Responsible Gambling
Gambling is a paid form of entertainment, and the cost should be one you can absorb without it touching rent, bills or savings. This page explains how to keep play under control, which tools are available in the UK, and where to get free help if gambling stops being enjoyable. It applies to anyone aged 18 or over; gambling under 18 is illegal.
Ground Rules for Staying in Control
- Decide on a budget before you start and treat it as spent.
- Set a time limit as well as a money limit.
- Never chase losses. A losing session ends when the budget does.
- Do not gamble when stressed, upset or after drinking.
- Keep gambling money separate from money for essentials.
Warning Signs
Problems rarely start suddenly. These signs suggest that gambling is taking more than it gives:
- spending more time or money than planned, and doing so often;
- borrowing, selling things or using credit to keep playing;
- hiding gambling from family or friends;
- feeling restless or irritable when trying to cut down;
- gambling to escape worries or to win back earlier losses.
Recognising two or more of these is a good reason to use the tools below or to speak to an adviser.
Tools That Limit Gambling
| Tool | What it does | Where it works |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit, loss and time limits | Cap what you can spend or how long you can play | Inside one casino account |
| Time-out or account closure | Locks one account for a set period or for good | Inside one casino account |
| GamStop | Blocks registration and login at every site on the register | All online sites licensed in Great Britain |
| Gamban and BetBlocker | Keep gambling websites and apps from opening on a device | Any site, whatever its licence |
| Bank gambling block | Refuses card payments to betting and casino companies | Any merchant coded as gambling |
GamStop is the widest single step for UK-licensed sites. The page on what GamStop is explains registration and coverage. An exclusion cannot be ended early, and the article about bypassing GamStop describes what happens when the period is over.
Casinos Outside GamStop
The non GamStop casinos described on this site are licensed in other countries and are not connected to the GamStop register. Limits at these casinos are set account by account, and the national block has no effect there. People who have self-excluded, or who recognise the warning signs above, should not use them. Blocking software and a bank gambling block are the tools that cover these sites.
Helping Someone Else
Relatives and friends usually notice a problem before the person gambling admits it. Raising it works best at a calm moment and without blame: describe what you have seen, say how it affects you, and ask what would help. Avoid lending money or paying off gambling debts, since that tends to postpone the decision to stop. Advisers on the helpline below also speak to family members.
Keeping Under-18s Away From Gambling
Do not leave casino accounts logged in on shared devices, and do not save card details in a browser that children use. Parental controls on phones, tablets and the home router can filter gambling sites, and blocking software can be installed on a child’s device as well.
Where to Get Help
- National Gambling Helpline (GamCare): 0808 8020 133, free, 24 hours a day. Advice by phone and live chat, and referral to counselling.
- NHS gambling clinics: specialist treatment available through a GP or by self-referral.
- Gamblers Anonymous UK: peer support meetings held in person and online.
- Gordon Moody: residential treatment and online support for severe gambling problems.
- GamAnon: support for partners, relatives and friends affected by someone else's gambling.
All of these services are confidential and free to use. Contacting one of them does not require a crisis; a single conversation is often enough to decide on the next step.