Responsible Gambling

Gambling should be entertainment, not a source of income or a way to solve financial problems. If it stops being fun — or if you find yourself spending more time or money than you intended — there are straightforward steps you can take.

Self-exclusion with GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is the UK's free national self-exclusion scheme. Registering blocks you from all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites for a period you choose: six months, one year, or five years. It covers every licensed operator, not just ones you have accounts with. Registration takes a few minutes at gamstop.co.uk.

Tools available at operators

Every UKGC-licensed operator must provide:

• Deposit limits — daily, weekly, or monthly caps on how much you can deposit.
• Session time reminders — alerts after a set period of play.
• Cool-off periods — temporary breaks from your account (24 hours, a week, a month).
• Reality checks — pop-ups showing how long you have been playing and your net position.
• Account closure — you can close your account permanently at any time.

Support organisations

Signs that gambling may be a problem

• Spending more than you can afford to lose.
• Chasing losses — betting more to recover previous losses.
• Borrowing money to gamble.
• Neglecting responsibilities, work, or relationships because of gambling.
• Feeling anxious, irritable, or restless when not gambling.

If any of these apply, reaching out to GamCare or registering with GAMSTOP is a concrete, immediate step you can take.