Responsible Gambling
Gambling should be entertainment — never a way to make money, escape problems, or recover losses. This page collects the free tools and support services available to every player in Great Britain, and explains how to use them. If gambling has stopped being fun for you or someone close to you, help is free, confidential, and available right now.
Need help now? Call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 — free, confidential, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (run by GamCare). Or visit BeGambleAware.org.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Ask yourself honestly whether any of these apply:
- You gamble with money you need for bills, rent, or food.
- You chase losses — depositing again to "win back" what you lost.
- You hide your gambling from family or friends.
- You feel anxious, irritable, or low when you try to stop.
- You borrow money or sell possessions to gamble.
- Gambling is affecting your work, studies, or relationships.
If even one of these sounds familiar, please consider using the tools below and speaking to one of the support services listed at the bottom of this page.
GAMSTOP — National Self-Exclusion
GAMSTOP is the UK's free national self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks you from every online gambling site licensed by the UK Gambling Commission — including every casino listed on this website. You choose the exclusion period: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. The exclusion cannot be cancelled early.
Registration takes about five minutes at gamstop.co.uk. All you need is your date of birth, postcode, and email address.
Tools at Every UKGC-Licensed Casino
Every casino we list is legally required to offer these tools. You will usually find them under "Responsible Gambling", "Safer Gambling", or in your account settings:
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Cap how much you can deposit per day, week, or month. Decreases apply immediately; increases require a cooling-off period. |
| Loss limits | Cap your net losses over a set period. |
| Session limits | Limit how long you can stay logged in. |
| Reality checks | Timed pop-ups showing how long you have been playing and your net position. |
| Time-out | A short break — usually 24 hours to 6 weeks — during which you cannot log in. |
| Self-exclusion (site-level) | Block yourself from a single casino for at least 6 months, separate from GAMSTOP. |
Our advice: set a deposit limit before your first deposit, not after.
Bank Gambling Blocks
Most major UK banks — including Barclays, Monzo, Starling, Lloyds, Halifax, NatWest, and HSBC — offer a free gambling block in their banking app. Once enabled, the bank declines gambling-coded payments, including Trustly deposits to casinos. Most blocks include a cooling-off period (often 48–72 hours) before they can be turned off, which protects you from impulsive decisions.
Blocking software such as Gamban can additionally block gambling sites and apps on your devices; free access is available through TalkBanStop in partnership with GamCare.
Under 18s
Gambling under the age of 18 is illegal in the UK. All UKGC-licensed casinos must verify age and identity before allowing play. This website is intended for adults aged 18 and over only. If you are concerned about a young person's gambling, BigDeal (run by GamCare) offers dedicated support for young people.
Free Support Services
| Service | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) | Free, confidential advice and counselling, 24/7 | 0808 8020 133 · gamcare.org.uk |
| GambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools, and treatment referrals | begambleaware.org |
| GAMSTOP | Free national online self-exclusion | gamstop.co.uk |
| Gambling Therapy | Global online support and forums | gamblingtherapy.org |
| Gamblers Anonymous UK | Peer support meetings across the UK | gamblersanonymous.org.uk |
Gambling should be entertaining. If it stops being that, please seek help — it is free and confidential.