Gambling and money: protect your finances and get free help
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In short: Gambling becomes a money problem when it uses money meant for bills, savings or debt repayments, or when you borrow to gamble — and free, confidential help is available on the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Gambling becomes a money problem when it uses money meant for bills, savings or debt repayments, or when you borrow to gamble — and free, confidential help is available on the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day. This section explains how to block gambling, deal with gambling debt, how charity lotteries work and whether winnings are taxed.
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- Editorial responsibility:
- Kaiser Khan, Editorial Director
How do I know gambling is affecting my money?
Warning signs include using money meant for rent, bills or food, borrowing or using overdrafts to gamble, chasing losses and hiding spending from people you live with. Gambling and your money explains practical steps, such as paying essentials on payday and keeping any gambling money separate.
How can I block gambling?
Use more than one block at once: your bank's gambling block, GAMSTOP for online gambling firms licensed in Great Britain, the self-exclusion schemes for betting shops, casinos, bingo halls and arcades, and free blocking software. They are all free — see how to block gambling.
What if I have gambling debts?
Gambling debts can usually be dealt with like any other debt. Get free, confidential advice first, pay priority debts such as rent, mortgage, council tax and energy before others, and ask an adviser about Breathing Space in England and Wales. Read gambling debt: where to get free help and our debt help section.
Is a charity lottery ticket a donation?
No — it's a bet. In Great Britain at least 20% of a society lottery's proceeds must go to the good cause, and HMRC doesn't allow Gift Aid on tickets, so giving the same money directly usually means more reaches the cause. Some charities choose not to run a lottery at all — World Aid Network explains why it doesn't. See charity lotteries and raffles.
Are gambling winnings taxed?
No. Betting and lottery winnings and Premium Bond prizes aren't subject to Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax. Tax can arise later on interest the money earns, and a large gift of winnings can count for Inheritance Tax — see are gambling winnings taxed?.
Where do these rules apply?
The Gambling Commission's rules, GAMSTOP and the online slots stake limits cover Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate, older gambling law, and its lottery rules differ — each guide says where that matters.
Go deeper on gambling and money: protect your finances and get free help
Gambling and your money: protecting your finances
Most people who gamble do so without it causing money trouble, but for some it slowly takes over the budget. This guide covers the warning signs in your own finances, practical ways to put distance between your money and gambling, and what lenders can see. It also explains the rules that now limit online slots stakes and trigger financial checks.
Read the explainer →How to block gambling: bank blocks, GAMSTOP and self-exclusion
No single tool catches everything, which is why the Gambling Commission, GAMSTOP and GamCare all suggest combining them. This guide explains what each block covers, how long it lasts, how hard it is to undo and the gaps to watch for. It finishes with a step-by-step plan and an example timeline.
Read the explainer →Gambling debt: where to get free help
Debt from gambling often comes with shame and secrecy, which can make it harder to ask for help. The free advice services and legal protections are the same as for any other debt, with a couple of differences worth knowing. This guide covers where to get advice, which debts to deal with first, how lenders must treat you, how debt solutions treat gambling and how a partner can protect their own money.
Read the explainer →Charity lotteries and raffles: how they work and where your money goes
Society lotteries, raffles, 100 clubs and tombolas raise money for many charities, clubs and community groups. They're a form of gambling, regulated by the Gambling Act 2005 in England, Wales and Scotland and by separate law in Northern Ireland. This guide explains how much must reach the cause, why a ticket can't be Gift Aided, how to check a lottery is genuine and how a ticket compares with giving directly.
Read the explainer →Are gambling winnings taxed in the UK?
A big win doesn't come with a tax bill, but what you do with the money can. This guide sets out what the law and HMRC say about winnings, when the income they produce is taxed, the narrow cases where gambling counts as a trade, how gifts and syndicate wins work for Inheritance Tax, and what happens with winnings from abroad.
Read the explainer →
Common questions
- Where can I get free help with gambling?
- Call the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day. In England you can refer yourself to an NHS gambling clinic. For debts, free advice is available from StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice and, in Northern Ireland, Advice NI.
- Can my bank stop me gambling?
- Many banks let you switch on a gambling block for your card, and some make you wait before you can switch it off again. It works best alongside GAMSTOP and the self-exclusion schemes for betting shops and venues.
- Does gambling affect my credit score?
- Gambling isn't recorded on your credit report, but lenders may see gambling spending on bank statements when you apply for credit or a mortgage. Borrowing to gamble can lead to missed payments, which do affect your credit file.
- Do I pay tax on gambling winnings?
- No. Winnings from betting and lotteries, and Premium Bond prizes, aren't taxed in the UK. You may pay tax on interest the money earns once it's in savings.