Treating Gambling Addiction (UK): The National Gambling Helpline And Other Services

As gambling becomes increasingly popular and more widely available, rates of problem gambling have increased. Online gambling sites are making it easier for users in the United Kingdom and beyond to place bets at any time of day, which may increase the likelihood that an addiction will develop. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 100 million people around the world experience gambling disorder. While gambling addiction can present serious complications, it can also often be managed with the right approach. Below, we’re providing an overview of gambling addiction, outlining signs of problem gambling, and discussing solutions for addressing this behavioral health challenge and limiting its mental health effects. 

An overview of gambling addiction

Gambling addiction refers to a recurring compulsion to gamble despite negative effects on one’s life. Also called problem gambling or compulsive gambling, gambling addiction is a behavioral addiction that can create serious challenges for an individual and their family. 

Gambling is defined by the WHO as “risking money (or another item of value) on an event of uncertain outcome, with the possibility of gaining an increased return.” For people 18 and older, many different forms of gambling are legal across the United Kingdom. Casinos, sports betting, lotteries, arcade gaming, and bingo are just some of the available methods of gambling. 

With the advent of online betting, it is now easier than it has ever been to bet on sports or engage in casino gaming. Gambling websites and apps often allow users to place bets at any time and on a wide variety of events and games. While bettors once had to go to betting shops, racetracks, or other venues to gamble, they can now do so from virtually anywhere. Additionally, many people still gamble through illegal means, such as underground poker games. 

Legal gambling is not necessarily a harmful activity. Many people are able to gamble within their means without experiencing a compulsion. Others, however, develop an unhealthy relationship with gambling that can cause serious challenges. Economic instability, relationship conflict, gambling disorder, and other mental health conditions are all potential impacts of compulsive gambling. 

Statistics on gambling addiction (UK)

As the popularity of online gambling surges, gambling addiction is becoming an increasingly significant concern in the United Kingdom. An estimated 50% of people in the UK participate in a gambling activity in a given year, and 2.8% of individuals engage in problem gambling behavior. Additionally, surveys from 2023–2024 indicate that 38% of Britons had gambled online in the previous four weeks.

Causes of gambling addiction

There are several risk factors that can contribute to the development of a gambling addiction. Gender is considered a significant contributor, as men tend to be likelier to engage in gambling. Having a family member who gambles can also increase one’s risk of developing a compulsion. Additionally, a pre-existing mental health condition, such as an impulse-control disorder, can contribute to the development of a gambling disorder. 

Signs of gambling addiction

According to the ICD-11, gambling disorder involves “a pattern of persistent or recurrent gambling behavior, which may be online (i.e., over the internet) or offline.” Signs of such a behavioral pattern can include:

• Trouble controlling one’s urge to gamble
• Irritability when one isn’t gambling
• Hiding gambling behavior from loved ones
• Requests for financial support due to betting
• A desire to place larger and larger bets
• Prioritizing gambling over other activities
• Inability to stop gambling despite harm

If you believe you may be experiencing the signs of gambling addiction, consider consulting with a healthcare provider. A medical or mental health professional can provide you with screenings (e.g., the Problem Gambling Severity Index) and determine whether further testing, a diagnosis, and treatment may be necessary. 

The effects of gambling addiction

Compulsive gambling can cause significant harm, potentially impacting various facets of an individual’s life. Gambling is associated with financial distress, mental and physical health concerns, negative employment and educational effects, and criminality. The following are descriptions of these potential gambling harms. 

Financial gambling harms

Some of the most common challenges arising out of pathological gambling are financial concerns. Research suggests that gambling and indebtedness are closely connected. An individual with a gambling addiction may borrow money—through credit cards, bank loans, or other means—from various lenders. In some cases, money one may spend gambling might be meant for bills, savings, or other important purposes. For this reason, gambling has been linked to foreclosures, high-interest payday loans, and higher credit card balances. 

