Support & advice

Lamba Bet Gambling Help

Do you feel that gambling is slipping out of your control? You do not have to face it alone. Below you will find warning signs to watch for, self-assessment guidance, practical first steps and helplines offering real support, both for you and for the people close to you.

Need support straight away?

Call or visit these support organisations

Anonymous, confidential and free support is available. Even one conversation can make a real difference.

Gambling Care

1800 936 725

Gambling Care offers free, confidential telephone support, information and guidance towards appropriate services for people affected by gambling and their loved ones.

Gambling Care Online

www.gamblingcare.ie

Find independent information, practical advice and guidance on accessing gambling support and treatment services in your area.

Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI)

www.grai.ie

Ireland's gambling regulator. The national self-exclusion register is still being set up, so use operator self-exclusion and GamStop-style tools, checking their coverage carefully.

Gamblers Anonymous Ireland

www.gamblersanonymous.ie

Peer support and regular recovery meetings where people experiencing gambling problems can share their experiences and find encouragement from others.

Why this matters

Gambling should be entertainment, not a source of pain

For many people, gambling is a form of entertainment, much like going to the cinema or playing a match with friends. For others, however, it can develop into a problem that affects their finances, relationships, work and mental health. If you notice that it is no longer enjoyable, that you are spending more and more time or money, or that you are losing control over your own behaviour, take that warning seriously. Seeking support at that point is a sensible and positive step towards protecting yourself, not something you should ever feel embarrassed or ashamed about.

At Lamba Bet, we take responsible gambling seriously. We believe we have a responsibility to give players clear information about the risks of gambling and direct them towards the support available, regardless of which operator they use. Many people put off asking for help because they do not know what treatment involves or what might be expected of them. In practice, it usually begins with an approachable first conversation: an assessment of your circumstances, followed by talking therapy, group sessions or a combination of both, with the approach tailored to your needs and pace. Treatment may last anywhere from several weeks to a number of months. Planning how to prevent a return to harmful gambling is an important part of recovery, including after a formal course of treatment has finished.

"
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It can be the bravest step you take towards recovery.
— A reminder for your recovery

Recognising the warning signs

Do any of these patterns sound familiar?

Harmful gambling generally develops gradually rather than appearing overnight. If you recognise one or more of these warning signs in yourself or someone close to you, take it as an important opportunity to act and reach out for support.

Gambling beyond your budget

Spending more on gambling than you can genuinely afford to lose, including money you had set aside for rent, household bills or the weekly food shop.

Chasing money you have lost

Continuing to gamble in the hope of winning back previous losses, often raising your stakes and putting even more money at risk along the way.

Hiding your gambling habits

Lying to family members or friends about how often you gamble, how much you spend or the amount of money you have already lost.

Neglecting everyday responsibilities

Repeatedly putting work, study, household tasks or plans with friends and family to one side so that you can spend more time gambling.

Self-assessment and first steps

A practical plan to help you regain control

1
Start with a short self-assessment
Visit www.gamblingcare.ie for guidance on recognising harmful gambling and finding suitable assessment resources. Looking honestly at your habits gives you a starting point without judgement and helps you understand how seriously gambling may be affecting your life at the moment.
2
Acknowledge the problem to yourself
The first step, and often the hardest, is being honest about the effect gambling is having on your life, mood, sleep and relationships. Writing down what has been happening can make it easier to see the pattern clearly and decide what needs to change.
3
Talk to someone you can trust
This could be a family member, a friend, your GP or a professional support worker. Saying what is happening out loud can bring a real sense of relief and help break through the isolation that so often comes with gambling problems.
4
Set limits or block your access
Use deposit, loss and session limits on your accounts, install blocking software such as Gamban on your phone and computer, and request self-exclusion from each operator. Ireland's national register is still being set up, so combine operator exclusions with GamStop-style tools. GamStop itself covers participating UK-licensed services, not every site accessible in Ireland.
5
Reach out for professional support
Contact Gambling Care on 1800 936 725 or speak to your GP about suitable treatment options in Ireland. Gamblers Anonymous Ireland also offers peer support. Free services may be available, but ask about eligibility, referrals, waiting times and any fees before starting treatment.
6
Build a support network around you
Peer support groups can offer understanding, reassurance and practical encouragement throughout your recovery. You might also arrange temporary help with managing your money from someone you trust, with clear agreement and safeguards, to reduce temptation while you regain stability.
7
Plan how to prevent a return to harmful gambling
Identify your personal triggers, such as stress, boredom or money worries, and decide in advance what you will do if the urge to gamble returns. Having an agreed plan for contacting a support worker or someone from your recovery group can make a real difference.

For family members and friends

Are you worried about someone else's gambling?

Suspecting that someone close to you has a gambling problem can leave you feeling anxious, uncertain and unsure what to say. Try to open the conversation without judgement, choose a quiet moment and speak about your own concerns rather than making accusations. Ask about what they are experiencing and give them room to answer, instead of immediately offering solutions or telling them what they must do.

