Mecca Bingo in Birkenhead is closing. For a lot of people who have visited regularly over the years, that is a real loss. Bingo halls are not just places to play – they are social spaces, weekly routines, somewhere familiar to go. Losing that matters.
But the closure also raises something worth talking about. When a venue like this shuts, many regular customers are directed online. And online gambling is a very different thing to a bingo hall.
This is not about telling anyone what to do. It is about making sure that if gambling is becoming difficult for you – or for someone you know – you have the information you need.
What changes when gambling moves online
Land-based bingo has a natural structure built into it. You have to travel there. It has opening and closing times. There are staff around. The session ends, and you go home. Those things might not feel significant, but from a harm reduction perspective, they matter a lot. They create natural pauses, limits and decision points.
Online gambling removes all of that.
It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on your phone or laptop. There is no journey, no closing time, no moment when the venue shuts and the session is over. Gameplay is faster. Spending is easier to lose track of. And the platforms are designed with features – bonuses, notifications, auto-play options – that are intended to keep you engaged.
During the Covid-19 lockdowns, when land-based gambling venues were forced to close, research showed that a number of gamblers moved online and found it harder to manage their gambling as a result. The convenience and constant availability of online platforms is a key reason why.
None of this means online gambling automatically causes harm. Most people who gamble online do so without serious problems. But for anyone who already finds it difficult to set limits, or who uses gambling to cope with stress or difficult feelings, the shift from a structured venue to a 24/7 app can make things significantly harder.
Signs that gambling might be becoming harmful
Gambling harms can build gradually and are not always easy to spot. You do not need to spend large amounts of money or gamble every day for harm to be present.
Signs that gambling may be becoming harmful include:
- Spending more money or time gambling than you planned
- Chasing losses, or borrowing money to fund gambling
- Feeling anxious, low or irritable when you are not gambling
- Hiding gambling activity or bank transactions from people close to you
- Missing payments, getting into debt, or lying about money
- Using gambling to cope with stress, boredom or difficult feelings
- Finding that gambling only feels enjoyable when the stakes are high
Gambling harms also affect the people around the person gambling. If a partner, family member or friend’s gambling is causing you worry, stress or financial pressure, support is available for you too.
Tools that can help
If you are moving to online gambling and want to put some limits in place before you start, there are free tools that make this straightforward.
GamStop is a free national self-exclusion scheme. Registering means you will be blocked from all UK-licensed online gambling sites for a set period of time. It takes a few minutes to set up.
Register with GamStop: gamstop.co.uk
GamBan is blocking software that can be installed on up to 15 devices. It also covers crypto casino sites, which GamStop does not.
Bet Blocker is a free blocking tool that requires no account to set up.
These tools are not only for people who think they have a serious problem. They can be a useful way to set boundaries before things become difficult, particularly if you are moving to a new way of gambling.
Support if you need it
If you are worried about your own gambling, or someone else’s, free and confidential support is available.
Wirral Ways works with a network of local and national partners to make sure people in Wirral can access the right support. If you are not sure where to start, we can help point you in the right direction.
- 0151 556 1335
- wirral.services@cgl.org.uk
- www.wirralways.org.uk/gambling-harms
The Primary Care Gambling Service is a free NHS service offering one-to-one and group support for people affected by gambling harms. Wirral Ways can refer you, or you can self-refer directly. The average wait from referral to first appointment is around 10 days.
Self-refer to the Primary Care Gambling Service
The National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Support is available by phone and live chat, for people who gamble and for family members and friends affected by someone else’s gambling.
- 0808 8020 133
GamFam provides dedicated advice and support for families and people affected by someone else’s gambling. No referral is needed.
You do not have to wait until things feel serious
Gambling harms often build slowly, and many people wait a long time before reaching out because they are not sure whether what they are experiencing is ‘bad enough’. It is. If gambling is affecting your finances, your mood, your sleep, your relationships or anything else, that is enough of a reason to talk to someone.
Wirral Ways can help connect you with the right support whenever you are ready. There is no judgement, and no pressure.
Help with debt and finances
Gambling harms are rarely just about gambling. For many people, the financial impact is one of the hardest parts to deal with. Debt, missed payments and money worries can build up quickly and feel overwhelming to face alone.
Citizens Advice Wirral offers free, confidential and independent advice on debt, benefits, housing and financial support. Their advisers can help you understand what you are entitled to, work through your options and connect you with specialist caseworkers if needed.
Support is available for people in the recovery community through outreach sessions at a number of local venues, including Nightingales on Argyle Street in Birkenhead (Thursdays, 1pm to 3pm on selected dates) and the Spider Project on Hamilton Street, Birkenhead (first Thursday of each month, 9am to 12 noon).
You can also contact Citizens Advice Wirral directly:
- Phone: 0808 278 7848 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm)
- Email: via the advice form at citizensadvicewirral.org.uk
- Website: citizensadvicewirral.org.uk/projects/ask-us-wirral
You do not need to be in serious debt to ask for help. If money is a worry, speaking to an adviser early can make a real difference.
Last Updated on 8 June 2026