Responsible Gambling
Gambling should always be treated as a form of entertainment, never as a way to make money. Learn how to stay in control.
Need Help Right Now?
If you feel you have lost control of your gambling, free and confidential help is available 24/7.
The Golden Rules of Safe Gambling
- Treat gambling as an entertainment expense, just like buying a cinema ticket or going out for dinner.
- Never gamble with money you need for rent, bills, or daily living expenses.
- Set a budget in advance and stick to it. Once it's gone, stop playing.
- Set a time limit for your sessions. It's easy to lose track of time when playing online.
- Never chase your losses. Trying to win back money you've lost usually leads to bigger losses.
- Don't gamble when you're upset, stressed, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Tools to Help You Stay in Control
All UKGC-licensed casinos are legally required to provide tools to help you manage your gambling. We strongly recommend setting these up before you start playing:
Deposit Limits
Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month. Once reached, the casino will block further deposits until the period resets.
Reality Checks
A pop-up reminder that appears at set intervals (e.g., every 30 minutes) to tell you how long you've been playing and how much you've won/lost.
Time-Outs
A short-term block on your account, ranging from 24 hours to 6 weeks. You will not be able to log in during this time.
Self-Exclusion
A formal process to block yourself from a casino for a minimum of 6 months. The casino is legally required to prevent you from playing.
GAMSTOP: National Self-Exclusion
If you want to block yourself from all licensed UK online casinos at once, you should use GAMSTOP. It is a free service that lets you put controls in place to restrict your online gambling activities.
Once registered, you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain, for a period of your choosing (6 months, 1 year, or 5 years).
Protecting Minors
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble in the UK. If you share your devices with children, we recommend using parental control software like NetNanny or CyberPatrol to block access to gambling sites.