Accessing treatment and support
Free and confidential advice and support is available in Greater Manchester for people who gamble, people who are worried about someone else’s gambling, or for people recovering from past gambling. You are not alone.
Over half of the population has participated in some form of gambling in the past year. One in 15 residents in Greater Manchester experience gambling related harms, when the impact on children, friends and families is considered. Recognising the warning signs can help identify when it might be time to seek help for yourself or others.
Warning signs
There are a number of signs to look out for, these include:
- Gambling on higher risk products, such as online slots, casino games and bingo, in-play sports betting and fixed odds betting terminals
- Feeling anxious, worried, guilty, depressed or irritable
- Finding it hard to manage or stop your gambling
- Losing interest in usual activities or hobbies and neglecting work, family and personal needs/responsibilities
- Chasing losses or gambling to get out of financial trouble
- Having arguments with family or friends about money and gambling
- Lying about your gambling or hiding it from other people
- Needing to gamble with more money or for a longer period of time to get the same feeling of excitement
- Borrowing money, selling possessions or not paying bills in order to pay for gambling
Specialist gambling services
- NHS Northern Gambling Service (based in central Manchester with remote services available for all Greater Manchester residents)
- Beacon Counselling Trust (based in Manchester with remote services available for all Greater Manchester residents)
- National Problem Gambling Helpline (including a young people’s service for 11-18yr olds)
- Gordon Moody (national organisation providing residential and hybrid support for men and women in the UK)
All services are free at the point of access. These services can accessed directly via a self-referral or a referral from friend or family member. If would like to discuss your options or you aren’t sure which of these services best meet your needs, contact your GP or another trusted professional who will be able to help you find the right support for your circumstances.
Peer support groups and advice
- Gamblers Anonymous
- GamFam (for affected others)
Dealing with the impacts of gambling
There are many services providing advice and support to help manage the consequences of a gambling disorder, such as debt, housing, legal or relationship advice.
- If you are feeling suicidal or are worried someone else is, get help today from Shine a Light on Suicide
- Gambling With Lives offers therapeutic mental health and bereavement support for anyone affected by a gambling related suicide, including peer support, counselling and support with legal proceedings. Contact support@gamblingwithlives.org
- For information relating to debt and gambling, visit Money Helper for impartial advice on managing finances
- Contact Citizens Advice Bureau who provide advice and support on a whole range of issues, including gambling, debt, finance, housing, legal and benefits
- Visit your borough website where you can find a full range of services available in your area, including health and wellbeing, housing and local clubs and activities (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan)
Gambling blocks and limits
In the same way that you use a seatbelt to protect yourself when driving, there are a number of tools available to protect you when gambling, these include setting deposit and time limits to make sure you don't spend more time or money than you planned to.
- All licensed gambling operators must offer safer gambling tools such as deposit limits and time reminders, these vary by operator but can be activated by visiting the "safer gambling" section of operator websites. In addition you can limit the number of marketing emails you receive by updating your mailing preferences and "opt out" from promotional messages and inducements to gamble.
- Advice for how to block advertising on Facebook (Gambling Commission, PDF) and Twitter (Be Gamble Aware)
Self-exclusion is a tool which you can use to block all access to different online and in-person gambling products (you may need to self-exclude multiple times to cover all gambling products and premises). You cannot self-exclude on behalf of someone else. Where you are required to visit a premise in person to self-exclude, it is recommended that you visit with a trusted friend to help reduce the temptation to gamble.
- You can block gambling payments with your bank (Gambling Commission)
- To self exclude from online gambling visit GamStop and GamBan
- To self exclude from arcade and adult gaming centres you need to speak to the staff in your local centre first before you can join the Bacta self-exclusion scheme
- To self exclude from betting shops and bookmakers contact the multi-operator self exclusion scheme by calling 0800 294 2060
- To self exclude from bingo venues complete an online form (Bingo Association) for each premise you wish to exclude from
- To self exclude from casinos you can join the SENSE scheme by visiting a casino or emailing a self exclusion form to SENSE
About gambling products
To find out more about gambling products and how they can be harmful, visit our webpage on our Odds Are: They Win campaign.