Responsible Gambling
Gambling involves financial risk. This page contains practical information on safer gambling and where to get help.
Online gambling is only legal for adults aged 18 and over in the United Kingdom. Operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are required to verify the age of all customers before allowing any real-money gambling.
Gambling involves risk
Online casino games are designed so that the operator holds a statistical advantage over time. This means that, across enough play, most players will lose more than they win. Gambling should be approached as a form of entertainment, not as a way to make money or solve financial problems.
Before gambling online, decide in advance how much time and money you are prepared to spend, and treat both as the cost of entertainment rather than as an investment.
Signs that gambling may be a problem
Gambling can become harmful when it starts to affect other areas of life. Some signs to be aware of include:
- Spending more than you intended, or more than you can afford
- Gambling to recover previous losses
- Lying about how much time or money you spend on gambling
- Neglecting work, relationships, or responsibilities because of gambling
- Feeling anxious, irritable, or unable to stop when you try to cut down
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
If any of these apply to you, speaking to a support organisation is a positive step. All the services below are free and confidential.
UK safer gambling resources
GAMSTOP — gamstop.co.uk
GAMSTOP is the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling in the UK. Registering with GAMSTOP blocks you from all online gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It is free, quick to set up, and covers all licensed UK operators.
GamCare — gamcare.org.uk
GamCare is the UK's leading provider of free information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm. The National Gambling Helpline is operated by GamCare and is available on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
GambleAware — gambleaware.org
GambleAware commissions research, education, and treatment services to reduce gambling harm. The website includes tools to assess your own gambling habits and to find local support services.
UK Gambling Commission — gamblingcommission.gov.uk
The UKGC is the government body that licences and regulates commercial gambling in Great Britain. Their website includes information about licensed operators, how to check if a site is licenced, and how to report unlicensed gambling.
Tools operators must provide
All operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are required to offer customers tools to manage their gambling. These include:
- Deposit limits — set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month
- Time limits — set a limit on how long a single session can last
- Cooling-off periods — temporarily pause your account for a chosen period
- Self-exclusion — close your account for a minimum of six months
- Reality checks — on-screen reminders during play showing time spent
These tools are available in the account section of every licensed UK operator. Increasing a limit requires a cooling-off period; decreasing one takes effect immediately.
Protecting young people
If you share devices with children or young people, consider using parental control software to block access to gambling websites. Organisations including GamCare and the UKGC provide guidance on filtering tools for this purpose.
If you believe someone under 18 is accessing gambling sites, you should contact the operator directly and report the matter to the UKGC.