Responsible Gambling in the UK: Staying in Control and Where to Get Help

Signs gambling is becoming a problem

Problem gambling rarely arrives overnight. These are the patterns support services hear about most often.

• Spending more money or time than you planned, or chasing losses to win them back.
• Borrowing, or using money meant for rent, bills or food.
• Hiding how much you gamble from a partner, family or friends.
• Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling.
• Gambling to escape stress, boredom or other problems.

If any of these sound familiar, talk to someone now rather than later. The helpline below is free and you do not have to give your name.

Safer gambling tools on every UK-licensed site

Every operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must offer these. You will usually find them under “Safer gambling” or “Responsible gambling” in your account settings.

• Deposit limits. Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap. Lowering a limit takes effect straight away; raising it only happens after a cooling-off period.
• Reality checks. On-screen reminders of how long you have been playing and what you have spent.
• Time-outs. Lock your account for a short break, from a day up to six weeks.
• Self-exclusion. Close your account with that operator for at least six months.
• Account history. A full record of your deposits, bets and withdrawals, so you can see where the money went.

Block every UK gambling site at once with GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is free and covers every online casino, betting and bingo site licensed in Great Britain. You choose six months, one year or five years, and the block cannot be lifted early. Sign up at gamstop.co.uk.

For high-street venues, MOSES covers betting shops and SENSE covers land-based casinos. Both work the same way: one request, many venues.

Block gambling payments and websites

• Bank blocks. Most UK banks and card providers let you block gambling transactions in their app. Some make you wait before you can switch the block off again, which is the point.
• Blocking software. Tools such as BetBlocker (free) and Gamban stop gambling sites and apps loading on your phone and computer.

Free, confidential help in the UK

• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133. Run by GamCare, free, and open 24 hours a day, every day. Live chat is available at gamcare.org.uk.
• NHS gambling clinics. The NHS runs specialist gambling treatment services, and you can refer yourself. Search “gambling” on nhs.uk to find the nearest one.
• Gamblers Anonymous. Free peer-support meetings across the country, in person and online, at gamblersanonymous.org.uk.

If someone close to you gambles

The National Gambling Helpline also supports partners, parents and friends. Gam-Anon runs meetings for families affected by someone else’s gambling: gamanon.org.uk.

Rules that protect UK players

• You must be 18 or over, and sites must check your age and identity before you can deposit or play.
• Credit cards cannot be used to gamble.
• Online slots have a maximum stake of £5 a spin, or £2 if you are 18 to 24.
• Wagering on casino bonuses is capped at 10x.

Read more in our UK gambling hub, which explains how to check that a site holds a UK Gambling Commission licence.

How aGamble handles safer gambling

We only list sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and we never feature sites that sit outside GAMSTOP. Our reviews spell out wagering, withdrawal limits and the terms that catch people out, so you know what you are signing up to before you deposit.