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Safer gambling guide
Gambling is entertainment with a price. It is never a way to make money, solve a money problem or win back a loss. Here’s how to stay in control, how to spot when control is slipping, and where to get free, confidential help in the UK.
Strictly 18 or over. It is a criminal offence for anyone under 18 to gamble in Great Britain. If you are under 18, please leave this website.
Free, confidential, 24 hours
Need help now?
You don’t need to be in crisis to call. Nothing you say is shared with any casino.
National Gambling Helpline
Free and open 24 hours, every day.
0808 8020 133BeGambleAware
Confidential advice, live chat and a self-assessment tool.
begambleaware.orgGAMSTOP
Block yourself from every UK-licensed online operator in one go.
gamstop.co.ukGamblers Anonymous UK
Peer support through local and online meetings.
gamblersanonymous.org.ukTen rules worth keeping
- Set a deposit limit before your first deposit, not after.
- Decide what you can afford to spend before you start. When it’s gone, stop.
- Never chase losses. The next spin doesn’t know about the last one.
- Never gamble with borrowed money.
- Set a time limit as well as a money limit, and switch on reality checks.
- Don’t gamble to escape stress, low mood, loneliness or boredom.
- Don’t gamble when drinking, tired or upset.
- Keep it in the open. Hiding it is a warning sign in itself.
- Take real breaks — time-outs last from a day to six weeks.
- Understand the maths: every casino game has a house edge, and no system beats it.
Warning signs
Gambling harm builds slowly. Any one of these is worth acting on today:
- spending more, or for longer, than you meant to;
- going back to win back money you’ve lost;
- borrowing, selling things or missing bills to fund it;
- lying about how much time or money is involved;
- feeling restless or irritable when you can’t gamble;
- gambling to cope with stress, guilt or low mood;
- arguments at home, or work and relationships suffering.
If you recognise several of these, call 0808 8020 133. It’s free, confidential and open now.
Tools every UK-licensed casino must give you
| Tool | What it does | How fast |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Caps what you can pay in each day, week or month. | Lowering is immediate; raising waits through a cooling-off period. |
| Loss limits | Caps your net losses over a period — stricter than a deposit cap. | Immediate when lowered. |
| Reality checks | On-screen reminders of time played and your position. | Immediate. Try every 30 or 60 minutes. |
| Time-out | Locks your account for 24 hours up to 6 weeks. | Immediate and can’t be lifted early. |
| Self-exclusion | Closes your account with that operator for at least 6 months. | Immediate and can’t be reversed during the term. |
| GAMSTOP | Blocks you from every online operator licensed in Great Britain. | For 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. |
Online slots also have built-in protections in Great Britain: stakes are capped at £5 a spin (£2 if you’re 18–24), there’s no autoplay, spins can’t be sped up, and the game must show your net position and how long you’ve played.
Protecting children
Nobody under 18 may gamble in Great Britain. If children use your devices, use parental controls or filtering software, give them their own user account, keep payment details out of shared browsers, and never leave a casino account signed in.
Worried about someone else?
Help exists for you too. GamAnon UK supports family and friends, and the National Gambling Helpline advises concerned relatives as well as gamblers. Don’t take on their debts, and don’t try to manage it alone.
If a casino lets you down
Complain to the casino first. If it isn’t resolved within eight weeks, take it free of charge to the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider the casino must name on its website. You can also report concerns to the Gambling Commission.