Can MABS help with gambling debt?
Reviewed by GamblingHelp.ie Editorial Team · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
Last reviewed: . Reviewed against the sources listed in our methodology.
Updated: .
Yes — and for most people in Ireland with gambling-related debt, MABS is the right first call. This page explains what MABS actually does, what an appointment looks like and how to get the most out of the first contact.
What MABS is
MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, is the State's free, confidential and independent money advice service. It is part of the Citizens Information Board network and has offices across the country, plus a national helpline.
MABS advisers are professional money advisers, not therapists and not lawyers. Their job is to help you understand the money side of your situation and choose a route through it.
What MABS does with gambling debt
- Builds a realistic written budget with you.
- Negotiates with creditors on your behalf, including pausing or reducing payments.
- Explains the personal insolvency options (DRN, DSA, PIA) and acts as Approved Intermediary for the DRN.
- Connects you with the Abhaile scheme if your home mortgage is in arrears.
- Signposts to gambling support services so the money side and the gambling side are worked on together.
What MABS does not do
- Lend money, or recommend loans.
- Provide therapy or treatment for the gambling itself.
- Give regulated financial product advice (e.g. investment, pension).
- Judge you for the situation you are in.
How to contact MABS
The MABS national helpline is 0818 07 2000, open Monday to Friday. You can also start online at mabs.ie or walk into a local office. There is no minimum debt level — MABS works with people across the income spectrum.
How to prepare for the first appointment
- Bring a list of every debt you can remember — exact figures are not needed up front.
- Bring recent payslips or social welfare statements if you have them.
- Bring three months of bank statements if you can.
- Bring any letters from creditors, especially anything mentioning court action.
- Bring a trusted person if it helps — partner, friend, family member.
What happens after the first call
MABS will typically agree a plan with you — sometimes immediate, sometimes phased — and may write to creditors on your behalf. For more serious situations they will refer you to an Approved Intermediary for a DRN, or to a regulated Personal Insolvency Practitioner.
This page is information only and is not regulated financial, legal or tax advice. For advice on your own situation, contact MABS or a Personal Insolvency Practitioner regulated by the Insolvency Service of Ireland.
Use the financial navigator
Find practical next steps for gambling-related money problems in Ireland.
Frequently asked
Related resources
- Gambling debt in Ireland — a complete guide to help, advice and recovery
The most complete Irish guide to gambling debt: MABS, banks, credit cards, mortgages, DRN, DSA, PIA and bankruptcy. 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Useful next steps
Sources and further support
Listed for reference and onward support only. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of this site by these organisations.
- MABS — Money Advice and Budgeting Service — Free, confidential, independent money advice. Helpline 0818 07 2000.
- Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) — Statutory body overseeing the personal insolvency framework: DRN, DSA and PIA.
- Citizens Information — Personal debt — Independent plain-English information on debt, creditors and insolvency in Ireland.
- Abhaile — free advice for home mortgage arrears — State-funded scheme providing free financial and legal advice if your home mortgage is in arrears.
- Central Bank of Ireland — Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears (CCMA) — Statutory protections for borrowers in mortgage arrears.
- Gambling Care National Helpline — 1800 936 725
- Extern Problem Gambling — free one-to-one support
- Gam-Anon Ireland — peer support for family members
- Samaritans Ireland — 116 123 (free, 24/7)
- Pieta — 1800 247 247 (free, 24/7)
Need help right now?
This article is for information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment, financial advice or a substitute for professional support. GamblingHelp.ie is independent and not affiliated with the HSE, GRAI or any gambling operator.