Safer Gambling Week returns for its tenth year in 2026, with this year’s campaign built around a simple message: let’s talk about safer gambling.
When is Safer Gambling Week 2026?
Safer Gambling Week 2026 runs from Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November.
What is Safer Gambling Week?
Safer Gambling Week is a cross-industry campaign covering the UK and Ireland. It is organised by the Betting and Gaming Council, Bacta and the Bingo Association, with the Irish Bookmakers Association also backing it, and is supported by operators, charities and regulators. It runs alongside the separate European Safer Gambling Week.
The aim is to get people thinking about how they gamble and to make sure they know where to find the tools and support that help them stay in control. Across the week, the campaign encourages people to:
- Reflect on how and why they gamble.
- Recognise the signs of risky or harmful gambling.
- Use safer gambling tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and reality checks.
- Know where to find free, confidential help and advice.
The 2025 campaign was the biggest yet, generating more than 80 million impressions across X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, a 40% increase on the previous year. Activity runs both online and in land-based venues such as betting shops, bingo halls and arcades.
What is the theme of Safer Gambling Week 2026?
This year’s campaign is called Let’s talk about safer gambling. It is built around a set of short prompts designed to make people stop and think before and while they play:
- Ask yourself… are you past your spending limit?
- Remember… it’s good to set yourself limits.
- Remember… it’s good to take a break.
- Play smart… don’t chase your losses.
- Remember… friends and family are more important than gambling.
- Remember… gambling is not a way to make money.
You can follow the campaign on social media at @SGWeek and #SGWeek26, and find out more at safergamblinguk.org.
How can I stay in control of my gambling?
Staying in control starts with setting boundaries and sticking to them. Decide how much time and money you are going to spend before you start, and only ever gamble with money you can afford to lose. Treat gambling as entertainment rather than a way to make money, and never chase your losses.
Take regular breaks, avoid gambling when you are stressed, upset or have been drinking, and make use of the tools that licensed betting sites have to offer. These include:
- Deposit limits – set a cap on how much you can deposit daily, weekly or monthly. Limits can be lowered straight away, while increases usually come with a cooling-off period.
- Reality checks – on-screen prompts that remind you how long you have been playing.
- Account history – check your full record of bets, deposits and withdrawals so you can keep track of your activity.
- Take a break – lock your account for a short period, anywhere from 24 hours to six weeks.
- Self-exclusion – stop gambling with an operator altogether for a minimum of six months and up to five years.
- Autoplay controls – on casino games, set your stake and loss limits before autoplay starts, with the option to stop if you land a big win.
You can also ask your bank to block payments to gambling sites, and limit the amount of gambling content you see on social media through your account settings.
How will I know if I have a gambling problem?
Gambling may be becoming a problem if it starts to affect your finances, your relationships or your mental health. Warning signs include chasing losses, gambling with money you can’t afford to lose, hiding how much you gamble, and feeling anxious, guilty or irritable when you can’t gamble. If it has stopped feeling like fun and started to feel like a need or an escape, it is time to get support.
The NHS suggests asking yourself the following questions, scoring 0 for “never”, 1 for “sometimes”, 2 for “most of the time” and 3 for “almost always”:
- Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
- Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost (chasing losses)?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Have you wondered whether you have a problem with gambling?
- Has your gambling caused you any health problems, including feelings of stress or anxiety?
- Have other people criticised your betting or told you that you had a problem with gambling (regardless of whether or not you thought it was true)?
- Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
- Have you ever felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?
According to the NHS, a total score of 8 or higher means you, or those closest to you, are likely to be experiencing gambling-related harms. A score between 1 and 7 means gambling might still be having a negative impact on your life.
GambleAware also has a free, confidential gambling harms self-assessment and a gambling spend calculator, which show how much time and money you are spending.
What should I do if I think I have a gambling problem?
The most important step is to reach out. Talk to someone you trust, and contact the free, confidential National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, which is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Gambling disorder is a recognised health condition, and it can affect anyone, whatever their background. It can take a toll on your physical and mental health, your finances and your relationships. For some people, recognising the problem is enough to change their habits. For others, specialist support makes all the difference, and there is plenty available.
Stigma can stop people from asking for help, which is why one of Safer Gambling Week’s key messages is that you should never be afraid or embarrassed to speak up. There are also practical steps you can take straight away:
- Sign up to GamStop, which blocks you from all UK-licensed gambling websites and apps for six months, one year or five years.
- Install blocking software such as Gamban to stop access to gambling sites and apps on your devices.
- Ask your bank to block payments to gambling companies. Most major banks now offer this in their app.
- Set up direct debits and standing orders so essential bills, such as rent, mortgage and utilities, are paid on payday. If debt is a concern, National Debtline offers free advice.
- Spend more time with friends and family in places where gambling isn’t easily available, and talk to someone you trust about what you are going through.
Avoid using credit cards to gamble, and don’t think of gambling as a way to make money.
If you or someone you know needs urgent help, the NHS has a list of urgent mental health helplines and services. You can also find out how to refer yourself to an NHS gambling treatment clinic.
What should I do if I think someone I know has a gambling problem?
If you are worried about someone, raise it calmly and without judgement. Let them know you are concerned and ready to listen, and encourage them to speak to a professional support service. Avoid lending them money or covering their debts, as that can make things worse. Instead, offer emotional support, help them find the right services, and remind them that recovery is possible.
People who gamble harmfully often hide it because of the stigma, so showing empathy and making clear you aren’t judging them can make it easier for them to open up. It is also important to look after yourself, since you can’t fix someone else’s behaviour on your own.
GambleAware has more advice on helping someone who gambles. GamFam supports people affected by someone else’s gambling, as well as those in recovery, while Gambling with Lives supports families bereaved by gambling-related suicide.
Where else can I get help?
If you feel you have a problem and want to stop, you can contact any of the following:
- National Gambling Helpline (Great Britain) – 0808 8020 133, free 24/7
- Gambling Helpline (Northern Ireland) – 08000 886 725
- Gambling Helpline (Republic of Ireland) – 1800 936 725
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
- Gamblers Anonymous – www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk
- National Gambling Clinic (CNWL NHS) – www.cnwl.nhs.uk, 020 7381 7722