If gambling has stopped being fun, help is closer than you think. The Kyngs Get Help directory gathers the most respected support services for Irish and international players in one place, with phone numbers, websites and a short note on what each service offers. Every service listed here is free, confidential and staffed by people who understand gambling-related harm.
You do not need to wait until things are critical. If you are even mildly worried about your own gambling, or about someone you care about, picking up the phone is the right call today.
Where can I get help with gambling in Ireland?
Two organisations should be at the top of your list. Gamblers Anonymous Ireland runs in-person and online meetings across the country, free to attend, with no signup or commitment required beyond turning up. Problem Gambling Ireland provides one-to-one support, family support and an information hub at problemgambling.ie. Both organisations operate confidentially and treat every contact with respect.
Our own responsible gambling team is reachable at rg@kyngs.co.uk and through the Kyngs contact page if you need account-side action immediately, such as a self-exclusion or a permanent close.
Which UK helplines does Kyngs recommend?
GamCare is the leading UK-wide service. Their National Gambling Helpline operates around the clock at 0808 8020 133 and offers free, confidential support over phone, live chat and email. GamCare also operates structured treatment programmes through partner organisations and a network of self-help resources at gamcare.org.uk.
In Northern Ireland, Dunlewey Addiction Services provides specialist support including counselling, family support and a dedicated 24/7 helpline. Their work covers gambling alongside other addictions, with practical advice for both the person affected and their loved ones.
How does Gamblers Anonymous work?
Gamblers Anonymous follows the twelve-step model familiar from other anonymous fellowships. The format is simple: members share their experience, strength and hope with each other so they may solve their common problem and help others to recover. There is no registration, no fee and no professional facilitator. Newcomers are welcomed, told they do not have to share if they prefer to listen, and given the time they need.
Meetings run face-to-face in towns and cities across Ireland, the UK and the rest of the world, with online meetings filling in the gaps. Gam-Anon, the parallel fellowship for family and friends of compulsive gamblers, runs alongside it.
What international and online tools are available?
BeGambleAware funds and signposts a network of treatment providers across the UK. The European Association for the Study of Gambling lists support organisations across the continent. Gamban and Gamblock are paid software tools that block access to gambling websites and apps across all your devices for a defined period, providing an extra layer of friction when willpower alone is not enough.
For the broader toolkit of limits, time-outs and self-exclusion options inside your account, read the Kyngs Responsible Gambling page. To close your account in seconds, head to close account.
Direct contact details for each helpline, a few practical tips for starting the first conversation, and notes on what blocking software can do for you.
Contact details at a glance
Gamblers Anonymous Ireland: gamblersanonymous.ie, meeting locator and email contact form on the site. Problem Gambling Ireland: 089 241 5401, problemgambling.ie. GamCare: 0808 8020 133 (UK freephone), gamcare.org.uk for live chat. Dunlewey Addiction Services: 0800 0886 725 (UK freephone), dunlewey.net.
Starting the first conversation
You do not need to have a script ready. Call the helpline, tell the person on the other end you are worried about your gambling and let the conversation flow from there. Helpline workers are trained to listen, ask gentle questions and signpost the next step. The first call is always the hardest one.
Blocking software
Gamban and Gamblock are paid services that block gambling websites and apps across all your devices. They are not a substitute for the structural support of a helpline, but they add a layer of friction that helps maintain a self-exclusion through difficult moments.