Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be an enjoyable pastime, but for some people it becomes harmful. This page sets out the practical tools, support services and self-exclusion options available to players in Great Britain — and how to use them if you need to.
18+ only. Gambling is for adults. If you are under 18, please leave this site now.
Recognising When Gambling Stops Being Fun
Most people gamble without any lasting problems. A smaller number find that their gambling begins to affect their finances, relationships or mental health. The earlier those signs are spotted, the easier it is to address them.
Common warning signs include:
- Spending more than you planned or can afford
- Chasing losses — betting more to try to win back money already lost
- Hiding gambling activity from friends or family
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Feeling anxious, irritable or preoccupied when not gambling
- Gambling to escape stress, low mood or other problems
- Neglecting work, study or family commitments because of gambling
Recognising one or more of these in yourself does not mean you have a severe problem — but it is a reason to pause and consider the tools and support below.
Practical Tools to Stay in Control
Whether you use a UK Gambling Commission-licensed site or an offshore operator, a range of tools exist to help you manage your play. Use them proactively — they work best before a problem escalates.
Deposit Limits
Most online casinos allow you to set daily, weekly or monthly deposit caps. Once set, a responsible operator will not allow you to exceed that amount. Requests to lower a limit should take effect immediately; requests to raise one are typically subject to a cooling-off period.
Session and Reality Checks
Session time limits and on-screen reminders tell you how long you have been playing and how much you have wagered. These prompts are easy to dismiss in the moment, but they create a natural pause to reassess.
Loss Limits and Wager Limits
Separate from deposit caps, some operators let you set a ceiling on how much you can lose or wager in a given period. This can be a useful backstop if you tend to withdraw funds to gamble elsewhere after hitting a deposit limit.
Self-Exclusion
Self-exclusion closes your account for a defined period — typically from six months upwards — and prevents you from reopening it during that time. Details of the main self-exclusion routes available to UK players are in the section below.
Cooling-Off Periods and Account Breaks
A cooling-off or time-out option lets you take a short break — usually 24 hours to 30 days — without fully closing your account. It is a lower-stakes step that can still break a harmful pattern.
Self-Exclusion Options for UK Players
If you decide you want to stop gambling for a meaningful period, these are the main routes available in Great Britain.
GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme covering all operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Registering with GAMSTOP adds your details to a shared register: every participating operator is required to block your access for the period you choose — a minimum of six months, up to five years or indefinitely.
You can register at gamstop.co.uk. Exclusion applies across all UKGC-licensed online casinos and betting sites from a single registration. It does not cover land-based venues, lottery products or operators based outside the UK licensing framework.
Self-Excluding Directly with a Specific Operator
Each casino also runs its own self-exclusion process, independent of GAMSTOP. If you are registered with a site that is not covered by GAMSTOP, contact that operator's support team directly and request a self-exclusion. Reputable offshore casinos will honour this request and close your account for the period you specify.
Keep a record of your request — the date, the channel used and any confirmation you receive.
Blocking Software
Software tools such as Gamban, BetBlocker and Gamblock can be installed on your devices to block access to gambling sites at the network level. They operate independently of any individual operator and cover a broad range of domains. BetBlocker is free; others carry a small fee. Using one alongside a self-exclusion request adds a useful technical layer of protection.
Where to Get Support
Talking to someone is often the most effective step. The organisations below offer free, confidential support to anyone in Great Britain affected by gambling harm — whether that is the person gambling or someone close to them.
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, a 24/7 helpline and online chat for anyone affected by gambling harm | 0808 8020 133 · gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings across the UK, following a 12-step programme | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| GamAnon | Support for families and friends of people with a gambling problem | gamanon.org.uk |
| NHS Northern Gambling Service | Free specialist NHS treatment for gambling disorder in England | Via GP referral or self-referral at northerngamblingservice.nhs.uk |
| Gordon Moody | Residential and online treatment programmes for severe gambling harm | gordonmoody.org.uk |
All services are free and confidential. You do not need to be in crisis to reach out — early conversations are just as welcome.
Keeping Gambling in Perspective
A few straightforward habits make it easier to keep gambling recreational rather than compulsive.
- Set a budget before you start — decide the maximum you are prepared to lose and treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment.
- Never chase losses — if you have reached your limit, stop. Increasing stakes to recover losses is the single most common route into problem gambling.
- Keep time in check — set a time limit alongside a money limit. Hours pass quickly when playing online.
- Avoid gambling when emotional — stress, anxiety, grief or even euphoria impair judgement. These are the wrong states in which to make financial decisions.
- Treat bonuses as bonuses, not income — wagering requirements mean promotional offers carry conditions. Understand them before committing real money.
- Take regular breaks — step away from the screen, even briefly, to reassess whether you still want to continue.
How This Site Approaches Responsible Gambling
Online Casino reviews and compares online casino operators. We include responsible gambling considerations in how we assess the sites listed on this platform. Operators that offer meaningful player-protection tools — including deposit limits, session controls and direct self-exclusion — are viewed more favourably than those that do not. You can read more about our methodology on the main casino comparison page.
We earn commission when readers sign up to casinos through our links. That relationship does not change the information on this page, which is provided independently of any commercial arrangement. If you have a question about anything on this page, contact us directly.
Our terms and conditions set out in full how this site operates and what obligations follow for readers.
A Note on Non-GAMSTOP Casinos
Some of the operators listed on Online Casino are licensed outside the UK regulatory framework and are therefore not enrolled in GAMSTOP. If you have self-excluded via GAMSTOP and are considering playing at an offshore site, be aware that your GAMSTOP exclusion will not automatically apply there.
If you want to exclude yourself from a specific offshore operator, contact that site's support team and request self-exclusion directly. You can also use device-level blocking software — such as Gamban or BetBlocker — to restrict access across all gambling domains regardless of where a site is licensed.
If you are in a period of self-exclusion and finding it difficult, please contact GamCare on 0808 8020 133 before taking any further steps. Support is available around the clock and the call is free.
18+ only. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.