Responsible Gambling
Gambling is meant to be entertaining. When it stops being that — when it feels like a need rather than a choice, or when it starts affecting your finances, relationships or mental health — there are tools and organisations that can help. This page sets out those tools clearly, explains how self-exclusion works (including beyond GAMSTOP), and covers the practical steps any player can take to keep gambling in check.
18+ only. If you are struggling with gambling, contact the BeGambleAware helpline free on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day.
What Responsible Gambling Actually Means
Responsible gambling is not a slogan — it is a set of practical habits and boundaries that keep gambling a leisure activity rather than a harmful one. It covers:
- Only gambling with money you can afford to lose
- Setting time and spending limits before you start
- Treating losses as the cost of entertainment, not chasing them
- Knowing the warning signs of problem gambling in yourself and others
- Using the self-exclusion and limit tools that operators provide
The fact that you are reading this page is a positive sign. Whether you are here out of curiosity, caution or concern, the information below is practical and non-judgmental.
Warning Signs Worth Knowing
Problem gambling does not always look dramatic. It can develop gradually. The following patterns are worth taking seriously:
- Spending more than you planned, regularly
- Gambling to recover losses from a previous session
- Feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down
- Hiding your gambling activity from people close to you
- Borrowing money or using savings intended for bills
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety or low mood
- Neglecting work, family or social commitments because of gambling
Experiencing one or two of these occasionally does not automatically indicate a problem, but a pattern of them is a signal to seek support.
Self-Exclusion in GB: How It Works
Self-exclusion is a formal request to be blocked from gambling with a specific operator, or a group of operators, for a set period. In Great Britain, the primary national scheme is GAMSTOP.
GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is the UK's free national self-exclusion service. Registering with it sends a single self-exclusion to all online gambling operators holding a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence. Once registered, you choose a minimum exclusion period of six months, one year or five years. During that period, participating operators are required to block your account and refuse new registrations.
To register, visit gamstop.co.uk. The process is free and takes a few minutes.
Self-Excluding from Non-GAMSTOP Sites
Sites that operate under non-UK licences are not required to participate in GAMSTOP. If you are using non-GAMSTOP casinos and want to exclude yourself from one or more of them, you need to contact each operator directly. Reputable non-GAMSTOP sites offer their own responsible gambling tools — deposit limits, session limits, cooling-off periods and voluntary self-exclusion — usually found in the account settings under a responsible gambling or player safety section.
The steps are broadly the same across operators:
- Log in to your account
- Navigate to the responsible gambling or account settings section
- Select self-exclusion or account closure
- Choose your exclusion period and confirm
- Keep a record of the confirmation you receive
If you cannot find these options or the operator does not respond promptly, contact their support team directly by live chat or email and request exclusion in writing.
Spending and Time Controls Available to Players
Self-exclusion is for when you want to stop entirely. If you want to keep playing but more carefully, most operators offer the following controls:
| Control Type | What It Does | Typical Options |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps how much you can deposit in a given period | Daily, weekly, monthly |
| Loss limit | Stops play once you have lost a set amount | Daily, weekly, monthly |
| Session time limit | Ends or warns you when you have been playing for a set duration | Hourly reminders or hard stops |
| Reality check | Displays how long you have been playing and how much you have wagered | Configurable intervals |
| Cooling-off period | Temporarily restricts your account without a full exclusion | 24 hours to several weeks |
| Self-exclusion | Closes access entirely for a defined minimum period | Six months to permanent |
Increasing a limit (for example, raising a deposit cap) typically requires a cooling-off period before taking effect. Decreasing a limit should take effect immediately. Check the specific operator's terms for the timings that apply.
Free Support Organisations in GB
You do not need to be in crisis to use these services. They offer confidential advice, counselling and practical help to anyone concerned about their own gambling or a loved one's.
- BeGambleAware — begambleaware.org | Helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7)
- GamCare — gamcare.org.uk | Counselling, online chat and a forum for peer support
- Gamblers Anonymous GB — gamblersanonymous.org.uk | In-person and online meetings using the 12-step programme
- GamFam — via GamCare | Support specifically for friends and family members affected by someone else's gambling
- National Gambling Helpline — 0808 8020 133 | Operated by GamCare, free from all UK landlines and mobiles
Keeping Your Finances Safe
Beyond operator-level controls, your bank can also help. Most major UK banks now offer gambling transaction blocks through their mobile apps. Enabling one prevents any payment to gambling merchants from your account — it works alongside, not instead of, operator self-exclusion.
Practical financial steps:
- Enable the gambling block on your debit and credit cards through your banking app
- Remove saved payment methods from gambling accounts you no longer want to use
- Set a separate monthly entertainment budget that includes any gambling spend
- Avoid using credit to fund gambling — losses become debt
For Anyone Concerned About Someone Else
If someone you care about is showing signs of problem gambling, GamCare's GamFam service and the National Gambling Helpline both support friends and family members as well as players. You cannot force someone to seek help, but having access to good information makes it easier to have a useful conversation at the right moment.
How to Choose to Stop Playing at a Non-GAMSTOP Casino
If you decide you no longer want to play at one or more of the sites listed on this site, the most reliable route is direct exclusion with each operator. Send a written request by email or live chat asking to close your account permanently and confirming you do not want marketing contact. Keep a copy of their response. If you encounter any difficulty, the site's contact page is available if you need to reach us, and the organisations listed above can assist with escalation where an operator is unresponsive.
You can also read more about how these sites are selected and assessed on our about us page.
A Note on Using This Site
Online Casino reviews and compares online casino sites for readers in GB who are looking for options outside the GAMSTOP scheme. We do not encourage anyone to bypass exclusions they have placed for personal safety reasons. If your GAMSTOP registration is active because gambling has caused you harm, the services listed on this page are a better starting point than a new casino account.
All content on this site is intended for adults aged 18 and over. Gambling involves financial risk. Please review our terms and conditions for more detail on how this site operates.