Learn — gambling support library

Signs of gambling problems

How gambling harm shows up in everyday life — emotional, financial, behavioural and relational signs, written for partners, family members and the person who is gambling.

• Gambling addiction in Ireland

  Short overview of gambling harm in Ireland. The full pillar is 'Signs of gambling addiction'.

• Signs your husband has a gambling problem

  Common signs that a husband's gambling has become a problem — covering secrecy, household finances, sports betting and what you can do safely in Ireland.

• Signs your wife has a gambling problem

  Signs a wife's gambling may have become a problem — online casino apps, hidden harm, family finances and how to start a supportive talk in Ireland.

• Signs your partner has a gambling problem

  Signs your partner's gambling may have become a problem — for unmarried and cohabiting couples in Ireland, with steps on trust, money and boundaries.

• Signs your teenager is gambling

  What parents and carers in Ireland should look for if they think their teenager may be gambling — including in-game purchases, sports betting and online slots.

• Hidden signs of gambling addiction

  The quieter, easier-to-miss signs of gambling addiction — what they look like in everyday life and what to do about them. Plain-English guide for Ireland.

• High-functioning gambling addiction

  Some people with serious gambling addiction look successful from the outside. Learn the high-functioning signs and where to find support in Ireland.

• Gambling addiction warning signs

  Early, middle and late-stage warning signs of gambling addiction, what changes as harm progresses, and where to find confidential support in Ireland.

Self-assessment

Quiet, private guides for people asking the question themselves: am I gambling too much, has this become a problem, and what does a real assessment look like? Pairs with the free 3-minute private check.

• Do I have a gambling problem?

  A short orientation page for people quietly asking the question. For the full self-assessment guide, see 'Am I addicted to gambling?'.

• Am I addicted to gambling?

  If you are quietly asking whether you are addicted to gambling, this Irish guide explains what addiction really means, the signs to look for and what to do next.

• Do I gamble too much?

  A calm guide for people in Ireland quietly wondering if they gamble too much — how to measure 'too much' across time, money and headspace, and what to do next.

• When does gambling become a problem?

  Where the line is between recreational gambling and problem gambling — the markers, the warning signs and what to do if you are already past the line.

• Problem gambling checklist

  A plain-English 12-point checklist for anyone in Ireland quietly wondering if their gambling has become a problem — with what each item means and what to do next.

• Gambling severity scale explained

  What the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) score bands mean in plain English — and what to do at each level. Used by the free private check on GamblingHelp.ie.

• Problem gambling test

  A plain-English explanation of what a problem gambling test actually is — and a free, anonymous 3-minute PGSI check to take privately in Ireland.

• Online gambling addiction test

  A free, anonymous 3-minute test for people in Ireland worried about online gambling — sports betting apps, online casino, in-play and slots. Plain-English guide.

Recovery and stopping gambling

Practical, long-form guides on stopping gambling, handling the first weeks, avoiding triggers, managing relapse and rebuilding trust — written for adults in Ireland.

• How to stop online gambling

  A step-by-step Irish guide to stopping online gambling: blocking apps and sites, bank card blocks, device controls and breaking late-night phone habits.

• How to stop sports betting

  Stop sports betting for good in Ireland: handle Saturdays, accumulators, in-play markets and the social side of football and GAA without the bet.

• How to stop horse race betting

  A practical Irish guide to stopping horse race betting: handling routine, betting shops, big festivals like Cheltenham and the social culture around racing.

• How to quit gambling for good

  Long-term strategy for quitting gambling for good: identity, environment, money, relationships and the structures that hold across years, not weeks.

• What happens when you stop gambling

  Honest, Ireland-focused account of what changes when you stop gambling: mood, sleep, withdrawal-like experiences, relationships and finances over the first year.

• Gambling relapse explained

  What gambling relapse really looks like, the warning signs that precede it, and what to do in the first 24 hours after a relapse — Ireland-focused.

• Gambling recovery timeline

  An honest gambling recovery timeline for adults in Ireland: what to expect on day 1, week 1, month 1, month 3 and across the first year of stopping.

