options

Telehealth and digital programmes have widened access to gambling treatment in all three markets. They are not a replacement for crisis support, but they remove the friction of “do I have to go somewhere” for people who would otherwise delay reaching out.

  • NCPG (US): the helpline network routes online and telehealth referrals through state programmes; many cover free CBT-based treatment regardless of insurance status.
  • GamCare (UK): phone, video and live-chat counselling alongside in-person sessions; the dedicated young people’s programme is online-first.
  • Gambling Help Online (AU): the entire service is digital first, with email counselling, live chat and a moderated peer-support forum.
  • SMART Recovery (international): evidence-based group meetings (online and in-person) using cognitive-behavioural and motivational techniques. smartrecovery.org
  • Self-help apps: programmes like Reframe, Calm, Headspace and the NHS-backed Quit Gambling app sit alongside the clinical services for ongoing support between sessions. None of them are a substitute for a counsellor or clinician.

And the digital route works best when paired with one human contact point. A weekly check-in call, a Gam-Anon meeting, or a single peer in recovery makes the difference between an app you open three times and a programme that holds.

How to Use This Page

If you’re in immediate distress, call the helpline for your country at the top of this page. If you’re not in crisis and want to think about it first, the self-assessment tools on the NCPG, GamCare and Gambling Help Online websites are a good, low-pressure starting point. If you’re worried about someone else, the affected-others services are real, trained and available to you directly, without the gambler’s knowledge.

Asking for help is the move. The rest is detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the US National Problem Gambling Helpline number?

1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) is the current US National Problem Gambling Helpline number, adopted by NCPG in January 2026. The legacy national line, 1-800-522-4700, also remains active. 1-800-GAMBLER continues to operate as a regional service in New Jersey and several other states. All three connect to trained counsellors 24/7.

Are problem gambling helplines really free?

Yes. NCPG’s 1-800-MY-RESET, GamCare’s 0808 8020 133 and Australia’s 1800 858 858 are all free from landlines and mobiles in their respective countries. The lines are funded by a mix of government, regulator levy and charitable funding; you do not need insurance or a credit card to call.

Do helplines tell anyone I called?

No. Calls to NCPG, GamCare and Gambling Help Online are confidential. The counsellor will not contact your employer, family, bank or any operator without your consent. Records are kept for clinical and statistical purposes but not shared with third parties outside the protective frameworks (clinical safeguarding, statutory reporting in cases of imminent harm).

Can I get help if it’s a friend or family member who gambles?

Yes. NCPG, GamCare and Gambling Help Online all run dedicated affected-others programmes. You do not need the gambler’s permission to ask for advice. Gam-Anon also runs 12-step meetings specifically for the people around someone with a gambling problem.

Is gambling treatment covered by insurance?

In the UK, GamCare and the NHS Gambling Clinics are free at the point of use. In Australia, Gambling Help services are government-funded and free. In the US, coverage varies by insurer; many state programs fund treatment regardless of insurance status, accessible via 1-800-MY-RESET. Ask the helpline counsellor about your specific state’s funding.

What if I’m in crisis right now?

If you are thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact your country’s crisis line directly. In the US: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988). In the UK: Samaritans on 116 123. In Australia: Lifeline on 13 11 14. The gambling helplines listed above will also route a crisis call to the appropriate service if you reach them first.

Document History

DateChange
2026-04-19Initial publication with NCPG 1-800-MY-RESET as the US national number.
2026-04-29Editorial pass before publication. Table of Contents added covering the 10 main sections. US state council list expanded from 7 to 11 (added Ohio, Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana). NCPG self-assessment screening tool added as a soft entry point. Legacy line 1-800-522-4700 noted alongside 1-800-MY-RESET. New “GamFin” subsection added covering UK financial-harm specialism. New “Online and Digital Treatment Options” H2 added covering telehealth, SMART Recovery, self-help apps, and the human-contact pairing rule. GreenPath Financial Wellness added to US debt resources. New 6-question FAQ covering current US helpline number, free-and-confidential nature, family/friend access, insurance coverage, and crisis routing. Cross-link added to the new /crypto-casinos/ pillar plus the three jurisdictional law pages.

ChipReign publishes content for adults aged 18+ (21+ in certain US jurisdictions). If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, free and confidential help is available: National Problem Gambling Helpline (US) 1-800-MY-RESET; GamCare (UK) 0808 8020 133; Gambling Help Online (Australia) 1800 858 858.