Gambling Debt

Gambling

If you’re struggling with debt problems that have arisen due to gambling, there are steps that you can take to get support with problem gambling and to tackle your debts.

However, dealing with your debts will only solve part of the problem. You will need to get help to stop gambling to prevent your debts building up again. For example, your GP can refer you for therapy such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), or you can refer yourself directly. CBT can be accessed on the NHS or privately.
www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/gambling-addiction

Support services are also available such as GamCare which offers non-judgemental counselling, forums and group chats to help support people with problem gambling.
www.gamcare.org.uk

For face-to face support Gamblers Anonymous and other support groups host meetings across the UK for gamblers to discuss their problems and support each other to overcome them.
www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk

There are other services available, such as self-exclusion. As the name suggests, you can choose to exclude yourself from gambling with certain providers for a specific period of time, usually 6-12 months. This self-exclusion also removes you from any marketing lists both whilst you’re excluded, and afterwards. You can find out more about self-exclusion, and how to self-exclude, at:
www.begambleaware.org/safer-gambling/what-is-self-exclusion

Debt Solutions and Gambling

Debt solutions don’t allow money within your budget for gambling, therefore, if you enter a debt solution before tackling your gambling problem, you may find that problems arise such as:

You use the money that you’ve budgeted for other things, like rent, mortgage, utilities and food, to pay for gambling which leaves you short and/or causes you to fall behind with these bills.

You take out further debt to pay for gambling. Not only does this not solve your debt problem, but it can actually cause some solutions to fail which can leave you owing more than you did at the start because of the fees.

In some cases, for example bankruptcy, you risk further sanctions (a Bankruptcy Restriction Order) if you recklessly gamble whilst bankrupt.

That being said, it’s a good idea to understand your options for dealing with your debts so that, once you get the help that you need to tackle your gambling, you know that you will be able to get your debts under control as well.