• How to avoid gambling triggers

  Identify and manage gambling triggers in everyday Irish life: environmental, emotional and social triggers, with practical strategies for each.

• How to tell someone about your gambling

  How to tell a partner, parent or friend about your gambling: what to say, what to leave out, what to expect and where to get Irish support around the conversation.

• How to rebuild trust after gambling

  How to rebuild trust with a partner or family member after gambling: accountability, consistency, money, conversations and the realistic pace of repair.

Family and partners

For partners, spouses, parents and family members affected by someone else's gambling. Calm, practical Irish guidance on conversations, boundaries, finances, children, separation and rebuilding.

• How to help someone with a gambling problem

  Short guide for friends and family. The full pillar is 'My partner has a gambling problem'.

• Young people and gambling

  What parents, carers and educators in Ireland should know about gambling harm in young people.

• Gambling and relationships

  How gambling harm affects relationships in Ireland — trust, intimacy, money, communication — and what partners can do to protect themselves.

• Gambling and marriage

  An honest Irish guide to gambling and marriage — the financial, emotional and legal realities for husbands and wives, and where to get help.

• Should I leave my gambling partner?

  A balanced, non-judgmental Irish guide for partners weighing whether to stay or leave — covering safety, finances, children, boundaries and support.

• Protecting family finances from a partner's gambling

  Practical, non-judgmental steps to protect household finances when a partner is gambling — accounts, debts, banks, MABS and what to do this week.

• Gambling and children

  How a parent's gambling affects children, what protects them, and what to do if you are worried about a child's wellbeing or safety in Ireland.

• How to talk to your partner about their gambling

  A step-by-step Irish guide to having a calm, useful conversation with a partner about their gambling — what to say, what to avoid, and what to ask for.

• How to support a recovering gambler

  A practical Irish guide for partners and family members supporting someone in recovery from gambling harm — without taking on the work for them.

• Gambling and divorce in Ireland

  What spouses need to know about gambling and divorce in Ireland — money, debts, children, separation, and where to get advice. Not legal advice.

• How to rebuild a relationship after gambling

  How couples in Ireland actually rebuild a relationship after gambling harm — trust, finances, intimacy, time horizons and what tends to work.

• My spouse keeps gambling

  Practical, non-judgmental Irish guidance for spouses where a partner has promised to stop but the gambling keeps happening. What helps, what does not.

Gambling and debt

Information on gambling-related debt in Ireland — MABS, dealing with creditors and structured options. Not regulated financial advice.

• Gambling and debt

  Practical, non-judgmental information about gambling-related debt, MABS, banks and where to get help.

• Can gambling debt be written off in Ireland?

  Plain-English answer on whether gambling debt can be written off in Ireland — DRN, DSA, PIA and bankruptcy explained. Information only, not regulated advice.

• Gambling and insolvency in Ireland

  How Ireland's personal insolvency framework — DRN, DSA, PIA — applies to gambling debt. Information only, not regulated advice.

• Repayment options for gambling debt in Ireland

  A practical Irish overview of repayment options for gambling debt — informal arrangements, MABS support and statutory routes. Information only.

• Recovering financially after gambling

  How to rebuild your finances after gambling harm in Ireland — budgeting, banking, credit, and the timeline most people actually experience.

• Can MABS help with gambling debt?

  What MABS actually does, how to contact them and what to expect if your debt is gambling-related. Free, confidential, non-judgmental.

• Gambling debt and credit cards

  How credit-card debt from gambling works in Ireland, why it grows so fast and how to deal with it. Information only, not regulated advice.

• Gambling debt and mortgages

  What to do if gambling has put your mortgage at risk in Ireland — CCMA, MARP, Abhaile and Personal Insolvency Arrangements explained.

• Gambling and bankruptcy in Ireland

  A plain-English Irish guide to bankruptcy where the underlying cause is gambling. Process, length, assets and life after discharge. Information only.

Gambling and mental health

How gambling harm overlaps with anxiety, low mood and sleep difficulties — and where to find joined-up support in Ireland.

Who is affected — identity & demographics

Gambling harm is not the same for everyone. Guides for groups whose experience is often hidden in mainstream support — starting with women.