Stay in control of your play
Gambling should remain a form of leisure — never a way to make money, cover bills or cope with stress. The tools and resources below help you keep it that way.
Recognise the warning signs
The vast majority of UK players gamble without coming to harm. For a small minority, however, it can become problematic. Spotting the early signals is the most reliable way to stay in control.
- Chasing losses — staking more in an attempt to win back what you have already lost.
- Borrowing money to gamble, or gambling money you cannot afford to lose.
- Hiding the time or money spent gambling from family, friends or partners.
- Feeling restless, anxious or irritable when you try to cut back or stop.
- Gambling to escape low mood, loneliness or other emotional difficulties.
If any of those resonate, please reach out to one of the free, confidential support services listed below. Help is available 24/7.
Tools you can use right now
Every UKGC-licensed casino is legally required to offer a suite of responsible-gambling tools. Take five minutes to set them up before your first session — they cost nothing and they work.
Deposit limits
Cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month. The limit is enforced by the operator and changes upward take 24 hours to apply.
Session reminders
Get a pop-up after a chosen number of minutes that summarises how long you have been playing and what you are up or down.
Loss limits
Set a maximum amount you are willing to lose in a given period. Once hit, the operator stops you wagering until the window resets.
Time-outs
A short cool-off period — anything from 24 hours to six weeks — that locks you out of the operator while keeping the account open.
Self-exclusion
Block your account at a single operator for six months to five years. Once active, the lock cannot be removed before the period ends.
GamStop
Free national self-exclusion. One registration blocks every UKGC-licensed online gambling site for at least six months.
UK support organisations
If gambling is starting to feel like more than entertainment, please use any of the free, confidential services below. They are independent of casino operators and exist solely to help you.
- BeGambleAware — neutral information, advice, live chat and a network of treatment partners.
- GamCare — free counselling and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, available 24/7.
- GamStop — one-stop self-exclusion across every UKGC-licensed online operator.
- Gamblers Anonymous UK — peer-led recovery meetings across the country and online.
- National Gambling Helpline — 0808 8020 133. Free, confidential, 24/7.
Practical guardrails for everyday play
- Decide an entertainment budget before you open the casino — and stick to it like you would for the cinema.
- Never play with money set aside for rent, bills, food or savings.
- Use deposit and session-time limits even if you are confident you will not need them.
- If you are tired, upset, drunk or chasing losses, log out. Tomorrow is a better day to play.
- Talk to someone you trust. Hidden gambling is the riskiest gambling.
Underage gambling
Online gambling in the UK is restricted to adults aged 18 or over. If you share a computer or device with someone under 18, please use parental-control software such as Net Nanny or CyberPatrol to block gambling sites. Always sign out of operator accounts when you finish a session.