Responsible Gambling

Gambling should be entertainment, not a way to make money. The mathematical structure of every casino game gives the operator an edge over time, meaning that the longer you play, the more likely you are to lose. Every bonus and offer reviewed on this site is subject to terms that reflect this structure. This page sets out the tools, services and organisations that exist to help players in the United Kingdom gamble within their means, or stop altogether.

Recognising problem gambling

Problem gambling can develop gradually. The following behaviours may indicate that gambling has moved beyond entertainment:

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you planned or can afford
• Chasing losses by increasing stakes or playing longer to win back money already lost
• Borrowing money, selling possessions or using credit to fund gambling
• Feeling anxious, irritable or restless when not gambling or when trying to cut down
• Hiding the amount of time or money spent gambling from family or friends
• Neglecting work, studies, relationships or personal care because of gambling
• Gambling to escape stress, low mood or other problems rather than for enjoyment
• Returning to gamble after a period of abstinence despite intending to stop

If any of these apply to you, the organisations listed below offer free, confidential support.

UK support services

National Gambling Helpline

Phone: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Operated by GamCare, the helpline offers confidential advice, information and emotional support to anyone affected by gambling. You can also use the GamCare live chat.

BeGambleAware

Website: gambleaware.org. BeGambleAware provides information, advice and access to free treatment for anyone experiencing harm from gambling. Its treatment directory connects you with local services including counselling, group support and residential programmes funded by the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.

GamCare

Website: gamcare.org.uk. GamCare provides counselling, group therapy and an online forum for anyone affected by gambling, including family members and friends. Treatment is free and confidential.

Gamblers Anonymous

Website: gamblersanonymous.org.uk. Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings across the United Kingdom, both in-person and online. Meetings follow a 12-step programme and are free to attend. Gam-Anon provides parallel meetings for family and friends.

Gordon Moody

Website: gordonmoody.org.uk. Gordon Moody offers residential treatment, online therapy programmes and relapse-prevention support for people with severe gambling problems. Its residential programme is one of the few in the UK and admission is free.

Self-exclusion tools

GamStop

Website: gamstop.co.uk. GamStop is the national online self-exclusion scheme. When you register, all Gambling Commission-licensed online operators are required to prevent you from gambling with them for a period you choose: six months, one year or five years. Registration is free and takes effect within 24 hours. GamStop applies only to online operators licensed in Great Britain; it does not cover retail premises, the National Lottery, or offshore casinos that are not licensed by the Gambling Commission.

MOSES (Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme)

MOSES covers land-based gambling venues. You can self-exclude from all licensed betting shops, adult gaming centres and bingo halls in your local area. Ask at any participating venue for a MOSES form, or contact the gambling operator’s responsible gambling team.

Operator-level tools

Every Gambling Commission-licensed operator must offer the following tools directly in your account:

• Deposit limits: set a maximum daily, weekly or monthly amount you can deposit
• Loss limits: set a maximum you are willing to lose in a given period
• Session time limits: set a maximum duration for any single gambling session
• Reality checks: receive an on-screen reminder of how long you have been playing and how much you have spent
• Cool-off periods: temporarily suspend your account for 24 hours, 48 hours, one week or one month
• Self-exclusion: close your account with that operator for at least six months

These tools are available in the “Responsible gambling”, “Safer gambling” or “My account” section of every UK-licensed casino. If you cannot find them, contact the operator’s customer support.

Blocking software

Gamban is software that blocks access to gambling websites and apps across all your devices: phones, tablets and computers. It works alongside GamStop: where GamStop prevents operators from accepting your bets, Gamban prevents your device from loading gambling sites in the first place, including offshore sites that GamStop does not cover. Licences are available free of charge through the BeGambleAware treatment pathway.

Offshore casinos and responsible gambling

Casinos that are not licensed by the Gambling Commission (including the non-GamStop sites covered in our non-GamStop section) are not required to offer GamStop integration, deposit limits, affordability checks or UK ADR. If you self-exclude through GamStop, offshore operators are not notified and are not obliged to block your account. The responsible-gambling tools available at offshore sites vary by operator and licence jurisdiction, and are generally less comprehensive than those mandated by UK regulation.

If you are considering or already using self-exclusion, we strongly recommend pairing GamStop with Gamban to cover both UK-licensed and offshore sites.

For someone you know

If someone close to you has a gambling problem, support is available for you too. GamCare offers advice and counselling for family and friends, and Gam-Anon runs meetings specifically for people affected by someone else’s gambling. The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is also available to anyone affected, not only to the person gambling.

Our commitment

Every page on this site includes a link to BeGambleAware and GamStop. Where we describe offers or compare casinos, we state the terms honestly, including the mathematical expectation, which shows the long-run cost of play. We do not use language that suggests gambling is a reliable way to make money, and we do not target our content at people under 18. If you believe any content on this site falls short of these standards, please contact us.