Guide

How to stop
chasing losses.

You lost, and now there's one thought: win it back. It feels like fixing a mistake. It's usually how a bad night becomes a bad month. Here's why it pulls so hard, and how to step out of it.

If it's pulling hard right now: UK 0808 8020 133 · US 1-800-522-4700 · Australia 1800 858 858 · South Africa 0800 006 008 · other countries. Free, confidential, 24/7.

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What chasing losses is

Chasing losses means gambling again, often with bigger stakes, to recover money you've already lost. It's one of the clearest signs gambling has become a problem, and one of the most expensive. The money feels like it's still "in play". It isn't. It's gone, and each new bet is a new risk, not a way back.

Why the urge is so strong

  • Losses hurt more than wins feel good. Most people feel a loss more sharply than an equal win, so the pain pushes you to make it go away fast.
  • "It's due." After a run of losses it feels like a win must be coming. Each spin, hand or match is independent. The odds don't owe you anything.
  • Near misses. Almost winning feels like progress. Slot machines and many casino games are built to produce them. More of the House's tricks.
  • Shame. Winning it back would mean nobody has to know. That secrecy keeps the cycle going.

What to do in the moment

  1. Stop for twenty minutes. Not forever, just twenty minutes. Put the phone in another room. The urge to chase peaks and fades like any urge. How to ride it out.
  2. Say the number out loud. "I lost £200." Naming it makes it real, and real money is easier to stop chasing than a feeling.
  3. Accept the loss as the price of stopping. It's painful, but it's the smallest that loss will ever be.
  4. Tell someone. Text one person, or call a helpline. Secrecy feeds chasing. Helplines by country.

Make it harder next time

  • Shut the doors. Self-exclusion and a bank gambling block mean that when the urge to chase hits, there's nowhere to place the bet.
  • Put distance between you and money. Move savings to an account that takes days to reach, and lower your daily withdrawal limit.
  • Close your betting accounts, not just pause them. How to close them.
  • Get help with debt early. If you've been chasing with borrowed money, free debt advice can stop it getting worse. Dealing with gambling debt.

If you've been chasing for a while

You're not alone, and you're not stupid. Chasing is one of the most common patterns in problem gambling, because the products are built around it. The way out isn't one big win. It's the first evening you don't chase, then the next one.

Sources and further help

Updated 24 October 2026. Checked against the sources above. How we write these guides. You vs The House is a support tool, not medical advice. If you're struggling, a helpline or your doctor can help.

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