Gambling Care can also guide family members and friends towards support, including services for people affected by someone else's gambling. Trying to force someone to stop can backfire and may make them less willing to talk openly. Instead, you could offer to accompany them to an appointment with a support worker or to an appropriate group meeting. Remember to look after yourself as well: living alongside someone else's gambling problem can be deeply stressful, and you are entitled to support even if they are not ready to seek help themselves.

Keep judgement out of the conversation

Accusations usually make an already difficult conversation harder. Speak from a place of genuine concern, rather than blame, anger or frustration.

Protect your own wellbeing as well

Seek support for yourself too, for example through counselling or peer support groups for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling.

Help with money worries

Gambling-related debt? Take action as soon as you can

Gambling addiction can cause serious financial harm. Debts can build up quickly when someone repeatedly spends more than they can afford, sometimes without the people around them realising what is happening. Try not to ignore the situation or wait for a win to put it right. Seeking advice as early as possible gives you more time to understand your options and can make the problem easier to manage before further debts accumulate.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

MABS provides free, confidential and independent money and debt advice across Ireland. An adviser can help you review your debts and work towards a realistic repayment plan based on your income and circumstances.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)

The CCPC provides free, practical information and money tools to help you prepare a budget, understand financial products and keep track of regular household bills and other essential spending.

Limits and practical tools

Blocking software and apps that can support your recovery

Gamban

Install this blocking software on your phone and computer to restrict access to gambling websites and apps. Use it alongside self-exclusion and personal support, as no blocking tool can guarantee complete protection.

Self-assessment and self-exclusion

Visit www.gamblingcare.ie for assessment guidance and support. While Ireland's national self-exclusion register is still being set up, request exclusion from operators and use GamStop-style tools where eligible, checking which services they actually cover.

Peer support communities

Online support groups and Gamblers Anonymous Ireland meetings offer opportunities to share experiences with people who are facing similar difficulties or have already begun their own recovery.

More detailed guidance

Seeking help, receiving support and helping someone else

Can I ask for help anonymously, and will it cost anything?

You can contact Gambling Care on 1800 936 725 for a free, confidential conversation, and you can ask for initial guidance without giving your name. Your employer, family or gambling operator would not ordinarily be contacted without your permission. However, confidentiality can have legal or safeguarding limits, particularly where there is a serious risk of harm, so you can ask the adviser to explain these before sharing personal details. If you go on to receive specialist treatment in Ireland, the cost depends on the provider and the service involved. Some community and charitable services are free, while private counselling may involve fees, and insurance cover varies. Ask about costs, eligibility and waiting times at your first appointment so that you know what to expect. Your GP can help you explore appropriate referrals, although a GP consultation may itself carry a charge depending on your circumstances.

What can you do today to start breaking the pattern?

Begin with something small and specific, because a large, complicated plan is easier to put off until another day. Visit www.gamblingcare.ie and use its guidance to reflect honestly on your gambling and find suitable assessment resources. Then call Gambling Care on 1800 936 725, even if you only want to talk things through and are not yet sure what kind of help you need. Install blocking software such as Gamban on your phone and laptop to put an additional barrier between an urge and the ability to gamble. Lower your deposit limit or request self-exclusion today, checking with the operator when the change takes effect. If your bank offers a gambling payment block, consider enabling that too. Finally, tell one trusted person what has been happening. That conversation may feel like the hardest step, but it can also be one of the most helpful.

How is self-exclusion different from closing just one account?

Closing an account generally affects only that account with that operator. It may remove a particular trigger, but it does not necessarily prevent you from reopening an account or gambling elsewhere. Formal self-exclusion asks an operator or participating scheme to restrict your access for a stated period, subject to its rules and coverage. Ireland's national self-exclusion register is still being set up under the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), so do not assume that one request currently excludes you from every Irish gambling service. Use each operator's exclusion process and combine it with blocking software, bank gambling blocks where available and GamStop-style tools. GamStop itself is a UK scheme covering participating UK-licensed online operators, with eligibility requirements; it does not block every site available in Ireland. Casinos not on GamStop may remain accessible and carry additional risks for someone trying to stop gambling. Check the duration, scope and reactivation rules of every exclusion, and use the time away to get support with the underlying pattern.

How can you support someone else without losing sight of your own needs?

Choose a calm moment to talk, rather than immediately after a gambling loss or in the middle of an argument. Describe what you have noticed and how it affects you, instead of making a judgement about the other person's character. They may deny or minimise the problem, so think of the first conversation as an opening rather than a complete solution. Avoid taking on their gambling debts or lending money to cover losses, however difficult it feels to say no, because this can allow the harmful pattern to continue. Protect your own finances, set clear boundaries and make space for your own wellbeing. Gambling Care can direct you towards support for family members and friends, while Gamblers Anonymous Ireland provides peer support for people seeking to stop gambling. You can seek advice for yourself even if the other person has not started treatment or is not yet willing to acknowledge the problem.

Close my account immediately