Gambling Addiction Treatment & Recovery: How You Can Get Help

Recognising you’re struggling with gambling addiction is one of the biggest and most important steps in a person’s life. It can provide the platform to get the help you need. But, of course, it’s getting that help and entering the long road of recovery that is perhaps the most important step of all.

Gambling addiction can create so many challenges but there is plenty of help out there to overcome those, providing people with the support, counselling and coping mechanisms needed to beat cravings and develop a healthier and gambling free lifestyle.

Gambling Treatment & Recovery Centres & Organisations

If you are struggling to gamble responsibly and your habits around gambling are problematic and in line with those suffering from addiction, it’s important to reach out and find the services and support that can help you tackle the issues you’re facing. Below you’ll find a list of the organisations that can do just that.

GamCare

GamCare is one of the leading providers of support for those with gambling addiction in the UK. It’s part of the National Gambling Support Network and has been aiding people find the right level of care for their needs.

Services Offered

GamCare provides an in-depth support system that provides access to support groups and treatment centres across the country. It offers face-to-face, online and telephone therapeutic support and treatment for both those suffering from addiction and the friends and family around them.

Support, whether one-to-one or group recovery courses, are delivered over a six to eight week period, often at a time and place to suit patients.

On the GamCare website, you’ll find access to the 24/7 National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133), as well as a live chat function, as well as chat rooms and forums where people can connect with others going through similar experiences.

Accessibility

While anyone can use the online functionality of the GamCare website as well as the National Gambling Helpline, GamCare’s face-to-face treatment is only available currently across five regions, these are:

• South East
• London
• East Midlands
• Scotland
• Yorkshire & Humber

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Free confidential, personalised support for those suffering with gambling addiction
• 24/7 support line
• Extensive online support and insight available on the website

Cons:

• Face to face support only available in certain parts of the country

Gambling Therapy

Part of the Gordon Moody service (see below), Gambling Therapy provides free practical advice for anyone that’s affected by gambling problems. This is largely delivered online, with the site acting as a hub of information, insight and support forums.

Services Offered

Gambling Therapy is a global service that provides trained advisors for those that are seeking practical and emotional support. The helpline (a live chat) offers a multilingual service, while you’ll also find online support groups a few times per week touching on a range of areas from peer support sessions to guidance for friends and family.

These are text based, like much of the Gambling Therapy service, providing anonymity to those who would prefer it, all whilst being made welcome by trained and experienced facilitators.

Accessibility

The service provided by Gambling Therapy is available to anyone around the world. All people need to do to gain support is either use the live chat helpline or utilise the forums and support sessions.

In order to do that, you must create an account and sign-in to gain access to the forums and support sessions.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Help can be accessed anywhere in the world
• A wide range of support sessions
• Multi-lingual approach to addiction support

Cons:

• No offline support

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous has been helping people through the treatment and recovery stages of gambling addiction for over 60 years. The first meeting took place in 1957, with the first in the UK in 1964, and since then has become a turn-to in times of need for millions of people.

Services Offered

Meetings are considered the most important aspect of Gamblers Anonymous and you’ll find them held weekly across the country. There are a range of different meetings that those struggling with gambling issues can attend, all of which are free of charge. These include:

• Main Meetings: Peer support meetings amongst compulsive gamblers.
• Mixed Meetings: The same as main meetings, but family and friends are also welcome.
• Newcomer Meetings: These are for newcomers who are just starting on their journey to stop gambling.
• Steps Meetings: These focus on the Twelve Steps of Recovery.
• Women-Preferred Meetings: These are designed solely for women.
• Open Meetings: These are for compulsive gamblers to gather with friends and family to receive recognition for the hard work they’ve put into their gambling sobriety.
• Gam-Anon Meetings: These are specifically for friends and family and the support of those.

Across the Gamblers Anonymous website there is also a large volume of literature to help support people struggling with gambling addiction.

Accessibility

Meetings are available across the country with most being held weekly. They are usually held in the likes of community centres and churches. To find your nearest meeting you can use the interactive map on the Gamblers Anonymous website.

If you’d like any further information about Gamblers Anonymous, you can email [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Country-wide support network with everybody welcome to meetings
• Offers guidance on the Twelve Step Process
• Free to attend meetings

Cons:

• No treatment for addiction available

UKAT

UKAT is one of the largest rehabilitation providers in the UK, with over 200 centres across the country. They can aid people with gambling addiction, both with residential and outpatient treatment as well as a host of other options. They pride themselves on tailoring treatment to a patient’s needs, with a wide range of experts on site.

