Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be an enjoyable pastime, but it carries real risk — financial, emotional and personal. This page sets out the tools, organisations and practical steps available to anyone in Great Britain who wants to stay in control, or who needs help right now. It covers both casinos not on GamStop and UK-licensed sites, because the tools and support organisations apply regardless of where you play.
18+ only. If you are under 18, please leave this site now.
Recognising when gambling stops being fun
Most people gamble without difficulty. Problems tend to develop gradually, and many people do not notice the change until the behaviour has already caused harm. The following warning signs are worth taking seriously — in yourself or someone you care about.
- Spending more than you planned, or chasing losses to try to get even
- Borrowing money, selling possessions or missing bills to fund gambling
- Hiding gambling activity from family or friends
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when not gambling
- Gambling to escape stress, worry or low mood rather than for entertainment
- Finding it difficult or impossible to stop, even when you want to
- Neglecting work, relationships or responsibilities because of time spent gambling
Experiencing one or two of these occasionally does not automatically mean you have a problem. A pattern of several signs, or any single sign that is persistent, is worth addressing promptly.
Practical tools to stay in control
Whether you play at a UK Gambling Commission-licensed site or at an offshore operator, a range of tools exists to help you manage your activity. Use them proactively — waiting until there is a crisis makes them harder to apply.
Deposit limits
Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you load into your account. At UKGC-licensed operators this is a mandatory feature. Many offshore casinos offer it too — check the cashier or account settings section when you register.
Loss limits
A loss limit stops play automatically once your net losses in a period hit the threshold you choose. It is distinct from a deposit limit: you could deposit £200 and set a loss limit of £100, ensuring half your balance is always preserved.
Session and time limits
Set a maximum duration for each gambling session. Many platforms show a running clock or send alerts. Some allow you to set a cooling-off reminder that prompts you to review your session before continuing.
Reality checks
Automated on-screen pop-ups that appear at intervals you choose, showing how long you have been playing and your net position for the session. They create a natural pause for reflection without forcing you to stop.
Cooling-off periods
A short voluntary break — typically 24 hours to 30 days — during which you cannot log in or deposit. Less permanent than self-exclusion, but useful if you want to step back without closing your account entirely.
Self-exclusion
A formal block on your account, usually for a minimum of six months and up to five years or permanently. Details on how this works across different types of operator are covered in the section below.
Self-exclusion: GamStop and beyond
What GamStop does
GamStop is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. Registering with it — free and available at gamstop.co.uk — sends a single exclusion to all online operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Once registered, those sites are required to block your account for your chosen period. It is the most comprehensive way to exclude yourself from UK-licensed online gambling in one step.
Excluding from casinos not covered by GamStop
Offshore operators that do not hold a UKGC licence are not part of GamStop. If you want to self-exclude from them, you need to contact each operator directly. Look for a responsible gambling or safer gambling section in the account settings, or email the support team and request a permanent self-exclusion. Reputable offshore sites honour these requests; if a site does not, that is itself useful information about the operator's standards.
You can also use browser-level tools and software such as Gamban (a device-level blocking application) and BetBlocker (free, covers thousands of gambling sites globally) to create a technical barrier across devices, regardless of which licence the operator holds.
Excluding from land-based venues
The Multi-operator Self Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) covers bookmakers on the high street. Individual casino venues operate their own schemes; speak to a manager in person or contact the venue's responsible gambling team. Some local authorities also run area-wide exclusion schemes covering multiple operators in one city or region.
UK support organisations
Free, confidential help is available around the clock. None of these organisations will judge you for reaching out.
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, online chat, helpline, forum and support for affected family members | 0808 8020 133 (24/7) — gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer-support meetings (in person and online) based on a 12-step programme | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools and referrals to treatment providers | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment, therapeutic community programmes and online counselling for severe gambling disorder | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| Gambling Therapy | Free global online support, available in multiple languages; live chat and forum | gamblingtherapy.org |
| NHS Northern Gambling Service / NHS clinics | Specialist NHS treatment for gambling disorder — GP referral or self-referral depending on region | nhs.uk — search "NHS gambling clinic" |
If you are in financial difficulty as a result of gambling, StepChange (stepchange.org, 0800 138 1111) and National Debtline (nationaldebtline.org, 0808 808 4000) offer free, impartial debt advice.
How regulation works in Great Britain
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licenses and regulates all commercial gambling within Great Britain. Operators holding a UKGC licence are legally required to implement responsible gambling features including deposit limits, self-exclusion links to GamStop, age verification and affordability checks. Consumer complaints about licensed operators can be escalated to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body approved by the Commission.
Offshore casinos — those licensed in jurisdictions such as Curaçao, Malta (outside the UKGC framework), Gibraltar or the Isle of Man under a non-UKGC licence — are not bound by these requirements when serving UK players. Protections vary by operator and jurisdiction. That does not mean they offer nothing: many reputable offshore sites have their own deposit limits, cooling-off tools and self-exclusion processes. But it does mean the regulatory safety net is thinner, and complaints have no automatic route to a UK-approved ADR body.
Understanding this distinction matters when deciding where to play and which tools to rely on. You can read more about the differences between offshore and UK-licensed options on our non-GamStop casinos guide.
Protecting younger people
All gambling on this site — and all operators listed here — is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. If children or teenagers have access to your devices, consider the following steps.
- Install parental control software such as Gamban or operating-system-level restrictions to block gambling sites on shared devices
- Use family accounts or supervision features on tablets and smartphones
- Keep payment cards and e-wallet login details private
- Have open conversations about gambling with young people, framing it accurately as a form of entertainment that costs money
The UKGC publishes guidance for parents at gamblingcommission.gov.uk, and GamCare runs a dedicated service for young people under 25 called GameAware.
Managing your finances around gambling
A straightforward way to keep gambling within comfortable limits is to treat it purely as an entertainment budget — the same way you would a cinema trip or a meal out.
- Set a fixed entertainment budget. Decide in advance what you are comfortable spending, not winning. If it is gone, the session ends.
- Use a separate payment method. A prepaid card loaded with only your budgeted amount creates a hard stop without relying on willpower alone.
- Never gamble with money earmarked for something else. Rent, bills, food and savings are not gambling funds, regardless of how confident you feel about a session.
- Track your actual net spend. Most people underestimate how much they have spent over a month. A simple note in your phone or a banking app's categorisation feature makes the real figure visible.
- Avoid gambling when you are stressed, tired or have been drinking. Decision-making quality drops significantly in all three states.
What to do if you need help now
If you feel your gambling is out of control, or you are worried about someone else, the most important step is to reach out. You do not need to have hit a crisis point — early intervention is far easier than waiting.
- Call the National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 — free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Use the live chat at gamcare.org.uk if you would rather not speak on the phone
- Register with GamStop at gamstop.co.uk to block access to all UKGC-licensed operators immediately
- Install Gamban or BetBlocker on every device you use to create a technical barrier to offshore sites as well
If you have concerns about our site or want to discuss anything on this page, you are welcome to get in touch with us directly. You can also review our terms and conditions for the full detail of how this site operates.