Gambling is for adults aged 18 and over, and it always involves financial risk. Whatever the terms of a promotion or offer, gambling should never be used as a means of earning money or as a means of solving financial difficulties.
If you're worried about your own gambling or someone else's, support is available immediately and it's free. Call the National Gambling Helpline 24 hours a day, every day on 0808 8020 133. Alternatively, there are independent support services available at GamCare, GAMSTOP and GambleAware.
Responsible gambling comes down to staying within limits you've set for yourself, both financially and in terms of time, and playing games for fun and entertainment, not as a source of income.
Patterns that tend to emerge when gambling becomes more difficult to control include chasing losses, borrowing money to fund gambling, gambling with money needed for essentials, hiding gambling activity, increasing stakes over time, spending more time than intended, missing responsibilities, and feeling unable to stop.
Set a budget you can truly afford to lose and take it as a firm limit. Pre-plan the duration of your playing time and set a reminder or alarm. Most licensed operators also offer deposit limits.
Most licensed operators offer deposit limits, time and session reminders, reality checks, account history, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion. These tools should be used proactively, not just when a gambling issue has arisen.
Self-exclusion at the operator level lets you stop gambling with a particular operator for a period you choose. For broader exclusion across multiple platforms, GAMSTOP covers online gambling in Great Britain.
GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion service that blocks access to all participating GB-licensed online gambling sites through one registration. Read the official GAMSTOP information directly before enrolling.
Some banks and financial providers offer gambling transaction blocks. The UK Gambling Commission provides further guidance on tools like this.
Support is available from GamCare, the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133), GAMSTOP, NHS gambling support resources and GambleAware.
If someone close to you is struggling with gambling, listening without judgement is a better starting point than confrontation. Help them see the value in specialist services, and consider getting help yourself.
Gambling products on this site and at MrQ are not intended for anyone under 18, in line with UK law. Parents and guardians can use parental control software to restrict access.
We don't encourage excessive gambling or present gambling as a way to make money. See our Editorial Policy for more on how we approach gambling content across the rest of the site.
The National Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 on 0808 8020 133. GamCare, GAMSTOP and GambleAware all offer free, confidential help.