Often, people with a gambling problem chase their losses, betting more when they lose to try and recoup what they lost. However, this can compound the concern, leading to increasingly large losses. It is also easier than it has ever been for bettors to get money quickly, as casinos often extend lines of credit to gamblers. Often, though, these loans have high interest rates that can cause further financial distress. 

Gambling-related mental health concerns

Compulsive gambling can lead to serious psychological challenges. Often, an individual with an addiction wants to change their behavior but is unable to due to the compulsion. This can lead to heightened stress levels. For some, particularly those who are in debt because of gambling, self-harm can also become a concern. According to the UK’s Gambling Commission, “problem gamblers are more likely than others to have suicidal thoughts, attempt suicide and to harm themselves.” 

Additionally, gambling addiction can co-occur with various mental health conditions. Substance use disorder, impulse-control disorders, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders are common comorbidities. These conditions can exacerbate the challenges that are presented by problem gambling. 

Other potential challenges

At times, addiction can cause gamblers to struggle with maintaining relationships. For instance, they may prioritize gambling over time with loved ones, potentially causing conflict or estrangement. For many, this can lead to social isolation and worsened mental health concerns. An addiction can also interfere with an individual’s job, exacerbating the financial distress associated with gambling. Also, gambling has been connected to criminality—often theft or embezzlement that are meant to fund further gambling. 

Addressing gambling addiction (UK): the National Gambling Helpline and other options

Individuals living with gambling addiction have several options for support. The following are strategies for addressing pathological gambling. 

The National Gambling Helpline and other support services

Numerous free resources are available for those looking for support or guidance as they seek to manage a gambling disorder. The National Gambling Support Network (previously called the National Gambling Treatment Service) operates the National Gambling Helpline, which connects users to experts who can either conduct brief interventions or provide referrals to other professionals. 

Support groups can also be helpful, allowing individuals living with addiction to connect with each other, share their experiences, and discuss strategies for managing symptoms. Gamblers Anonymous is an organization that hosts in-person groups across the United Kingdom. 

Mental health care

There are several facilities in the United Kingdom—such as the National Problem Gambling Clinic and NHS National Centre for Behavioural Addictions—that provide care to individuals living with gambling addiction. The NHS has a list of additional options for those seeking treatment on its website. 

Managing gambling-related mental health concerns with therapy

A mental health professional can provide support and guidance for the emotional challenges that are often associated with gambling addiction. Together, the therapist and client can identify situations that may lead to gambling behavior. They can also develop coping strategies to alleviate the emotional effects of addiction. Various modalities may be utilized to treat gambling disorder, including psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. 

Many providers can also connect participants with the resources and tools that are likely to yield the best results. For example, they may suggest that an individual with an online gambling addiction install a website blocker that prevents them from using betting sites as one part of their treatment. Additionally, a therapist can help address symptoms of any comorbid mental health conditions, such as an anxiety disorder or substance use disorder. 

How online therapy may help address and reduce gambling harms

If you’re living with mental health challenges related to a behavioral compulsion or similar concern and are seeking an independent option for care, online therapy can help. Online therapy is a flexible and affordable method of working with a compassionate, supportive mental health professional. 

Addressing gambling addiction in online therapy

With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work through addiction-related challenges with a qualified care provider remotely—through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging, which can be comfortable or convenient for many people. Online therapy can also be an affordable option with BetterHelp subscriptions available for as low as £45, billed every four weeks. Subscription pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.

The efficacy of online therapy

Studies suggest that online therapy may help decrease the symptoms of gambling addiction. For instance, in a systematic review of 29 studies on the efficacy of online interventions for behavioral addictions, researchers indicate that their analysis “revealed promising results for internet-based interventions targeting gambling disorders, significantly reducing gambling-related symptoms in most studies.” The review also notes that online therapy platforms “offer potential benefits over face-to-face therapy for the treatment of behavioral addictions,” such as wider availability.