Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not a way to make money, and it should never be used to solve financial problems or to escape worries. Safer gambling help is free and confidential, and the services are listed above.
Talking to someone early makes a difference. You do not have to be in a crisis to call a helpline, and you do not need to have lost a particular amount. Asking a question, or just describing how your play has been going, is reason enough.
Warning signs
Gambling may be becoming a problem when you notice any of these:
- You spend more money or time than you planned, or than you can afford.
- You try to win back what you have lost.
- You hide your gambling from family or friends, or feel defensive when it comes up.
- You run up debts, or put off bills, to pay for gambling.
- You feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down.
- Gambling affects your sleep, your work or your relationships.
If you recognise some of these, stop and take a break before you play again. Talk to a free helpline such as GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, or to someone you trust. Using the tools below helps, but they work alongside support from a person.
Tools to stay in control
Every UK-licensed operator must offer deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion. A deposit limit caps how much you can add to your account over a day, week or month. A reality check shows you how long you have been playing. A time-out locks you out for a short period you choose, and self-exclusion closes your access for a longer one. You can set these in your account or ask the operator's support team to do it.
GAMSTOP is a free service that blocks you from all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. Register once, choose how long the block lasts, and every licensed operator must refuse your account.
Outside the casino, many banks let you block gambling payments in their app, and you can install blocking software on your phone or computer to stop gambling sites from loading. These add a layer that does not depend on a decision made in the moment.
If someone close to you is affected
Pick a calm moment to talk, and start with how you feel and what you have noticed rather than blame. Listen more than you advise. Support services help families and friends as well as the person gambling, and GamCare can talk through what you are facing and where to go next.