Urgent Help for Gambling Concerns in Tanzania

If you may be in immediate danger

If you may harm yourself or another person, or someone is threatening you, move away from the immediate danger if you can. Go to a place where another trusted person is present and contact local emergency services or a qualified health professional. Do not stay alone with the problem while you are at immediate risk.

If speaking feels difficult, send a short message such as “I am not safe alone and need you to stay with me.” You do not need to explain every detail before asking for help. If you have taken an overdose, injured yourself or are seriously unwell, seek urgent medical assistance now.

Gambling losses, debt and conflict can feel overwhelming, but a crisis does not need to be handled in isolation. Put distance between yourself and betting, money and any situation that could make the danger worse.

Take a pause from gambling

The first useful step is to stop placing bets while you decide what support you need. Close the operator application or website, sign out and avoid depositing more money to recover losses. Chasing losses can make a difficult situation larger and can reduce the time available for calm decisions.

If you can, tell a trusted person that you are taking a break. Ask them to sit with you, help you avoid betting for the next few hours or keep you company while you deal with urgent practical matters. Choose someone who will listen without pressuring you to gamble, borrow or win the money back.

The supplied Board portal describes voluntary self-exclusion functions. Use that route to check whether a self-exclusion request is available and what information it requires. Keep a record of any request or confirmation. A self-exclusion tool is a practical barrier, not a substitute for personal, financial or medical support.

For wider information about safer play and boundaries, see responsible gambling guidance.

Protect access to money

Do not make another deposit while you are distressed or trying to recover a loss. If possible, ask your bank or mobile-money provider what account controls, spending limits or payment blocks are available to you. The available options depend on the provider and your account, so check the provider’s own instructions rather than assuming a control has been applied.

Move gambling funds away from easy access only when doing so will not affect rent, food, medication, school costs or other essential needs. Do not give passwords, PINs or one-time codes to another person as a quick solution. If someone is helping you, agree clearly what they may do and what they may not do.

Make a short list of urgent payments and available money. Avoid taking a new loan, selling essential belongings or borrowing from several people to cover a gambling loss before you have reviewed the position calmly. If you owe money, write down the creditor, amount and next date without promising a payment you cannot afford.

Reduce triggers and online access

Remove saved payment details from gambling accounts and devices where you can do so safely. Turn off promotional notifications and unsubscribe from marketing messages if the operator provides that option. Delete shortcuts or applications that make it harder to keep the pause you have chosen.

Avoid alcohol or other substances when making decisions about betting. They can make it harder to follow a plan, assess risk or remember what you agreed to do. Spend the next few hours somewhere that does not make gambling easy, such as with family, a trusted friend or another safe support person.

Write down three immediate actions: who you will contact, how you will avoid betting today and what essential payment or health issue needs attention first. Keep the list visible. The aim is not to solve every problem at once; it is to create enough space for the next safe decision.

Ask a trusted person to stay involved

A direct request is often easier than a general warning. You could say: “I am worried about my gambling and need help staying away from betting today.” You could also ask the person to help you review deposits, messages, debts or self-exclusion steps, provided you are comfortable sharing that information.

Agree on a simple check-in time. If you do not answer and the person is concerned about your immediate safety, tell them in advance what action you want them to take. If you are supporting someone else, listen first, avoid blame and do not offer gambling money to repair a loss.

A trusted person cannot replace a clinician, financial adviser or emergency service. Their role may be to help you get through the immediate period, accompany you to seek assistance and help you follow the plan you have chosen.

Use the official complaint and self-exclusion route

The supplied Board portal describes functions for complaints, registry inspection and voluntary self-exclusion. It may therefore help when you need to identify an available official process or check what information a request requires. Use the portal’s current instructions and save copies of submitted information, reference numbers and responses.

Keep your complaint factual. Record the operator or trade name, the date of the issue, the amount involved, relevant account or transaction references and the steps you already took to seek help. Do not send passwords, PINs or one-time codes. Share only information requested through the official process.

A complaint is a request for review, not proof that wrongdoing occurred. This guide does not decide the outcome of a complaint. If the issue concerns an operator’s identity or public trade name, the Board’s current public sports-betting table is one supplied source for checking listed company or trade names. The licence and law guide explains how to approach official records without treating an unverified name as proof.

What to do over the next 24 hours

For the next day, keep the plan small. Do not gamble, deposit or borrow to chase a loss. Eat, drink water, rest if you can and stay connected to a person who understands that you need a pause. If you have a medical concern, severe distress or thoughts of self-harm, seek qualified urgent assistance rather than relying on gambling support tools alone.

When you are calmer, review your account history and essential finances with support. Separate confirmed transactions from assumptions. If you need to contact an operator, use its established support route and avoid sending security credentials. If you need to make a complaint, use the official Board portal and retain the submission record.

You can also use the complaints and warnings guide for practical record-keeping steps. For questions about how information is handled on this site, see the privacy information.

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Frequently asked questions