Gambling and Debt: Where to Get Money Help

If gambling has left you in debt, the most useful things you can do are to stop adding to it, find out exactly what you owe, and talk to a free, independent debt adviser before you agree to any plan. Debt after gambling is common, it is fixable more often than it feels at 3 a.m., and many advisers deal with it every week. This page covers the first steps and the services we could confirm for the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

If the money worry is making you think about harming yourself, call your local emergency number, or in the US call or text 988. See also Gambling and Mental Health: Anxiety, Depression, Crisis.

First steps

1. Stop adding to the debt. Do not borrow to gamble, borrow to cover losses, or take out new credit to repay old credit. Winning it back is the trap that keeps debt growing.
2. Cut off access. Hand a trusted person control of cards, or ask your bank to block payments to gambling sites and apps, as the NHS suggests. Put blocking software on your devices. See Gambling Blockers: Gamban, BetBlocker and Bank Blocks.
3. Write down everything you owe. For each debt, note who it is owed to, how much, the minimum payment and the due date. Include credit cards, loans, overdrafts, money owed to family and friends, and unpaid bills. Frightening as it is, a complete list is the base for every option.
4. Cover essentials first. Rent or mortgage, utilities, food and transport come before most other debts. The NHS suggests paying essential bills on payday, by direct debit or standing order, before anything else.
5. Don't ignore letters. Open mail and answer calls from creditors where you can. Ignoring debts usually makes them worse.
6. Get free advice before you agree to anything. See the list by country below.

Free debt advice by country

These are services we read on their own websites on 2026-10-27. Check each one for the phone number, hours and chat, as those change.

These services are not gambling-specific. Tell the adviser that gambling is the cause, because it affects what is sensible, such as whether to keep gambling blocks in place.

The NFCC says you can reach a counsellor by phone, video chat or an online form. The NHS also points people in the UK to the National Debtline. Phone numbers are on those sites; we do not print them here because they change.

Protecting your accounts

• Block payments. Ask your bank or card provider about gambling blocks, or whether they can limit cash withdrawals or set a lower daily spend. What is offered differs by provider.
• Third-party access. Some people ask a partner, parent or friend to hold a second card, receive statements or help check the accounts weekly. This works only if you choose it and the person agrees. It is a support, not a punishment.
• Close or freeze credit lines you are tempted to use. Ask your bank how.
• Remove saved cards. Delete stored cards from phone wallets, browsers and apps. This is also a good step for casino-style apps on your phone.
• Move your income. Some people move wages into a separate account that only pays bills, with a small amount available to spend.

Talking to creditors

• Contact lenders early, before a collector gets involved. The US Federal Trade Commission says that talking to your credit card company, mortgage lender or loan servicer about your options is free and that you do not have to pay anyone to do it for you.
• Ask what hardship options exist, such as payment plans or lower payments.
• Keep records of every call and ask for agreements in writing.
• If a debt collector contacts you, check that the debt is real before sharing personal or financial information, as the FTC advises. Some callers claiming to be collectors are scammers.

Debt plans and what they mean

Your adviser will describe options that depend on where you live. These include a debt management plan, in which a counsellor negotiates with creditors and you make one monthly payment to the organisation, which pays your unsecured debts. The FTC notes this can take 48 months or more and may require you to avoid new credit. Other options, such as individual voluntary arrangements, debt relief orders and bankruptcy, have serious consequences for credit and property. Do not choose one without advice from a regulated adviser.

Warning: loans and "recovery" schemes

When you are desperate, the offers that appear are often the worst.

• High-cost loans and "cash-back" lenders can deepen the hole. Do not borrow to pay off gambling debt without advice.
• Debt relief and settlement companies. The FTC lists these warning signs of a scam: fees charged before any debt is settled, guarantees to settle all your debts, enrolment without a review of your finances, and telling you to stop talking to creditors without explaining the consequences.
• "Recovery" offers. Be very cautious about any company that asks for a fee in advance to get gambling losses back for you. Check any company with a consumer protection agency before you pay anything.
• A nonprofit is not always free. The FTC says that being a nonprofit does not guarantee an organisation's services are free or affordable. Choose one that does not charge in advance, has certified counsellors and gives written quotes for fees.

Report scams to your national consumer protection agency. In the US, the FTC accepts reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

After the money is under control

Paying off debt does not by itself end the urge to gamble, so a money plan works best alongside support. See How to Stop Gambling: Practical, Evidence-Based Steps and Gambling Urges: How to Cope Until They Pass. If a partner or family member is affected, see How to Help Someone With a Gambling Problem.