Helplink has joined forces with the Gambling Awareness Trust to provide a national gambling addiction / gambling dependency counselling service that is available for free and out-of-hours.

We now also offer free aftercare groups for clients who have gone through the counselling process with our addiction counsellors.

Appointments are available through online or phone counselling nationwide with some face-to-face appointments available in Galway City.

This service is funded via the Gambling Awareness Trust an independent charity setup in 2019 to fund research, education and treatment services to help minimise gambling related harm in Ireland.

Appointments:

• Appointments are available for people over 16 years of age experiencing gambling issues/problems/addictions and their family members; who may be affected by their loved one’s gambling.
• Each client is assigned 6-12 free counselling sessions (or more if recommended by their counsellor), prior to attending a weekly aftercare group.
• If you want to cancel or postpone your appointment you must do so 48 hours in advance. Consequently, if you don’t cancel within 48 hours you may lose one of the free appointments allotted to you.
• Your first appointment will be one hour long in order for you  to go over the counselling contract (which will be provided to you before the appointment begins via email), an initial assessment and risk assessment after this all appointments are 50 minutes long.

How does it work?

You contact us by emailing gamblingsupport@helplink.ie or phone our national number 0818 99 88 80 to arrange an appointment or to get more information.

Once you have asked for an appointment you will have two options to engage with your Counsellor:

1. through online counselling (the best option as you can see your Counsellor and they can see you)
2. through phone counselling

Age Restrictions:

This service is for young people (16 to 18 years) and adults alike. However, Helplink must have written permission (by email) from the young person’s parent or guardian before the appointments can begin.

Please Note: 

• We do not provide a crisis service. People seriously contemplating suicide or in need of immediate help should go to their local A&E. Dial 999 for assistance.
• Our national phone number is not a crisis helpline it is used to provide information about the service and to arrange appointments.

Resources:

For some other useful resources and supports for help with problem/compulsive gambling, click here.

Funded By: