Recognising signs of problem gambling:

• Continuing to gamble even when you don’t have the money to do so
• Using gambling as a way to try to make money in order to cover rising costs of living/bills
• Overdue and/or unpaid bills
• Continuing to gamble even after significant financial losses, in an attempt to regain your lost money
• Selling possessions, borrowing or even stealing money for the purpose of gambling
• Gambling for longer than planned
• Sleeping problems including gambling during the night
• Making repeated unsuccessful attempts to reduce gambling behaviours
• Preoccupation with gambling and gambling-related activities, losing interest in other activities and hobbies that were once important
• Denial that a problem with gambling exists, or believing it is under control
• Experiencing relationship/work/college/university problems as a result of gambling behaviour including unexplained mood changes
  
  

What we can do to help

At AIB we are here to help you.
If you are suffering from gambling harm and struggling with your finances, we can provide support, ignoring debt is likely to make the situation worse and make you more anxious.  We can provide information on free, independent and anonymous non-monetary advice lines.

Get in touch

It takes a lot of courage for an individual to speak up and tell someone they are having issues with gambling or being affected by gambling.  We want you to be able to talk to us to discuss your concerns in the strictest confidence and offer you the help and support you need.
Phone us on 8008008888 (Mon-Fri 9am – 5pm, excluding bank holidays) and we can advise of the options available to you with your finances.

Budgeting tool

If you are worried about how much you are spending on gambling, we recommend that you use our budgeting tool (click here ).  We can help you complete the form in one of our branches, over the telephone or you can complete it in the comfort of your own home.

Taking control

Sometimes it can be hard to make ends meet, check out our taking control of your finances section of our website (click here ). Talk to us as soon as possible if you have missed payments or are worried about missing payments to give you the best chance to resolving the problem.

Other tools available

Self Help Tools

GamCare is the leading UK provider of free information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling.  They offer many channels of support either by phone, WhatsApp, live chat and even group chats.

They also offer a self-assessment tool (click here ) which helps if you are not sure how much gambling has become a problem for you, you can take their online assessment to find out.  The assessment will give you a series of statements and ask you to select how much the statement applies to your gambling.  At the end of the test you will be presented with a breakdown of how gambling is affecting your life and it will give you personalised recommendations for your next steps.

For more information on GamCare click here

The National Gambling Helpline gives confidential information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling problems.  They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0808 8020133.

TalkBanStop is a partnership that combines practical tools with support to help you to stop gambling and kick-start your recovery journey.

Speak or live chat with a trained adviser on the National Gambling Helpline for information, advice and support. Here you’ll be able to access a free Gamban licence to block your devices from accessing gambling sites and will be signposted towards the free national self-exclusion scheme, GAMSTOP

For more information on TalkBanStop click here .

Extra help and advice from other Organisation and Charities

Advice NI	An independent advice network who offer free, independent high quality advice on different consumer issues.	0800 9154604 adviceni.net
Christians Against Poverty	Churches across the UK are committed to tackling the causes of poverty in their local area by providing free debt help and community groups.	capuk.org
Gamblers Anonymous	A fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.	02890 249185 gamblersanonymous.org.uk
Extern (NI & ROI)	Leading social justice charity across Ireland, providing support and advice for a range of issues including addiction to promote a positive change. They also run a gambling clinic.	02890 840555 extern.org
BigDeal Young People Service	Support service for young people (11-18 year olds) experiencing gambling related harm or an adult concerned about the gambling of a young person in their care.  They offer one-to-one confidential advice, information and emotional support.	0203 0926964 bigdeal.org.uk