If you’re in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself, call 999 now, or call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time.
Most of this site is about trading better. This page is about something more important: noticing when trading has stopped being a hobby, a side project or a business, and has started to cause harm.
It happens to more people than you’d think. Leveraged trading is fast, it’s on your phone all day, and wins and losses arrive in seconds. That can feel a lot like gambling, and the National Gambling Helpline says it hears from people struggling with trading and crypto (GamCare). If some of this page sounds familiar, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or stupid. It means it’s worth pausing and talking to someone.
This page isn’t a diagnosis and we’re not therapists. It’s a plain list of warning signs, some practical steps, and where to find free, confidential help in the UK.
Warning signs
Be honest with yourself. You don’t need to tick every box for this to matter.
Chasing losses
– After a loss, you feel you have to win it back, today.
– You increase your position size after losing, or ignore your daily loss limit “just this once”, again.
– You’ve stopped following your trading plan, or you never really had one.
Hiding it
– You hide trades, losses or account balances from a partner, family or friends.
– You play down how much you’ve lost, or say you’re “about break-even” when you’re not.
– You trade at times or in places where you won’t be seen.
Money
– You’ve borrowed to trade: credit cards, overdraft, loans, buy now pay later, or money from family or friends.
– You’ve used money meant for bills, rent, a deposit or savings.
– You keep topping up your account after it’s been wiped out.
Prop firm challenges
– You buy a new challenge straight after failing one, sometimes the same day.
– You’ve lost count of how many you’ve bought, or you don’t want to add up the total. (Our true cost calculator can help, but only if you’re ready to look.)
– You buy a challenge to “fix” how you feel about a bad day.
Mood, sleep and life
– You check charts or your P&L late at night, first thing in the morning, or every few minutes.
– You’re sleeping badly, feel anxious or low, or snap at people because of trading.
– Weekends or market closures make you restless or irritable.
– Trading is crowding out work, family, friends or things you used to enjoy.
– You’ve tried to cut down or stop, and couldn’t.
If several of these apply, trading may be causing you harm. That’s worth taking seriously, even if you’re not “losing that much” yet.
Is trading gambling?
Trading and gambling aren’t the same thing legally, and trading can be done as a careful, rules-based activity. But the way some people trade, especially short-term leveraged trading driven by emotion, can look and feel just like gambling: chasing losses, betting bigger to get back to even, and the rush of the next trade.
What matters isn’t the label. It’s the effect on your life. If trading is harming your money, your relationships or your mental health, the same support used for gambling problems can help, and gambling support services are used to hearing from traders.
Practical steps you can take today
You don’t need to have everything figured out. Start with one or two of these.
1. Take a break
- Stop for a set period, such as a week or a month. Close your positions if it’s safe to do so, log out, and delete trading apps from your phone.
- Ask your broker about cooling-off periods, deposit limits or closing your account. Many FCA-authorised providers have tools for this, so it’s worth asking.
- Don’t buy any new prop firm challenges during the break. Unsubscribe from firm emails and discount codes.
2. Put limits in writing, and make them hard to break
If you decide to keep trading, set limits that don’t rely on willpower in the moment:
- A maximum amount you will ever deposit, per month and in total.
- A daily loss limit and a maximum number of trades per day, with platform limits switched on where available.
- No more than one challenge purchase per month, decided in advance, never on the same day as a loss.
- No trading with borrowed money. Ever.
Tell someone you trust what your limits are. Limits that someone else knows about are much easier to keep. See trading discipline and revenge trading and tilt for more on this.
3. Use blocking tools
- Gambling blocks on your bank card. Many UK banks and card providers let you block gambling payments in their app. Be aware that these usually target gambling companies, so they may not block payments to brokers, crypto exchanges or prop firms. Ask your bank what its block covers.
- Blocking software. Apps and software that block gambling sites can help. GamCare has said that some blocking software, such as Gamban, can also block trading platforms and crypto exchanges. See GamCare’s blocking software page for current options.
- GAMSTOP is the free self-exclusion scheme for online gambling in Great Britain (gamstop.co.uk). It covers licensed gambling sites and apps, not brokers or prop firms, but if trading has spilled over into betting or casinos, it’s a useful step.