Services Offered

UKAT is a rehabilitation service that looks to treat people for addiction, providing them with counselling, therapy and support. Those suffering from addiction can reside in one of their centres around the country or seek counselling and therapy from home.

They offer a wide range of therapy, with professionals providing a tailored plan based upon a full analysis of a person’s addiction and personality. UKAT offers:

• Treatment programmes
• Rehabilitation therapies
• Aftercare and support
• Counselling
• Support Groups

Accessibility

UKAT has centres across the country, with you able to find the closest rehab to you through the Find a Rehab tool on the UKAT website. The treatment centre provides private and NHS support services, with the cost ranging on the level of support and period of time you need to treat your addiction.

You can find out more about what they offer by calling 0808 239 0853 or emailing [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Locations across the country
• High levels of professional and experienced support
• Offers treatment and support right through the treatment and recovery journey

Cons:

• There are significant costs with rehabilitation

Addiction Recovery Agency (Ara)

Formed in 1987, Addiction Recovery Agency, or Ara, provides structured housing services, counselling and support for problem gamblers. Based in Bristol, Ara has helped over 40,000 people with a range of issues.

Services Offered

Ara provides free and confidential help across Wales and the South West, providing a range of resources online as well as a range of support. This includes:

• Advice and counselling
• Free blocking software
• Self-exclusion kits
• Relapse prevention support
• Lived experience group sessions
• Affected others support

Accessibility

Ara’s support is completely free of charge, enabling everyone struggling to get the help they need. However, for those requiring gambling support, Ara’s services are limited to the South West and Wales areas of the UK.

You can find out more about Ara’s locations across these regions by visiting Ara’s website or contacting the charity on 0330 1340 286 or at [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Free advice and support
• Provides self-exclusion and blocker software
• Provides access to a support network of people going through similar experiences

Cons:

• Limited to the South West and Wales

The Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation was launched in 1949 and is the UK’s leading charity and focuses on prevention, helping people address the source of mental health programmes, including what leads them to problems faced with gambling and other forms of addiction.

Services Offered

The services provided by The Mental Health Foundation, as you can probably expect, largely revolve around mental health. A big part of what they do is provide programmes for communities that are at higher risk of such problems due to the likes of social, environmental and economic circumstances.

While not a service that can help with gambling treatment per se, often gambling problems arise from poor mental health and the various programmes provided by the foundation can help combat this.

Accessibility

The Mental Health Foundation provides support to people across the country. The programmes vary from being online to self-management courses, both of which you can utilise anytime, anywhere. However, there are also various programmes that are run by members and professionals too for those that require further support.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• All resources are completely free
• A variety of self-managed programmes
• Focus on promoting positive mental health, key in recovering from gambling addiction

Cons:

• No tailored programmes around gambling addiction

Gordon Moody

Gordon Moody’s services are entirely tailored towards gambling addiction. Set up in 1971, the charity aims to help people reclaim and rebuild their lives following gambling problems with a range of therapy, intervention and counselling services.

Services Offered

The charity provides a wealth of services and programmes for people suffering from gambling addiction. This largely revolves around treatment options, which include:

• Male treatment centres
• Female treatment centres
• Retreat and counselling programmes
• Outreach support
• Gambling therapy
• Access to other organisations

The services provided are tailored to gambling addiction specifically, with treatment programmes both flexible and unique to each individual. They provide counselling, therapies and give people the tools they need to cope with the stresses and strains of daily life and other periods when cravings could kick in.

Online support and help for friends and family is also available.

Accessibility

People who are suffering from gambling addiction are required to apply for a place at a residential centre or on the Retreat and Counselling programme. This can be done online or via post. You can find out more details by visiting here, or by calling 01384 241 292.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Specialist in gambling addiction
• Several programmes to suit an individual’s needs
• Online support available

Cons:

• Help may not be available following the application process

Aquarius Action Projects

Midlands based, Aquarius Action Projects’ work has always been based on the idea that gambling is used as an escape or to gain something from a certain situation. It uses therapy and tools to allow those struggling to find their own solutions to gambling problems, supporting them every step of the way.

Services Offered

Aquarius provide services for people struggling with gambling addiction across the Midlands, with their headquarters in Edgbaston, Birmingham. They are a GamCare partner and support covers a range of things to meet a person’s needs. This includes:

• Tips to control, reduce or stop gambling
• Advice on blocking software
• Coping with cravings
• Debt management advice and solutions
• How to engage the support of family and friends

Accessibility

It’s easy to get help from Aquarius, with people struggling from gambling addiction able to self refer by calling 0300 456 4293. Aquarius only operate in the Midlands, but has 12 locations across that region. These are:

• Birmingham
• Sandwell
• Dudley
• Walsall
• Coventry (and Warwickshire)
• Solihull
• Wolverhampton
• Telford and Wrekin
• Herefordshire and Worcester
• Stoke
• Staffordshire

Alternatively, if you require support you can also email [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Support extensively covers the Midlands region
• A range of support to help through the entire process
• Provides help to friends and family of those struggling with addiction

Cons:

• Support limited to the Midlands only

The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation Limited

Registered as an independent charity, The Christian Centre for Gambling Rehabilitation Limited was set up in 1996 when Chinese Christian leaders established the service. Supported by volunteers, the centre’s offering is based upon religious and practical rehabilitation.

