Responsible gambling

Independent help is available

GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day. You can seek support if you gamble yourself or are affected by someone else’s gambling.

Understand what gambling can cost

Gambling involves uncertain outcomes and the possibility of losing the money you use to play. It should never be treated as a dependable income, a way to meet essential expenses or a method of recovering a previous loss. A familiar operator, a large game catalogue or a quick payment method does not change that risk.

The cost can also involve time, attention and relationships. If gambling disrupts sleep, work, family responsibilities or other activities, the effect deserves attention even when spending appears manageable. A low deposit amount does not automatically mean an activity is harmless.

Bonus conditions can add pressure through deadlines and requirements. You do not need to accept a bonus, complete a reward or keep playing to justify money already spent. Stopping remains an option.

Signs that your gambling may be changing

Changes often become visible in everyday decisions. You might stay longer than intended, return immediately after losing, avoid looking at your balance or spend time planning how to find more money to play. Feeling that a win is necessary to make things right is a reason to pause.

• Spending more time or money than you originally planned.
• Borrowing, selling possessions or delaying bills to fund gambling.
• Hiding transactions or giving misleading explanations about spending.
• Increasing stakes after a loss or repeatedly changing your limits.
• Feeling distracted, distressed or unable to stop thinking about gambling.

These signs are not a diagnosis. They are reasons to consider support and practical restrictions. The NHS gambling support guide explains gambling-related harm and routes to treatment.

Set money and time boundaries

If you choose to gamble, decide in advance what you can afford to lose without affecting essential spending. Keep money for rent, bills, food, transport and financial commitments outside a gambling budget. Do not borrow or use someone else’s money to continue playing.

Set a finishing time as well as a spending limit. Account reminders or a separate alarm can help make the passage of time visible. When the planned session ends, avoid extending it because you are close to a reward or believe a different result is due.

Review the whole pattern across accounts, rather than considering each small deposit separately. A transaction history can show spending that is easy to overlook during individual sessions. If you repeatedly exceed your own boundaries, consider a break or a stronger restriction.

Know what each account control does

Different controls address different parts of an account. A deposit limit restricts money paid in during a defined period. It is not necessarily the same as a loss limit, and it does not directly restrict how much time you spend playing. Read the operator’s explanation before relying on a setting; our account controls overview explains what to check.

Other options may include spending controls, session reminders, transaction statements, temporary breaks, account closure and self-exclusion. Check when a change becomes effective, whether an increase is delayed and which accounts or products the restriction covers.

Keep confirmation of an important restriction. If the setting is difficult to find or its effect is unclear, ask the operator’s support team for a written explanation. Controls can help, but they should not be presented as a guarantee that further harm cannot occur.

Taking a break and self-exclusion

A temporary break can create time away from an account. Self-exclusion is a more formal request to restrict gambling access. Read the operator’s procedure, the period selected and the process for dealing with remaining funds. Ordinary account closure and self-exclusion should not be assumed to have identical effects.

If you have several accounts, check the coverage of each restriction. A shared brand group does not provide enough information on its own. Ask which legal business and accounts are included, and retain the response so you can refer to it later.

After choosing self-exclusion, do not test the restriction by trying to gamble or use comparison pages to find another route. Independent support, device restrictions and payment controls can help you maintain the decision.

Reduce payment access and promotional pressure

Ask your bank whether gambling payment controls are available and how they operate. Check their coverage and any delay before they can be removed. A payment control may not cover every route, so it should be considered alongside other restrictions rather than treated as complete protection.

You can also review saved payment details, app notifications and promotional subscriptions. Removing quick access can reduce opportunities for an impulsive decision. Follow the relevant service’s instructions and keep essential financial access separate from gambling accounts.

If debts or unpaid bills are involved, avoid trying to solve them through another session. Speak to an independent debt adviser or a support service that can explain appropriate next steps. A casino comparison cannot assess your financial circumstances.

Supporting someone close to you

Gambling can affect partners, relatives, friends and other people in a household. You can ask GamCare for support without having a complete record of the person’s gambling or waiting for them to seek help first. Describe what you have noticed and how it is affecting daily life.

If a conversation is appropriate, choose a calm time and focus on specific concerns, such as missed commitments or unexplained spending. Avoid promises to repay gambling losses as a way to make the problem disappear. Support services can help you consider boundaries and communication.

Your own wellbeing matters. If shared finances or personal safety are affected, seek individual advice rather than relying on one difficult conversation to resolve everything.

Children and young people

This website is for adults aged 18 or over. Do not allow children to use an adult gambling account or payment method. On shared devices, review saved passwords, payment access, parental controls and app permissions. Keep account credentials private.

If you discover that a young person has accessed an account, contact the business through its verified support channel and secure the relevant devices and payment methods. Explain that promotional images and game-like features do not remove the risk of losing money. Seek appropriate support if the situation is difficult to manage.

Where to find support

Check each organisation’s current service information, contact options and geographic coverage. You do not have to know which type of support is right before making an initial enquiry.

Common questions