Talk to us now

The National Gambling Helpline provides confidential information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling problems in England, Scotland and Wales.

You can speak with our Advisers one-to-one over the phone or via live chat every day of the year, 24 hours a day.

They will be able to listen to what’s going on for you, and can talk you through all of the options available to you for support in your local area, online or over the phone.

Call us on Freephone 0808 8020 133

For updated advice on COVID-19 (Coronavirus) please click here.

If the link to live chat is not displayed below the service is currently closed.

Please note that GamCare operates a zero-tolerance policy with regards to the abuse and harassment of our employees.

Live Chat - how to get started

To start a live chat (one-to-one with an Adviser), click on the link below.
You will be prompted to enter a username of your choice. When you have done this, it will open a chat window where you and the Adviser can type messages to each other. This chat window is completely private and secure.
If you would like to keep a copy of your chat, your Adviser can show you how to do this.

Start chat now

This service is for people in the UK

Live chat is only available to users in England, Scotland and Wales. If you are outside of these areas, you can access online support via Gambling Therapy.

If for any reason you experience issues with connectivity while using live chat, please press ‘Retrieve Message’. Do not refresh the page. If the problem persists, you can also call our Helpline to speak with an Adviser.

If you are deaf or have a hearing impairment, you can also access our services via a service called Next Generation Text Service. Find out more at http://ngts.org.uk/

Telephone interpretation services are also provided in alternate languages through ClearVoice on the National Gambling Helpline.

If you are in crisis, or our service is unavailable, you can contact Samaritans on 116 123. You can also contact HOPELineUK from Papyrus if you are under 35, on 0800 068 4141.

In an emergency, always dial 999.

The National Gambling Helpline is accredited by the Helplines Partnership.

“Just wanted to thank each one of you for all the help and advice during my journey dealing with problem gambling. You all honestly saved my life during early stages of my recovery and the support and time spend listening to me on the NetLine is much appreciated. Thank you for showing me the …

Anonymous (NetLine caller)

Frequently Asked Questions

What will it cost?

Calls to the National Gambling HelpLine are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills. Calls from BT phone boxes are free, however some other public phone operators may charge you to call.

Who am I talking to?

You will be talking to a GamCare Adviser who is trained to listen and help people affected by problem gambling. The Adviser will listen to you carefully and encourage you to talk about your concerns. Sometimes just telling someone can be a relief, and it is an important first step towards dealing with the problem. The Adviser can also connect you with GamCare treatment services across Great Britain, either face-to-face, online or over the phone.

If you have a friend or family member affected by a gambling problem, the Adviser can suggest ways you can support them and encourage them to seek help. We can also help you deal with the effects of their gambling on your own life.

We provide 24 hour support. If all our Advisers are busy, you can leave a message including your name and a number you are happy for us to call you on. We will then call you back when an Adviser is available, or at the time you have specified if possible.

Is it confidential?

Confidentiality means not sharing information with anyone else about what you tell us. Whatever you say will be just between you and GamCare, unless you request otherwise in writing. You can feel safe talking to us, knowing that we will not pass on personal information without letting you know.

But sometimes, if we’re worried about your safety, we may need to get you help. We’d only need to get help or take action if:

you ask us to;
we believe your life, or someone else’s life, is in danger;
you’re being hurt by someone in a position of trust, like a partner, carer or friend;
you tell us that you’re seriously harming another person / people.

Calls and chats will be recorded to ensure we can monitor the quality of the service we provide and keep you safe. Call recordings are deleted after 28 days, and a copy of each chat is stored in our secure database.

Our Advisers work to a standard code of practice, which includes strict confidentiality within the team. Advisers need to discuss their work with their supervisor, and may need to pass information to their colleagues to ensure we are providing the most appropriate help, but no information about callers is disclosed to third parties outside GamCare without your consent, except in the circumstances stated above.

Remember you don’t need to give any details that identify you during the call at any time, if you do not wish to.

Freephone numbers do not usually appear on itemised telephone bills. Please note that if someone else uses the last number redial function on your telephone after you have spoken to us, this will dial us again. We recommend that you find somewhere quiet and private to call from if you want to discuss personal matters in depth.

For further information on confidentiality and Data Protection please see our privacy notices.

Do I need to give my name, and will you be able to see my location?

We will not be able to see your location, and no, you need not say who you are at all, but you may wish to do so. For a web chat, you can choose any screen name, it doesn’t have to be your real name.

Any information you provide to us will be stored on our secure database.

If you decide to be referred for free GamCare treatment, we will need to take some personal details from you. This will be explained during the your call or chat.

How often can I contact you?

When you contact us, you can take as much (or as little) time as you want to discuss your concerns. Some callers only contact us once, however some people may need to contact us again or we may suggest a call back from one of our team. We are sometimes just the beginning of a journey to recovery, and if you feel you need to speak with someone about your gambling issue more frequently we are also able to signpost to other, specialist agencies who can help longer-term. We can also refer to our treatment services across Great Britain if appropriate. You can also join our Forum for ongoing peer support – find out more here.

GamCare operates a zero-tolerance policy with regards to the abuse and harassment of our employees. The continued use of inappropriate words or behaviour causing distress and/or constituting harassment will result in you being blocked from accessing our Helpline services, and if appropriate, your details being passed on to the appropriate authority.

Abuse and harassment includes:

Threatening or abusive language, including excess swearing or offensive remarks
Derogatory racial, religious or sexual remarks or behaviour
Inappropriate language (including when under the influence of alcohol or other substances)
Intimidation, threats of violence or threatening behaviour
Continual or repeated calls to harass our team
Any explicit or implicit challenge to the safety, wellbeing or health of any member of our team