I got so good at lying about gambling, now I help others open up through the Peer Aid programme. You can talk to someone who understands. Call the National Gambling Helpline now for free support, self-exclusion and gambling blocking software.

"I’d always been a gambler, mainly focussed around betting on horses and football. Then I began to play blackjack – I had a ‘system’ and I thought it would be an easy way to make money. Although I was successful, I had some very close calls and I was betting large amounts.” After a …

John, 37, Manchester

"I found GamCare online and got the ball rolling in my recovery by talking to an Adviser on their NetLine. I had tried to stop gambling many times before, and each time I started again within a few weeks or months. Nothing had changed, and I now realised I needed help if I really wanted to halt …

Sean, 31, Shetland Islands

"At the moment, knowing that there are a couple of measures in place, just in my head, it gives me the block to say, 'You can't gamble.”

I just want to express my sincere thanks to the GamCare team for their time and commitment – this is something that I should have done a long, long time ago. No matter what situation you are in, contact GamCare for help. It's so easy and so very worth it. As I write this I am on day 95 of my …

Carly found help through GamCare on a long night in December last year. “I had been struggling with gambling for around three years. My ‘rock bottom’ was last year, when I lost my home, my job and the relationships that were the most important to me. I knew something had to change, otherwise …