The most practical way to stop gambling is to make it hard to gamble before you rely on willpower. Block gambling sites and apps on every device, hand control of your money to someone you trust for a few months, deal with the debt openly, and have a plan for the moment an urge hits. If you have tried before and it keeps coming back, it may be gambling disorder, a health condition that responds to treatment.
This page is for the person who gambles and for the family, such as a wife or a parent, who is living with it. Families can do a lot before the person agrees to anything.
Online gambling is illegal in Malaysia: in October 2023 the Court of Appeal ruled that it is an offence under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. Our page on whether online gambling is legal in Malaysia sets out the penalties. For Muslims, gambling is also forbidden in Islam, and the Federal Territories Mufti's office describes it as haram. Many people who gamble already know this, and shame tends to keep gambling hidden, so this page sticks to what helps.
Step 1: block it on every device
Online gambling sits on the phone in your pocket, so blocking is the first job.
- BetBlocker is free. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone, and blocks more than 985,000 gambling websites and 3,100 apps. You choose how long the block lasts, from a day to five years, and it cannot be switched off before the end.
- Gamban is a paid blocker that covers gambling sites and apps across devices, with a 7-day free trial.
- Install the blocker on every phone, tablet and laptop you use, including old ones in a drawer.
- Delete gambling apps, and leave the Telegram, WhatsApp and social media groups that send you links and tips.
- Unlink e-wallets and cards from anything you have used to gamble.
Blocking will not stop a determined person forever, but it puts time between the urge and the bet.
Step 2: hand over control of money, for now
- Ask someone you trust, such as your spouse, a parent or a sibling, to hold your cards and online banking for a few months while other support is put in place. GamCare, a UK gambling charity, recommends this kind of arrangement.
- Have your salary paid into an account that needs a second person to approve withdrawals.
- Ask your bank what it can do. The NHS advises asking your bank to block payments to gambling sites. In Malaysia, ask whether they can lower your online transfer limits, cancel credit cards or freeze a joint account.
- Carry little cash.
The arrangement is temporary and agreed between you, a protection the person asks for while they get back on their feet.
Step 3: face the debt
Many families learn about gambling through the debt: a loan nobody mentioned, savings that have gone.
- Write down every debt, who it is owed to and how much.
- Do not borrow to cover gambling losses, and do not take a new loan to "win it back".
- Speak to the lenders before payments are missed.
The Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) was set up by Bank Negara Malaysia in 2006. Its advice is free, and through its Debt Management Programme it can negotiate with banks to combine what you owe into a single loan with lower monthly payments, based on what you can afford. The Ministry of Finance said that by December 2024, AKPK had given free financial advice to nearly 1.4 million people and helped about 495,000 borrowers through the programme. It covers debts with banks and other institutions regulated by Bank Negara, and it does not use agents or charge fees. Debts to unlicensed moneylenders are outside its scope. If anyone threatens you or your family over a debt, go to the police.
Step 4: have a plan for urges
Urges will come, especially at the times you used to gamble: payday, a big match, late at night, after an argument. Gambling Help Online, an Australian support service, describes urges as waves that build and then break. If you wait long enough, the urge goes away on its own. Its "5Ds" are a simple way to get through one:
- Delay: put off the decision, even for a few minutes.
- Distract: do something else while you wait. Walk, shower, call someone.
- Deep breathe: slow breathing helps you stay calm.
- Decide: once the urge has eased, choose what to do next.
- Discuss: tell someone you trust that you are struggling.
Fill the hours gambling used to take, because boredom and loneliness make the phone harder to ignore.
If your husband, wife or child is the one gambling
Families need to protect themselves as well as help. GamCare's advice for partners includes:
- Do not lend money. It can make things worse if they are already beyond their means.
- If a joint account might be used for gambling, ask the bank to freeze it so both of you must approve payments.
- Speak to the bank that holds your home loan so the house cannot be remortgaged without your permission.
- If they agree, take over managing the money for a few months while they get other support.
Do not sign as guarantor for any new loan, and do not quietly pay off their debts: clearing them before treatment is in place leaves the gambling itself untouched. Our guide on talking to someone about getting help covers the first conversation.
Look after yourself too. You deserve support of your own, whether or not they accept help.
When it needs treatment
It is time for professional help if:
- You have tried to stop and keep going back
- You chase losses, lie about gambling or borrow to keep going
- It is affecting your work, your marriage or your sleep
- You are also drinking or using drugs, or feel low or anxious most of the time
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a talking therapy that changes the thoughts and habits behind a behaviour, is the main treatment for gambling disorder. Depression, anxiety and substance use often come with it and need treating too. A 2020 review in BJPsych International found no structured gambling treatment in Malaysia's public sector. Our gambling addiction guide explains the signs and how treatment works.
People with gambling disorder have a higher risk of suicide. If someone talks about ending their life, call 999 or go to the nearest emergency department. You can also call the Ministry of Health's HEAL line on 15555, or Befrienders KL on 03-7627 2929.
Common questions
How do I stop gambling on my own?
Start by making gambling hard: install a blocker on every device, hand your cards to someone you trust, and tell one person what is going on. Plan for urges with the 5Ds. If you keep going back despite all this, get professional help.
My husband is addicted to gambling. What should I do?
Protect the household money first: separate your savings, freeze joint accounts so both of you must approve, and do not lend or co-sign. Then talk to him calmly when things are quiet. You can call a treatment service for advice before he agrees to anything.
How do I help someone addicted to online gambling?
Online gambling is easy to hide, so start with what you can see: missing money, loans, lost sleep. Raise it without accusing, offer to help set up blockers and money controls, and look into treatment together. They may deny it at first.
Can you quit gambling without rehab?
Some people do, with blockers, money controls and support. Others need structured treatment, especially if they have tried and failed several times, or if drinking, drugs or depression are involved. Residential treatment also takes the person away from the phone and the apps for a while.
Where can I get gambling addiction help in Malaysia?
A 2020 review found no structured gambling treatment in Malaysia's public sector, with some private rehabilitation centres and limited access to online Gamblers Anonymous meetings. For emotional support you can call the HEAL line on 15555. For debt, AKPK gives free advice.
How Salus can help
Salus is a private, confidential, voluntary 90-day residential programme for adults aged 18 and over in Cyberjaya, Selangor. Gambling is treated in the same programme as drug and alcohol dependence, starting with a medical, psychiatric and psychological assessment on arrival. A Salus Clinician plans daily life alongside medical care, with individual and group therapy, family sessions and an aftercare plan for the return home. The cost is RM7,000 per month, all-inclusive, with a private room, meals and 24-hour care. Our gambling addiction treatment page explains the approach.
Families can call first, before the person agrees. You are welcome to call or WhatsApp Salus for a confidential conversation.
This article is general information, not medical advice.
