Gambling Addiction Help: Support Services in Germany
Free hotlines, online counselling, self-help groups and OASIS self-exclusion: where people affected and their families can get help quickly.
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If gambling is becoming a problem, you do not have to solve it alone. Germany offers free, anonymous support. Here is where to start.
BZgA phone counselling. The Federal Centre for Health Education offers free counselling on 0800 1 37 27 00 (German). It is anonymous and open to both players and relatives.
Online counselling. check-dein-spiel.de provides a self-test, information and an online programme to help you cut down or stop. Many people find the first step easier online.
Local counselling centres. Almost every German city has addiction counselling run by Caritas, Diakonie or independent organisations. It is free and confidential and can arrange outpatient or inpatient therapy.
Self-help groups. Groups such as Gamblers Anonymous meet regularly. Talking with people who have been through the same is an important part of recovery for many.
OASIS self-exclusion. The OASIS system lets you exclude yourself from all legal operators in Germany: online, in arcades and at betting shops. A self-exclusion lasts at least three months.
Help for relatives. Partners, parents or children can also get counselling. Under certain conditions a third-party exclusion via OASIS is possible.
Bottom line. The first step is often a phone call or a self-test. Help is free, anonymous and easier to reach than many think.