Gambling
How do you stop gambling?
Short answer
To stop gambling, make gambling harder to reach and get support at the same time. The UK's NICE guideline recommends discussing blocking software, self-exclusion schemes, bank blocks on gambling payments, and limiting access to money, such as letting a family member manage finances, alongside group or individual CBT. Free helplines are open 24/7: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET in the US, or call 0808 8020 133 in England and Scotland.
Key takeaways
- Put barriers in place first: self-exclusion schemes, gambling-blocking software, and bank blocks on gambling payments.
- Limit your access to money, for example by agreeing that a family member takes control of finances.
- NICE recommends group CBT as soon as possible after diagnosis, or individual CBT if a group isn't right for you.
- NICE recommends peer support as part of treatment; the NHS lists Gamblers Anonymous as one option.
- US: call or text 1-800-MY-RESET. England and Scotland: 0808 8020 133. Wales: 0808 2819 265.
What is the first step to stop gambling?
Start by putting barriers between you and gambling. The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advises health professionals to discuss practical self-exclusion techniques that could be used to prevent gambling, including:
- Blocking software or tools to prevent online gambling
- Blocking marketing messages
- Self-exclusion systems for land-based gambling, such as casinos, arcades and betting shops
- Systems that block gambling payments through your bank account
- Ways to limit access to money, such as agreeing that a family member will take control of finances
How do you self-exclude from gambling?
In Great Britain, registering with GAMSTOP prevents you from using gambling websites and apps run by businesses licensed in Great Britain for a period you choose. In the US, self-exclusion programs are run by state regulators. Pennsylvania's program, for example, lets you be excluded from legal gambling in casinos, online, at video gaming terminal venues, and on fantasy contests. Our guide to blocking gambling sites and self-excluding covers the options in detail.
How can you limit your access to money?
Many UK banks now offer a gambling block that stops your account or debit card from being used for gambling transactions, according to the Gambling Commission. Some add a delay: with HSBC's 'Cool Off Period', you can lift the restriction, but gambling transactions are still declined until the period ends.
NICE also recommends limiting access to money, for example by agreeing that a family member will take control of finances, and suggests offering advice on where to get help with finances, including debt management.
Does therapy help you stop gambling?
NICE recommends offering group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to reduce gambling severity and frequency, starting as soon as possible after diagnosis, and individual CBT if a group isn't wanted, possible, or suitable. If psychological therapy hasn't achieved the desired outcomes, NICE says the medicine naltrexone can be considered. WHO describes long-term CBT or motivational interviewing as the most effective therapies currently available.
The evidence is encouraging but not definitive. A Cochrane review found CBT reduced gambling behavior immediately after therapy, but the durability of those gains is unknown, and the evidence was rated very low to low quality. In England, the NHS runs specialist gambling treatment clinics with psychiatrists and psychologists.
Where can you get support to stop gambling?
NICE recommends offering peer support as an integral part of treatment for people who want it. The NHS lists Gamblers Anonymous, a local support group service that uses the 12-step approach to recovery. If you gamble again, it doesn't erase the work you've done: notice which barrier had a gap, close it, and tell someone who is supporting you.
- US: the National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-MY-RESET (call or text), is free, confidential and available 24/7. The existing number 1-800-522-4700 also remains active.
- England and Scotland: the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, is free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Wales: 0808 2819 265.
- England: you can go to a specialist NHS gambling treatment clinic.
How Vow can help
Vow can sit alongside blocks and therapy: your quit plan is built from your own triggers and toughest times, and your personal reason for stopping resurfaces when urges hit. Craving Shield (Premium) guides you through a ~3-minute urge-surfing timer, and the app tracks your streak and the money you no longer spend. If you slip, your best streak is kept and a fresh run starts.
Sources
Each source below was read when this answer was reviewed. Open a source to see the passages the answer relies on.
NICE guideline NG248 (via NCBI Bookshelf) — Gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and managementncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Discuss with people the possibility of practical self-exclusion techniques that could be used to prevent gambling, including:
blocking software or tools to prevent online gambling
blocking marketing messages
self-exclusion systems for land-based gambling such as casinos, arcades and betting shops
systems that block gambling payments through the person's bank account
methods to limit access to money, for example, agreeing that a family member will take control of finances.
Consider providing advice on how and where to seek help and support with: finances, including debt management
Offer group CBT to reduce gambling severity and frequency. Start this intervention as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Offer individual CBT if the person does not wish to join a group, if group therapy is not possible ... or it is assessed as not suitable for the person.
Consider naltrexone to reduce gambling severity if psychological therapy has not achieved the desired outcomes after an appropriate course has been completed
Offer peer support as an integral part of the support and treatment for gambling-related harms for people who wish to engage with it.
Open the sourceUK Gambling Commission — Free multi operator and national self-exclusion schemesgamblingcommission.gov.uk
Once registered, you will be prevented from using any gambling websites and apps run by gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing.
Open the sourcePennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Responsible Play PA) — Self-Exclusionresponsibleplay.pa.gov
Self-exclusion allows a person to request to be excluded from legalized gaming activities within a casino and offsite venues, online, at VGT establishments or on fantasy contests.
Open the sourceUK Gambling Commission — Block gambling payments with your bankgamblingcommission.gov.uk
They do this by blocking your bank account or debit card which stops the account from being used for gambling transactions.
customers can lift a restriction but transactions will still be declined until the period has ended
Open the sourceWorld Health Organization — Gambling (fact sheet, 2 December 2024)who.int
A range of therapies exist for those with gambling disorder. Currently, the most effective are long-term cognitive behavioural therapy or motivational interviewing.
Open the sourceCowlishaw et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2012), via PMC — Psychological therapies for pathological and problem gamblingpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This review supports the efficacy of CBT in reducing gambling behaviour and other symptoms of pathological and problem gambling immediately following therapy. However, the durability of therapeutic gain is unknown.
The evidence supporting these various classes of therapy ranged from very low to low quality.
Open the sourceNHS — Help for problems with gamblingnhs.uk
You can go to a specialist gambling treatment clinic in England.
a local support group service that uses the 12-step approach to recovery
The National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare) – call 0808 8020 133 for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Open the sourceNational Council on Problem Gambling — NCPG Adopts 1-800-MY-RESET as New National Problem Gambling Helpline Number (January 29, 2026)ncpgambling.org
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) today announced it has adopted 1-800-MY-RESET as the new National Problem Gambling Helpline™ number
The National Problem Gambling Helpline™ is available 24/7, is free and confidential, and provides support and referrals to local resources.
existing National Problem Gambling Helpline access points, including 1-800-522-4700, will remain active.
Open the sourceNational Council on Problem Gambling — Help & Treatmentncpgambling.org
Text. 1-800-MY-RESET
Open the sourceNational Institute of Mental Health — Help for Mental Illnessesnimh.nih.gov
Call or text 988 or start a chat online to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
Open the sourceNHS — Where to get urgent help for mental healthnhs.uk
Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans
Get help from 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option.
Call 999 or go to A&E now if someone's life is at risk or you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe.
Open the source
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not replace care from a qualified professional. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. Vow is not a medical service.