Safer gambling
Responsible Gambling
Gambling should be an occasional leisure activity, not a financial strategy or a way to manage stress. Free help is available if it becomes a problem.
Gambling is for adults only
All gambling activity in the UK is restricted to adults aged 18 and over. Any casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission is required to verify the age of all customers. Underage gambling is illegal. If you are under 18, please leave.
What responsible gambling means in practice
Responsible gambling means only spending money you can afford to lose, treating gambling as entertainment rather than a source of income, and staying in control of how much time and money you spend. Gambling outcomes are random — there is no strategy, system, or pattern that reliably produces winnings. Any session can result in a loss.
UK-licensed casinos are required to provide tools that help players manage their gambling. These typically include deposit limits, time limits, session reminders, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion. Using these tools is a sign of awareness, not weakness.
Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem
Gambling harm can affect anyone, regardless of how experienced they are or how much they spend. Some signs to be aware of include:
- Gambling beyond what you planned to spend
- Chasing losses by placing further bets
- Borrowing money to gamble
- Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities
- Feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling
- Lying about the amount you gamble
- Gambling to escape problems or manage low mood
If any of these apply to you, support is available at no cost and in complete confidence. You do not need to have reached a crisis point to ask for help.
UK support and self-exclusion resources
GambleAware
The national charity for gambling harm reduction. GambleAware funds research, education, and treatment, and can refer you to free local support services.
GamCare
Provides a free National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133), online chat, and counselling. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
GAMSTOP
A free national self-exclusion scheme. Registering with GAMSTOP blocks your access to all licensed UK online gambling sites for a minimum of six months.
UK Gambling Commission
The independent regulator for commercial gambling in Great Britain. Sets the standards that all licensed UK operators must follow.
Tools available at licensed UK casinos
UK Gambling Commission licensees are required to offer players a range of responsible gambling tools. These include:
Deposit limits
Set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on deposits
Session time limits
Cap the amount of time per gambling session
Reality checks
On-screen reminders of time and money spent
Cooling-off periods
Temporary pause on gambling for days or weeks
Self-exclusion
Block yourself from one site for a set period
GAMSTOP exclusion
Block yourself from all licensed UK sites at once