- There’s currently no single self-exclusion scheme for trading platforms, so you’ll usually need to contact each broker or firm directly to close or restrict your account.
4. Get on top of the money
- Write down everything you owe and to whom. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s the first step to fixing it.
- Don’t borrow to pay off trading losses, and don’t trade to pay off debt.
- Get free debt advice early. StepChange and MoneyHelper are listed below. Avoid companies that charge fees for debt help when free, regulated advice exists.
5. Talk to someone
This is the step that helps most, and the one people put off longest. You could:
- Tell one person you trust: a partner, friend or family member.
- Call or chat online with the National Gambling Helpline (below). It’s free, confidential and you don’t have to give your name.
- Speak to your GP, especially if your mood or sleep is affected.
You don’t have to wait until things are “bad enough”. Talking early is easier, and cheaper.
Free, confidential UK support
All the services below are free to use. Details checked on each organisation’s official website on 17 October 2026.
| Organisation | What they help with | How to contact |
|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline (run by GamCare) | Gambling and gambling-like harm, including problems with trading and crypto. For you or someone close to you. | Call free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, every day. Live chat and WhatsApp also available at gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) | Free peer support meetings with people who’ve been through it. No appointment needed. | Information line 0330 094 0322 (not a crisis line). Find a meeting at gamblersanonymous.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous Scotland | Peer support meetings across Scotland. | 24-hour helpline 0370 050 8881 (not a crisis line). gascotland.org |
| StepChange Debt Charity | Free debt advice and debt solutions. | Call free on 0800 138 1111 (Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–2pm), or start online at stepchange.org |
| MoneyHelper | Free, government-backed money guidance, and a tool to find free debt advice near you. | Call free on 0800 011 3797 (Mon–Fri 9am–5pm), or visit moneyhelper.org.uk |
| Samaritans | Someone to talk to about anything, whenever you’re struggling. You don’t have to be suicidal to call. | Call free on 116 123, any time, day or night. samaritans.org |
Opening hours and services can change. Check the organisation’s website if you’re unsure.
If you’re self-employed, StepChange says its debt advice may not be the right fit and suggests Business Debtline (England, Wales and Scotland) or Advice NI (Northern Ireland) instead.
If you’re worried about someone else
If someone close to you is trading in a way that worries you:
- Pick a calm moment. Talk about what you’ve noticed and how it affects you, rather than accusing them.
- Expect them to play it down at first. That’s common.
- Don’t lend them money to cover losses or to “win it back”.
- You can call the National Gambling Helpline yourself for advice, even if they’re not ready to.
Key takeaways
- Trading can cause the same kind of harm as gambling: chasing losses, hiding it, borrowing to fund it, and damage to mood, sleep and relationships.
- Repeated challenge purchases straight after failing are a common warning sign.
- Practical steps help: a break, written limits, blocking tools, sorting the money, and above all talking to someone.
- Free, confidential help is available in the UK, 24/7 by phone for gambling harm (0808 8020 133) and for anyone struggling (Samaritans, 116 123).
Related pages
- Back to the psychology hub
- Also: Revenge trading and tilt · How to handle a losing streak · Prop challenge pressure
- Before you buy another challenge: True cost calculator
- Our full risk warning
Disclaimer: This page is general education, not financial, investment, medical or mental-health advice or a personal recommendation, and it doesn’t take your circumstances into account. Examples are hypothetical, for illustration only, and not an invitation to buy or sell. Learning a strategy doesn’t guarantee profits. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future results. Futures, spread bets and CFDs are complex and carry a high risk of losing money quickly because of leverage, and most retail traders lose money. With a real futures account, losses can exceed your deposit. Prop firm challenges are paid evaluations: the fee is usually lost, and funded accounts are usually simulated. Only trade with money you can afford to lose, and speak to an independent FCA-authorised adviser if you’re unsure. We’re not a support service, and we have no connection with the organisations listed: they’re included because they offer free, recognised help. Support details were checked on 17 October 2026 and can change. Read our full risk warning.