Services Offered

The centre offers a range of different services from aiding with tools such as self exclusion and blocking software to Christian counselling, weekly gatherings and practicing personal evangelism.

The support provided by the Christian Centre is completely free and runs of donations from Christian churches and individual donors. Among the support you can receive includes:

• Self-exclusion form filling
• Rehabilitation courses
• Christian counselling
• Family support
• Wealth management
• Restoring a relationship with God

Accessibility

The service is completely free, so budget doesn’t come into play for those that fear they may not be able to afford treatment. You can make an appointment with the charity from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 10am and 5pm.

To make an appointment and meet the centre’s staff, you can do so by calling 0207 833 8626 or by emailing [email protected].

The location of the centre is in central London, by St Pancras Station on Birkenhead Street (WC1H 8BW).

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Treatment and programmes are completely free
• It’s helped hundreds of people turn their back on gambling
• A range of services to help with every step of gambling recovery

Cons

• Only centre is in London
• It is a heavily religious programme, which could be an issue for people of other faiths or non-religious

Castle Craig

Opened in 1988, Castle Craig has become a leader in private addiction rehab over the years, and treats a variety of addictions, including gambling. Family run, the centre uses evidence-based treatments to provide the best care, while it is also well known for its high staff-to-patient ratio, meaning patients get the best possible care for themselves.

Services Offered

Castle Craig is a residential rehab that equips patients with the tools they need to effectively enter recovery. The counselling, therapy and group sessions offered allow people to understand the source of their addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms as an alternative to gambling, as well as creating support networks and the skills needed to successfully navigate recovery.

Rehab programmes at Castle Craig can last from between four weeks to over 12, with programmes, therapies and sessions tailored to suit an individual’s needs.

Accessibility

As this is a private rehabilitation centre, individual’s will have to fund their rehabilitation. However, there are options such as payment plans if paying directly to Castle Craig, while NHS funding and paying through medical insurance is also an option.

The treatment centre itself is located in West Linton, near Edinburgh. If you wish to speak to the team there about their services you can do so by either emailing [email protected] or calling 0808 303 0132.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• An extensive rehabilitation programme with all the tools needed for recovery
• A range of counselling and therapy options to suit one’s needs
• Trained and qualified experts who provide round the clock care

Cons:

• Significant costs can mount as a result of the treatment
• Only location is near Edinburgh

Oasis Recovery Centre

Part of the UKAT group, Oasis Recovery Centre has locations in Runcorn and Bradford and provides a full service for those struggling with gambling addiction. Providing residential care, including a large range of different therapies and programmes, it’s proven a huge success for many people looking to get their life back on track after problem gambling.

Services Offered

Oasis Recovery Centre provides detoxification, treatment and recovery and aftercare services across its two locations, including a range of different therapies ranging from art therapy to CBT and mindfulness.

Their approach is tailored to an individual’s needs, providing patients with the tools they need to tackle any challenges they may face as part of their new, gambling-free lifestyle.

Patients will often follow the 12 Step Programme, with support largely revolving around therapy and group sessions.

Accessibility

As a private centre, funding is required to use Oasis Recovery Centre’s services, but as with many centres, going through medical insurance or the NHS can also be an option. The UKAT service also offers a range of payment plans.

Getting in touch and understanding what Oasis offers is easy enough, with those struggling encouraged to ring 0203 131 5938 (Oasis Runcorn) or 0203 733 5467 (Oasis Bradford) to get in touch with an addiction counsellor, who can guide you through the entire process.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A large range of therapies available to suit an individual’s needs
• Excellent aftercare programme
• Clean and comfortable facilities

Cons:

• Centres are only available in either Runcorn or Bradford

Create Recovery

Create takes a more creative approach to wellbeing and long-term abstinence, aiding people with a range of addictions. While Create can’t help through the treatment process, its workshops, mentoring and funding schemes are set up to support those in recovery and forge healthier coping mechanisms.

Services Offered

The bulk of Create Recovery’s services revolve around different workshops. It aims at encouraging a life beyond addiction, tackling the likes of loneliness, boredom and low self-esteem.

