Support is always close
SpinBoss Get Help
Trusted Irish support organisations, confidential helplines and blocking software for you or someone close to you.
Most people gamble without any difficulty, but for some it can become a problem, and reaching out for help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. This page brings together the support that is available in Ireland, the warning signs that suggest it is time to act, and the practical tools you can use straight away. Whether you are worried about your own play or about someone close to you, there are confidential services ready to listen and to help, free of charge.
You do not need to wait until things feel out of control. If gambling has started to take up more of your time, money or attention than you would like, this is a good moment to pause and to talk to someone. The organisations below offer advice with no judgement and no obligation, and the limit tools on our responsible gambling page let you put boundaries in place in just a few minutes.
Where to find support
GamCare helpline
A free, confidential helpline and live chat staffed by trained advisers, open every day.
Gambling Awareness Trust
Funds free counselling and treatment for people affected by gambling in Ireland.
HSE addiction services
Public health support and referral for anyone dealing with addiction.
Gamblers Anonymous
Peer support meetings across Ireland for people who want to stop gambling.
Blocking software
Gamban and BetBlocker block gambling sites and apps on your devices.
Extern and Rutland
Specialist services offering counselling and structured treatment programmes.
Confidential help
A calm, judgement free conversation, whenever you need it
Trusted Irish helplines are free, anonymous and open around the clock. You do not need to have everything worked out before you call, the people on the other end are trained to listen first and help you decide what comes next.
If you would rather start in writing, every service listed below offers a chat or email option too.
How do I know when it is time to ask for help?
Problem gambling rarely arrives all at once. It tends to creep in, which is why it helps to know the signs. Spending more than you can afford, chasing losses in the hope of breaking even, lying about how much you gamble, neglecting work, study or relationships, and feeling anxious, guilty or low after playing are all warning signals. If several of these feel familiar, that is a clear sign it is worth talking to one of the services on this page. You are not alone, and help genuinely works.
It is also worth paying attention to how gambling makes you feel rather than only to how much you spend. Healthy play is light, optional and easy to walk away from. When it becomes a way to cope with stress, boredom or low mood, or when the thought of stopping feels uncomfortable, the activity has shifted into something that deserves attention regardless of the amounts involved.
What support is available in Ireland?
Ireland has a growing network of free and confidential services. The Gambling Awareness Trust funds counselling and treatment delivered by trained therapists, and you can self refer without a doctor's note. GamCare, although based in the UK, offers a confidential helpline and live chat that anyone can use. The HSE provides addiction support through public health services, and Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings around the country. Specialist providers such as Extern and the Rutland Centre offer structured treatment for those who need more intensive help.
What is gambling blocking software and does it work?
Blocking software is a practical first step that puts distance between you and gambling sites. Tools such as Gamban and BetBlocker install on your phone, tablet and computer and block access to thousands of known gambling apps and websites for a period you set in advance. Because the block is hard to remove quickly, it interrupts the impulse to play in a moment of temptation. Many people use blocking software alongside self exclusion and counselling rather than on its own, and combined they are very effective.
How can I help someone close to me?
Watching someone you care about struggle with gambling is hard, and you do not have to manage it alone. The services on this page offer advice to friends and family as well as to players, and they can guide you on how to start a difficult conversation without blame. Encourage the person to set limits or self exclude, avoid lending them money to cover losses, and look after your own wellbeing too. If the person is ready, our close account page explains how they can step away from SpinBoss entirely.
Taking action today
The most important step is the first one. Set a deposit or loss limit in your profile, install blocking software on your devices, and reach out to one of the organisations above for a confidential chat. If you would like to stop playing at SpinBoss for a while, a cool off or self exclusion is available through our responsible gambling page. Whatever you decide, support is free, confidential and only a message away, and SpinBoss remains strictly for adults aged 18 and over.
Does reaching out really make a difference?
It genuinely does. The vast majority of people who contact a support service say that simply talking to someone without judgement took a weight off their shoulders, and structured counselling has a strong track record of helping people regain control. Recovery is rarely a single moment and more often a series of small steps, from setting a limit, to installing a blocker, to attending a first meeting. Whatever stage you are at, the services on this page meet you where you are, and the responsible play tools in your profile are ready whenever you decide to use them.
What can you do right now?
If you are reading this and wondering whether to act, treat that as your answer. Set a deposit or loss limit in your profile, install a blocker on your devices, and save the contact details of one support service so they are ready when you need them. None of these steps commit you to anything dramatic, yet together they put real distance between an impulse and a stake. Recovery starts with one small action, and the sooner you take it the easier the next one becomes.