Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be an enjoyable pastime, but it carries real risks — particularly for anyone who finds it hard to set limits or stop when they want to. This page sets out the practical tools, support organisations and self-exclusion options available to players in Great Britain, including those using non-Gamstop casino sites that operate outside the UK Gambling Commission's licensing framework.
18+ only. Gambling should always be a leisure activity funded from disposable income, never a way to recover losses or solve financial problems.
Recognising a Problem Before It Grows
Problem gambling rarely starts with a single dramatic moment. It tends to develop gradually, which is why early awareness matters. Common warning signs include:
- Spending more than you intended, or chasing losses to get even
- Lying to friends or family about how much time or money you spend gambling
- Gambling with money set aside for bills, rent or essential costs
- Feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling
- Repeatedly trying to cut back but finding you cannot
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
If any of these feel familiar, the organisations listed below offer free, confidential support — no referral needed.
Free Support and Helplines in Great Britain
Several established organisations provide free help to anyone affected by gambling-related harm, including friends and family members:
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, online chat, forums and the National Gambling Helpline | 0808 8020 133 (24/7, freephone) |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support groups across the UK, based on a 12-step programme | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| GamAnon | Support for family members and friends of people with gambling problems | gamanon.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Advice, self-assessment tools and referrals to local treatment services | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment, online therapy and recovery courses | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| NHS Northern Gambling Service | Free NHS specialist treatment for gambling disorder in England | Via GP referral or self-referral at nhs.uk |
All of these services are confidential. You do not need to have reached a crisis point to use them — early conversations are often the most effective.
Self-Exclusion: What It Is and How It Works
Self-exclusion is a formal request to a gambling operator to block your account and refuse service for a set period. It is one of the most effective tools available when you want to put distance between yourself and gambling.
GAMSTOP — the UK national scheme
GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion service that covers all gambling operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Registering with GAMSTOP instructs every participating operator to close or suspend your accounts and block you from opening new ones, for a minimum of six months and up to five years.
To register, visit gamstop.co.uk and follow the online process. You will need a valid email address and the personal details that match your casino accounts. Exclusion takes effect quickly, but there can be a short processing window — avoid gambling during that period.
Self-excluding from non-Gamstop casinos
Casinos that are not UKGC-licensed are not connected to the GAMSTOP system, so registering with GAMSTOP does not automatically block access to them. If you want to exclude from these sites as well, you need to contact each one directly.
Most reputable operators — including those listed on this site — provide a responsible gambling or account-management section where you can request a self-exclusion, a cooling-off period, deposit limits or a full account closure. Steps typically look like this:
- Log in to your account and go to the Responsible Gambling or Account Settings section.
- Select self-exclusion or account closure and choose a duration.
- Confirm the request — most operators ask for email confirmation.
- Keep the confirmation email as a record.
- If you cannot find the option, contact the site's support team directly and request exclusion in writing.
If an operator refuses to honour a self-exclusion request, do not deposit. Consider using a blocking tool (see below) and contacting their licensing authority for the jurisdiction in which they hold their licence.
Blocking Software
Blocking tools work at the device or network level and can stop gambling sites from loading entirely, regardless of which licence a casino holds. They are a practical layer of protection alongside formal self-exclusion:
- Gamban — blocks thousands of gambling sites and apps across all your devices. Available as a paid subscription at gamban.com. GamCare can sometimes provide free access.
- BetBlocker — free, multi-device blocking tool covering a wide range of gambling sites. Available at betblocker.org.
- NetNanny / Bark — general parental-control tools that can be configured to block gambling categories, useful for protecting shared household devices.
Setting Limits Before You Need To
You do not have to be in difficulty to use responsible gambling tools. Setting limits in advance is the most straightforward way to stay in control, and most online casinos allow you to do this directly from your account:
- Deposit limits — cap how much you can add to your account daily, weekly or monthly.
- Loss limits — set a ceiling on net losses over a given period.
- Session time limits — restrict how long you can play in a single sitting.
- Reality checks — pop-up reminders that tell you how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost.
- Cool-off periods — a short-term break, typically 24 hours to 30 days, without full self-exclusion.
Limits that reduce your ability to gamble take effect immediately. Requests to increase a limit are usually subject to a short waiting period — a deliberate friction that gives you time to reconsider.
Gambling and Financial Wellbeing
Problem gambling and financial difficulty frequently overlap. If gambling has affected your finances, free debt advice is available from:
- StepChange — stepchange.org or 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline — nationaldebtline.org or 0808 808 4000
- Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk (in-person and online)
These services are independent of gambling operators and can help you build a budget, negotiate with creditors and prioritise essential spending.
Keeping Gambling in Perspective
Most people who gamble do so without lasting harm, but the risk increases when gambling becomes a way to manage stress, boredom or difficult emotions. A few practical habits help keep it a leisure activity:
- Decide on a budget before you start and treat losses as the cost of entertainment, not money to be recovered.
- Never gamble while under the influence of alcohol or when you are feeling low or anxious.
- Take regular breaks — step away from the screen, even if you are winning.
- Keep gambling separate from socialising or other activities where peer pressure can distort decisions.
- Check your account statements periodically so you have an accurate picture of what you spend.
How to Reach Us
If you have a question about the responsible gambling information on this page, or about the casinos we have reviewed, you can reach the team via our contact page. For editorial queries or concerns about our reviews, see our about us page. All site use is subject to our terms and conditions.
If you are in immediate distress, please contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day) rather than waiting for an email reply.