Most workshops are based in the south, around London and Brighton, however there are also several online courses across a year that people can commit to.

Create Recovery also offers a range of funding opportunities for those wishing to develop their own projects. These can be community based or individual based, with more information available at: createrecovery.org/category/grants/

Accessibility

There are a number of online resources available on the Create Recovery website, alongside all the details on upcoming workshops and courses. This includes how to register, key dates, location and what each course or workshop entails.

You can find all the current projects by clicking here. Alternatively, you can get in touch with Create Recovery about current projects by emailing [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Utilises creativity to channel a more effective recovery
• A range of different projects available

Cons:

• Only focuses on the recovery aspect of addiction, not treatment

Nightingale Hospital

Providing mental healthcare in the heart of London, Nightingale Hospital offers a dedicated gambling addiction programme that is flexible to suit a person’s needs. They’re designed to break the cycle of gambling and provide the support needed around mental health and day-to-day life problems that can often spiral into problems with gambling.

Services Offered

Nightingale Hospital provides outpatient, day patient and inpatient support to those struggling with gambling addiction, offering various therapies including cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational enhancement therapy and interpersonal therapy. There’s also the option to take the 12 Step Programme, alongside other counselling services.

It also offers support groups, including those with a patient’s family, alongside a free aftercare programme to guide people through the more difficult stages of recovery.

Accessibility

Nightingale Hospital is located in Marlyebone, London and the cost of patient services vary depending on the service you want and how long you need it for. Discussing your options is simple, however, with an expert able to provide you with a free telephone consultation.

You can get a detailed consultation by filling out a contact form on the Nightingale Hospital website. To do this, click here.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A wide range of therapies available to patients
• Qualifed and fully trained team provides round the clock care
• Outpatient services available

Cons:

• Treatment is London based only

Parkland Place

A rehab and detoxification centre in North Wales, as well as a location in Lancashire, Parkland Place has a thorough approach to gambling problems that revolves around residential rehabilitation in the most peaceful of surroundings.

Services Offered

Parkland Place is a treatment centre with the motto “Restore – Recover – Renew”. Their gambling treatment service is funded by GambleAware and features five key stages. These are:

• Stage 1: An initial assessment that allows a personalised care plan to be created.
• Stage 2: A period of detoxification (if required), which is determined by the initial assessment.
• Stage 3: Treatment and counselling at Parkland Place.
• Stage 4: Further therapeutic support provided in partnership with Gordon Moody (see above)
• Stage 5: Aftercare to aid people through the recovery process.

Accessibility

With two locations, one in North Wales, closeby Conwy and the other just outside Blackburn in Lancashire, the services provided are in peaceful countryside surroundings, but not exactly accessible to the entire country.

However, anyone wishing to use Parkland Place’s services, a free consultation can be provided by calling 01492 203 421 or emailing [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• An in-depth service that partners with GambleAware and Gordon Moody
• Good levels of aftercare
• Picturesque and calming surroundings for treatment

Cons:

• Only two centres, both in the north of the UK

Primrose Lodge

A member of the UKAT family, Primrose Lodge is based in Surrey and provides a full service to help people enter recovery from gambling addiction, delivered by qualified experts in the field.

Services Offered

Primrose Lodge claims that 100% of their clients are still in recovery a year after treatment, and that’s largely down to the thorough service they offer, from the moment a patient arrives through to the aftercare provided.

A full assessment is given upon entry to the residential rehab in order to create a tailored treatment plan that takes into account a range of counselling and therapy sessions. Using evidence-based strategy, treatment involves getting to the root of problem gambling and finding healthy coping mechanisms to tackle such issues in the future, as well as helping in the development of support networks and new lifestyles.

Accessibility

Primrose Lodge is a private rehabilitation centre in Guildford, but there are options outside of paying privately, through medical insurance and the potential for NHS funding. There are various payment plans available, and all you need to do to get the process of entering the rehab is get in touch with the centre for a consultation.

There are multiple ways of getting in touch with Primrose Lodge. You can contact them either via email at [email protected] or via telephone on 0203 553 9263.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Guides patients through the entire addiction treatment and recovery process
• Expert team providing round the clock care
• Range of different therapies and counselling services

Cons:

• Only one centre, in Surrey
• May be out of some problem gamblers’ budgets

Ocean Recovery

Ocean Recovery Centre is an addiction treatment rehabilitation centre in Blackpool and combines evidence-based treatment with the calm sounds and sites of the sea.

Services Offered

Ocean Recovery provides personalised inpatient rehab programmes, beginning with an initial assessment and detox phase, followed by a range of treatments that are tailored to each individual.

That’s based upon the findings from the assessment and what a person will best react to, whether it be cognitive behavioural therapy, group therapy, family therapy or any other form of alternative therapy.

Accessibility

The private centre welcomes people from all over the country with a hands-on approach to treatment and recovery. It is a private clinic, so you will need to fund your stay at Ocean Recovery, either through insurance, NHS funding or your own personal finances.

To speak to a member of Ocean Recovery to discuss your options further, call 01253 847 553.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Peaceful surroundings overlooking the sea
• Highly trained and skilled team
• Support provided 24/7

Cons:

• Deposits made prior to admission are non-refundable

Marah Trust

The Marah Trust is a Christian foundation that focuses on supporting vulnerable and marginalised people, particularly those who run the risk of homelessness. It also aids people who are struggling with various forms of addiction, and often people with a combination of different mental, physical and emotional health conditions.

Services Offered

The Marah Trust’s offering largely revolves around a service called The Drop-in, which provides a place for adults to meet up, talk together and receive the support of Marah staff and volunteers. If offers:

• Friendship and support
• Support with accessing treatment and services for addiction
• Free, nutritious hot meals
• Support with housing applications
• Emergency food parcels
• Access to advocacy services

Accessibility

The Drop-in is located in Stroud, Gloucestershire at the Scout Hut and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12.30pm until 3pm.

It is also open on Saturdays at St Albans Church, near the Cotswold Playhouse with the same opening times. If you’d like any further information on The Drop-in you can contact the Marah team on 01453 367 006.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A completely free service that can offer real help to those vulnerable
• Provides access to various treatment options
• Gives people the chance to connect with others in the same situation

Cons:

• Doesn’t directly provide treatment or recovery support

The Living Room

The Living Room is a charity based in Hertfordshire that offers free daily group sessions across three hubs in the county. It provides a range of support to prevent relapse and aid recovery, as well as reducing the impact a problem has on families and the wider community.

Services Offered

The Living Room prides itself on being accessible to all and provides a range of cognitive tools and the appropriate support networks for people to move forward with their recovery from gambling addiction.

A big part of this are the group therapy optiosn available, which includes:

• Aftercare support
• Families living in recovery
• Main addiction group

This can help people find the encouragement they need through each stage of addiction treatment and recovery, with sessions held daily.

Accessibility

Sessions are held across three Hertfordshire hubs, these being in St Albans, Stevenage and Watford.

They are free to attend and provide non-time limited day-time group sessions that cover all addictions. You can find out more information about the right sessions for you by speaking to a member of the team between 9am and 4.30pm (Mon-Fri) on 0300 365 0304.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Daily group sessions available
• All sessions are free of charge
• Great way to connect with other people for support and encouragement

Cons:

• Limited to the Hertfordshire area

Randal Charitable Foundation

The Randal Charitable Foundation claims to have saved almost 200,000 lives and improved almost 600,000 since their launch, supporting people that not only suffer from addiction but also are living in poverty, have a social disadvantage or suffer with various physical and mental health conditions.

Services Offered

The Randal Charitable Foundation’s services largely revolve around supporting organisations that are working to tackle the causes of addiction, alongside helping addicts recover and rebuild their lives.

This largely comes in the form of grants, which individuals can apply for in order to get the rehabilitation they need.

Accessibility

To gain access to grants through the Randal Charitable Foundation, all you need to do is send an email ([email protected]) to the foundation or visit the applications section of the website, for all the details you need.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Can financially support the rehabilitation process

Cons:

• High demand for grants
• Grants not guaranteed as a result of demand

City Beacon

City Beacon is based in the heart of London and provides an in-depth client-centred approach to the goals and needs of each individual. The aim of City Beacon is to provide you with the ability to explore your options and determine what type of treatment is right for you.

Services Offered

City Beacon is targeted towards city workers that are struggling and has several City-based suites where people can utilise one hour sessions to help with their addiction and recovery needs.

Their most popular package is 10 one-hour sessions, which provide support, guidance and advice during the sessions as well as access to a 24-hour-a-day helpline. They can also aid with aspects of treatment, such as referral to detoxification clinics.

Accessibility

The City-suites are only available across London, but are incredibly popular for people struggling with a range of addictions. City Beacon has specialists in gambling addiction, however the sessions do require a fee, unlike some other services.

To find out more about booking a session with the team, you can contact City Beacon on 07956 300 939 or email [email protected].

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Useful therapy sessions located in the heart of the city
• Can help with finding the right rehab service for you
• 24-hour helpline available

Cons:

• Only available in London
• Doesn’t provide you with treatment for addiction, it’s primarily advice and support