Remote treatment for gambling addiction

Blue Cross offers a free, national treatment program via CheckWare for individuals over 18 who wish to change problematic gambling behavior. The treatment lasts approximately 12 weeks and combines weekly phone calls with a therapist and written assignments online. Topics include motivation, risk situations, finances, and alternative activities. After completion, follow-up and advice on further support are offered. The service is low-threshold, flexible, and requires no referral.

About the service

Blue Cross offers a national remote treatment program for individuals over 18 who want help with problematic gambling behavior. The service is low-threshold, free of charge, and requires neither referral nor diagnosis – personal motivation for change is the most important criterion for participation. The program ensures anonymity and flexibility, and the treatment approach is tailored to individual needs, aiming to provide patients with the tools they need to manage challenges related to gambling addiction.

The treatment program lasts about 12 weeks and includes weekly sessions with a dedicated therapist. Through CheckWare, participants gain access to digital treatment modules containing information on specific topics and tasks. These assignments cover key themes such as motivation for change, identification of risk situations, understanding financial consequences, and exploring alternative activities to replace gambling.

The digital service also includes a secure messaging feature for dialogue between participant and therapist. Goals and sub-goals agreed upon by the participant and therapist are entered into the digital solution and can be easily monitored by both parties.

The service is well suited for adults who have a problematic relationship with gambling or video games and want a flexible and safe form of treatment. For healthcare professionals, this provides a simple and accessible alternative to recommend to patients who need help with gambling addiction, especially if patients have limited ability to attend physical treatment sessions.

Blue Cross also offers a free, nationwide counseling service for relatives of people with gambling problems. The service is low-threshold and conducted via phone or online, without the requirement that the gambler themselves be in treatment. A therapist will contact within one week after registration, and the sessions are tailored to the relative’s needs, focusing on setting boundaries, communication, coping with strains, and self-care. The service offers healthcare professionals a simple referral option for relatives needing support and can serve as an important supplement to treatment for gambling addiction.

Related product