26/01/2026
Addiction often thrives in secrecy; when no one is around, it's easier to behave in ways you normally would’t. Shame and guilt also play a huge factor in this, and many believe that by hiding problem gambling, you are protecting friends and family.
In reality, hiding the problem usually makes it worse.
That is why having an accountability partner can make such a difference.
What is an accountability partner?
An accountability partner is someone you trust who helps you stay on track with your recovery.
An accountability partner can help you manage your life and finances. When you know your actions can be seen by a trusted person, it changes the whole dynamic. This creates a much stronger barrier than just willpower or self-exclusion alone.
Hiding an issue often only makes it worse. Although you may not feel ready to share with everyone in your life, choosing one or two trusted people can be hugely helpful.
Who should be my accountability partner?
It should be someone you trust with personal details and difficult conversations.
This could be:
- A partner
- A parent
- A close friend
- A trusted colleague
- A family friend
Some people choose someone very close to them. Others prefer someone a little outside their circle.
Whoever it is, you just need to be happy with them helping you manage your life and finances.
How can they help?
An accountability partner can help you manage your money in a structured and protective way.
This can include:
- Helping control access to bank accounts
- Restricting available funds
- Pre-planning bills and essential spending
- Using leftover money to pay off debts
- Setting spending limits
- Monitoring unusual transactions
Some people choose to give their accountability partner full access to their bank account. This means that if you:
- Use a gambling site
- Send money to someone else to gamble for you
- Withdraw cash to gamble in person
- Try to move money around to bypass controls
They will know immediately.
They can also help you put more barriers in place, including installing Gamban across all of your devices, setting up self-exclusion, and blocking gambling transactions from your bank.
Location apps like Life 360 or Find My will also give your accountability partner access to your whereabouts and you can set up alerts for arrival to certain locations so they can help support you if willpower slips.
A regular check-in with your accountability partner is key for identifying triggers and discussing progress. Make sure the person you choose is both empathetic and informed, giving you the best chance at recovery working alongside someone firm but fair.
Benefits of an accountability partner
The first and most obvious, is that an accountability partner will help in case of relapse. Recovery isn’t linear, and having that extra barrier in place on hard days can stop you from going back to old ways.
You may not feel comfortable speaking to your family or colleagues about gambling addiction, but choosing someone totally non-judgemental as your accountability partner means you can speak openly and honestly. Be up front about challenges and it’ll help you plan more positively for the future.
If you are in debt, looking at ways to re-build finances can feel overwhelming on your own. Building a plan which you have to stick to helps you regain power and control over your life.
You may experience external pressures to gamble, be that from advertising or even friends who don’t respect your recovery journey. Having someone there who wants you to succeed gives that extra boost of motivation.
A real recovery story
In a personal recovery story published on Medium, writer Jordan Maciel describes how accountability changed his recovery from gambling addiction. After years of gambling in secrecy, he explains that once he involved people close to him, relapse became harder because it no longer only affected him.
“Involving others in my recovery process gave me the added motivation, encouragement, and shared responsibility I needed to finally beat my addiction.”
What the science says
Research consistently shows that social support is one of the strongest predictors of sustained behaviour change in addiction recovery.
Well-known therapists and addiction experts all show the same thing in different ways: people are more likely to change their behaviour when they have support.
People like Aaron T. Beck, who created cognitive behavioural therapy, and William R. Miller, who developed motivational interviewing, both focus on structured support, working with others, and not doing recovery alone.
While “an accountability partner” is not a formal medical treatment, the idea fits these same principles. It reduces secrecy, adds structure, creates shared responsibility, and gives emotional and practical support. Instead of fighting addiction in private, recovery becomes something you do with support around you, which gives people a better chance of long-term change.
Getting Started
Allowing someone so much control over your life as an adult can feel daunting and perhaps like you are moving backwards. However, just picture this short-term arrangement as a strategy in recovery. There will be a time in the future when you feel happy and confident to carry on without an accountability partner.
Accountability is support, not treatment
An accountability partner is not a replacement for professional support. It works best when combined with:
- Therapy or counselling
- Structured recovery programmes
- Financial support such as Gamfin and Sibstar
- Peer support groups such as GamFam and GamLEARN
- Blocking and exclusion tools
We always recommend a multi-layered approach to gambling harm recovery, which gives you the best chance for success.
