Can Gambling Debts Be Included in an IVA?

Yes. Credit cards and loans used for gambling can be included like other unsecured debts. Creditors will want reassurance that the gambling has stopped.

Last updated: November 2026

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Things to know about IVAs

An IVA is a formal insolvency procedure. It must be approved by your creditors, stays on your credit file for six years, fees are taken from your payments, and debts are only written off if you complete it. It isn’t right for everyone.

Read the key risks

Creditors must approve it. An IVA only goes ahead if creditors holding at least 75% of the debt that is voted agree. Your proposal can be rejected.
Credit file and public register. An IVA stays on your credit file for six years from the start date and is listed on the public Individual Insolvency Register while it runs. Getting credit will be harder.
Spending restrictions and annual reviews. You live on an agreed budget for the length of the IVA (usually 5–6 years). Your income and spending are reviewed each year, and your payment can go up.
Fees. Fees are taken from your monthly payments, so less of what you pay reaches your creditors. How IVA fees work.
Your home. Under the current IVA Protocol, your home isn’t included in the IVA and you won’t be asked to remortgage. If your share of the equity is £10,000 or more, the IVA usually lasts six years instead of five.
If it fails. If you can’t keep up payments the IVA may fail, you would owe the remaining debt again, and the supervisor may petition for your bankruptcy.
Write-off only on completion. Remaining qualifying unsecured debts are only written off if the IVA is completed successfully. Secured debts, court fines, child maintenance, student loans and some other debts can’t be included.
Other options may suit you better. A debt management plan, DRO or bankruptcy may be more suitable. IVAs are available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only; different solutions apply in Scotland.

Gambling can lead to serious debt quickly. If you’re trying to stop, the debts can feel overwhelming. An IVA is one option, alongside support for the gambling itself.

The short answer

Credit cards, loans and overdrafts used for gambling are unsecured debts and can usually be included.
Creditors may ask questions if your bank statements show recent gambling.
Continuing to gamble during an IVA can breach its terms.
Free help is available from GamCare and the National Gambling Support Network.
GAMSTOP and bank gambling blocks can help stop spending.

Will creditors accept an IVA for gambling debts?

Many do. What matters is that the proposal is honest and realistic. Your insolvency practitioner will look at your bank statements, and creditors may want to know what steps you’ve taken to stop gambling.

What steps help?

Self-exclusion: GAMSTOP blocks you from UK-licensed online gambling sites.
Bank blocks: most banks let you block gambling transactions in their app.
Support: the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free and open 24 hours.

Could I have a claim against a lender?

If a lender kept giving you credit when it was clear you couldn’t afford it, you may be able to complain about irresponsible lending. Complaints go to the lender first, then the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Gambling often affects mental health too. See debt and mental health for support.

Common questions

Will my IVA fail if I gamble?

Gambling with money that should go to your IVA, or hiding winnings, can breach your IVA terms and cause it to fail.

Do I have to tell my IVA company about gambling?

Yes. Be honest. Your bank statements will usually show it, and hiding it can cause problems later.

Are gambling winnings paid into an IVA?

Significant winnings are usually treated as a windfall and must be reported.

How IVA Advice Online can help

Every situation is different, and an IVA isn’t right for everyone. We can look at your income, spending and debts with you and set out the debt solutions you could qualify for, including options other than an IVA. To talk it through, get in touch.