Responsible gambling in the UK: signs and support
Gambling is entertainment, not a way to earn money or a fix for money problems. If you are trying to win back losses, cover bills or borrow to keep playing, stop and get support rather than placing another bet. I’ve found that chasing a loss usually turns one bad session into a longer one.
Signs gambling may be becoming a problem
Look at what you are doing, not just how you feel. Warning signs include:
- spending more time or money gambling than you planned;
- raising your stakes to try to recover losses;
- hiding gambling or your spending from people close to you;
- borrowing, using money meant for bills, or selling things to gamble;
- feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut back;
- missing work, sleep or plans because you are gambling;
- returning to gambling after deciding to stop.
One sign is enough to pause and take action. You do not need to wait until debts build up or relationships are damaged.
Use the controls available
UK-licensed casinos must provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion. Remote operators must give new customers a prompt to set a financial limit before their first deposit and make account-level limit controls accessible. Check your account’s responsible gambling section for the available controls. Set a limit you can afford to lose, lower it if needed, or use self-exclusion to block your access.
If you need to act now, sign out, open the account’s responsible gambling controls and select the strongest restriction available to you. If you cannot find it, contact the operator through the help or support option in your account and ask for self-exclusion. You can also tell someone you trust what is happening and ask them to stay with you while you take these steps. Don’t deposit again while you are looking for help.
Where to turn
Start with the casino where you have an account: use its responsible gambling tools or contact its support team and ask how to self-exclude. UKGC-licensed casinos must provide these tools. If you have a complaint about how the operator handled your account or a gambling-related concern, use its internal complaints process. UKGC licensees must also provide access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service.
Check that a remote gambling site or app shows its licence details and links to its public register licence information. That gives you a way to check the operator’s licensing information. A licence is not a substitute for using the controls or seeking help.
No help organisation or service was verified for this page, so I can’t give you a named organisation, address or phone number. Don’t rely on an unverified number or search result when you need support.
Age and safer play
Operators must verify your age before allowing you to deposit into a gambling account. The age threshold is not specified here, so check the operator’s terms and the relevant licensing information before you play.
Some UK rules also limit how online slots work: autoplay is banned, a spin must last at least 2.5 seconds, and the maximum stake in a game cycle is £2 if you are under 25 or £5 if you are 25 or older. These safeguards do not make gambling risk-free. Take a break if you notice yourself ignoring limits, hiding play or trying to win money back.