Breathe. This is fixable.
Gambling debt can feel overwhelming. You can look at your next step here.
Referral link to an outside company. GA or GO may be credited for referrals. Opens their site in a new tab.
In crisis? Call or text 988, or call 911.
Debt may be why you came here. If gambling is still part of it, we can help you look at treatment too. Or talk to someone privately.
You don't have to decide right now
Many people start by reading the six steps below. If you carry credit card or personal loan debt and want to ask about lower payments or settling, you can also talk to Simple Debt Solutions.
Quick check, two taps
1. Roughly how much debt are you carrying?
2. What kind of debt? Pick any that fit.
This quick check does not decide if you qualify for anything. It only helps you think it through. Only Simple Debt Solutions can tell you what they offer.
- ✓ We don't save your answers. If you tap through, only the amount range you picked is added to the link, never your name or debt types.
- ✓ You decide if and when to click.
- ✓ The referral is always disclosed.
Call or text us any time, day or night.
A real person who's been there will pick up.
- 1.
Stop the bleeding first
Block gambling sites and apps, sign up for self-exclusion in your state, and hand card access to someone you trust for a while. Fewer ways to bet means fewer losses to repay.
- 2.
Write it all down, once
List every debt: who, how much, interest rate, minimum payment. It's scary, and it's usually less scary on paper than in your head.
- 3.
Call before they call you
Many creditors will lower payments or pause interest if you ask early. Tell them you're in a hardship program. You don't owe them your whole story.
- 4.
Talk to a certified IAPDA debt professional
IAPDA certified debt specialists help people look at every way out of debt, from lower payments to settling for less. Ask if they are IAPDA certified before you share your numbers.
Want to talk it through with someone? Talk to Simple Debt Solutions (referral link)
- 5.
Protect the essentials
Pay housing, utilities, food and transportation first. Unsecured debt can wait while you get stable.
- 6.
Bring it to a meeting
Gam-Anon and GA have 'pressure relief' groups built for exactly this. You don't have to face the numbers alone.
Debt relief referral
Simple Debt Solutions
After you tap, their site opens in a new tab with a short form. They review it and reach out about what they may offer. You can stop at any point. Rather talk to someone who has been there first? Call 844-4WHY-HELP.
Disclosure: this is a referral link to Simple Debt Solutions, an outside company. GA or GO may be credited for referrals. You'll leave our site and go to simpledebtsolutions.com.
Debt basics, in plain words
A short walk-through of where to start when the numbers feel too big.
Read: "You Are Not Ruined Forever"Common questions
Who gets my information if I tap the referral link?
Only Simple Debt Solutions, and only what you type into their form on their site. GA or GO does not send your name or details. If you used the quick check, only the debt amount range you picked is added to the link. GA or GO may be credited for referrals.
What happens after I fill out their form?
Simple Debt Solutions reviews it and gets in touch about what they may be able to offer. Any costs, fees or conditions come from them, so ask them directly before you agree to anything. You can stop at any point.
Do I qualify?
We can't tell you that. Only Simple Debt Solutions can say what they offer for your situation. If you'd rather talk to a person who has been there first, call or text 844-4WHY-HELP. That is separate from the referral.
Can gambling debt be settled or discharged?
Often, yes. Most gambling debt is ordinary unsecured debt, like credit cards or personal loans. Creditors may agree to lower payments, pause interest or settle for less, and a certified IAPDA debt professional can help you ask. Bankruptcy can discharge many debts, but cash advances taken shortly before filing can be challenged, so talk to a licensed bankruptcy attorney before you decide. Rules vary by state, and this is not legal advice.
What should I do in the first 24 hours after a relapse?
Tell one person the truth: a sponsor, someone from your group, or us by call or text. Get to a meeting today, online if that's easiest. Block the sites and apps again and hand off your cards for now. Write down what you lost once, then stop checking it. A relapse doesn't erase your recovery. It shows you where the plan needs more support. In crisis, call or text 988, or call 844-494-9435.
Last reviewed September 2026.
Want to ask a debt company about settling? Contact Simple Debt Solutions (referral link)
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