Guides
Honest, practical guides to gambling and getting free of it
Everything here is free, verified against primary sources, and written to be useful in the next ten minutes — not to sell you anything.
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Signs of gambling addiction and a self-test you can take now
Early and established signs across behavior, money, and mood, the nine DSM-5 criteria in plain language, and two validated self-tests with a next step for every score.
Get help nowHow to help someone with a gambling addiction
A practical guide for partners, family, and friends: how to spot the problem from outside, what to say (and what backfires), how to protect the household money, and where to find support for yourself.
Get help nowHow to stop gambling urges at night
A practical night plan for gambling urges: a 20-minute sequence you can run right now, urge surfing step by step, stimulus control that outlasts the urge, and how to recover after a slip.
Blocking & self-exclusion
Gambling self-exclusion by country: official schemes and how to sign up
Directory of official gambling self-exclusion schemes in 15 countries — what each covers, how long exclusions last, and verified sign-up links.
Blocking & self-exclusionThe best apps to block gambling sites in 2026 (free options first)
BetBlocker, Gamban, GamBlock, Screen Time and DNS filtering compared: verified 2026 prices, uninstall protection, and how to layer them so removal takes real effort.
Blocking & self-exclusionGamStop vs blocking software: what each one actually blocks
GamStop closes your accounts at every GB-licensed operator, while Gamban-style blockers stop your device from reaching gambling sites at all, including offshore ones. How the two layers differ, what each misses, and how to stack them.
Money & debt
Gambling debt: what to do first, and in what order
The order matters: block gambling in the first 48 hours, triage priority debts before paying anyone, and use free debt advice instead of loans or bailouts.
Money & debtHow to set gambling limits that actually hold
Where to set deposit, loss, and time limits, how to pick a number from discretionary income, and how to keep yourself from raising it later.
Money & debtGambling budget tracker: how to start
Account-data research shows the people who lose the most are the most likely to underestimate it. How to build a three-column tracker from real statements, run a 15-minute monthly review, and read the signals that say it's time for limits or blocking.
Understanding gambling
Responsible gambling tools that actually work (2026)
Why one tool never holds on its own, and how to stack the five that do: self-exclusion, blocking software, bank blocks, deposit limits, and human support, updated for what changed in 2026.
Understanding gamblingWhat is RTP and volatility in gambling? The honest math
A plain-number look at what 96% RTP really costs over a session, why volatility hides the house edge, and why winning losses back fails on average.
If gambling is hurting you or someone you love — free, confidential helplines exist in most countries. You don’t need to hit bottom to call.
Find your country’s helpline