Treatment Options for Gambling Problems: What Works

Gambling problems are treatable, and many people recover. Yet only a minority of those experiencing harm ever seek help, often because of shame, uncertainty about what treatment involves, or the belief that they should be able to sort it out alone. This guide describes the main forms of help, what the evidence says, and how to get started.

This page is general information, not medical advice. A health professional or specialist service can help you decide what is right for you.

Where to start

The simplest first step is usually to contact a gambling helpline or your doctor. Helplines can listen, help you think through options and refer you to local services, often on the same day. Many also offer online chat. Our help directory lists services by country — for example the UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada.

You may be asked to complete a short questionnaire such as the PGSI. This helps services understand your situation; it is not a test you can fail.

Psychological therapies

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

CBT is the most researched and recommended psychological treatment for gambling problems. It typically involves:

• identifying the triggers for gambling — places, times, moods, money events;
• examining thinking errors such as “I’m due a win”, “I can control the outcome” or “I need to win back what I lost” (see gambler’s fallacy and cognitive biases);
• building practical skills for handling urges, stress and high-risk situations;
• planning alternative activities and rebuilding routines; and
• developing a relapse-prevention plan.

CBT is usually delivered in weekly sessions over several weeks, individually or in groups, face to face or online.

Motivational interviewing and brief interventions

Many people feel ambivalent about change: part of them wants to stop, part does not. Motivational interviewing is a collaborative approach that helps people explore that ambivalence and strengthen their own reasons for change. Brief interventions — sometimes a single session plus written material — can be effective for people with lower levels of harm.

Other approaches

Services may also use mindfulness-based approaches, couples or family therapy, and trauma-informed care where gambling is linked to past experiences.

Peer support

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous (GA), founded in Los Angeles in 1957, is a fellowship of people who share their experience to help each other stop gambling. It follows a twelve-step programme similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. Meetings are free, held in many countries in person and online, and the only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling.

GA works well for many people, particularly for ongoing support and connection. Others prefer secular or professionally led groups. Both are valid.

GamAnon and family support

GamAnon supports relatives and friends of people affected by gambling. Many services also offer family counselling. See supporting a partner or family member.

Medication

There is currently no medication specifically licensed for gambling disorder in most countries. However:

• some studies have found benefit from opioid antagonists such as naltrexone, which may reduce urges, though evidence is mixed and they are used off-label;
• doctors may treat co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety or ADHD, which can support recovery.

Medication should only be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

Specialist and residential treatment

For more serious or complex harm, specialist services may offer:

• specialist outpatient clinics run by health services or charities — England, for example, now has a network of NHS gambling clinics;
• intensive day programmes; and
• residential treatment, where people live on site for a period of weeks, with structured therapy and peer support.

Availability varies greatly by country. A helpline can tell you what is available locally and how to be referred.

Online and self-guided help

Many services now offer:

• online CBT programmes and apps;
• live chat with trained advisers;
• moderated online forums; and
• self-help workbooks.

These can be a good starting point, or a supplement to face-to-face help.

Practical support alongside treatment

Treatment works best alongside practical barriers and support:

Area	What helps
Access	Self-exclusion, blocking software, bank gambling blocks
Money	Free debt advice, budgeting, trusted person oversight
Mental health	GP support, treatment for depression or anxiety
Relationships	Couples or family sessions, honest conversations
Daily life	New routines, exercise, sleep, social activities

See managing money after gambling harm and gambling and mental health.

Questions to ask a service

If you are choosing between services, it is reasonable to ask:

• What kind of therapy do you offer, and is it based on evidence such as CBT?
• Are your staff trained and supervised in treating gambling problems?
• Is the service free, and is there a waiting list?
• Can you support family members too?
• Do you offer help with debt or mental health, or refer to services that do?
• What happens after the programme ends?

Be cautious of anyone promising a guaranteed cure, quick fixes, or treatment that is expensive and unregulated. Reputable services are usually happy to explain how they work.

What recovery looks like

Recovery is rarely a straight line. Many people experience lapses, especially early on. A lapse is a chance to learn what triggered it and strengthen the plan, not a sign that treatment has failed. Our guides on the first 30 days after quitting and relapse prevention and urges cover what to expect.

The most important step is the first one: reaching out. You do not need to have hit “rock bottom” to deserve help.