Keep Gambling in Proportion
Every casino game is designed so that, over time, the operator comes out ahead. That makes gambling a paid form of entertainment rather than a way to earn money. Only ever use money you can genuinely afford to lose, never money set aside for housing, bills, food or debt, and do not increase your stakes to try to recover what you have already lost.
Self-Exclusion Comes First
GAMSTOP allows people in Great Britain to block themselves from online gambling with participating operators. If you have signed up, please do not look for offshore or non-participating sites as a way around it. The exclusion is there to protect you, and keeping it in place is the right decision even when the urge to play is strong. Find out more at GAMSTOP.
Simple Habits That Help
- Decide on a spending limit and a time limit before you start, and stick to both.
- Switch on deposit, loss and session limits wherever they are offered.
- Step away regularly and avoid gambling when you are upset, tired or drinking.
- Never borrow, use credit cards or take out loans to gamble.
- Check your total spending across every account, not just one.
Tools That Add Protection
- Bank gambling blocks offered by many UK banks can stop card payments to gambling businesses.
- Blocking software can prevent gambling websites and apps from opening on your devices.
- Operator time-outs pause an account for a chosen period.
- Permanent closure, requested in writing, shuts an individual account for good.
Each tool works at a different point, so combining several gives stronger protection than relying on one.
Why Offshore Limits Are Not Enough
Casinos outside GAMSTOP sometimes offer their own limits or exclusion settings, but these differ greatly between operators and may cover only a single site or brand group. They rarely match the reach and enforcement of UK protections and should never be treated as a substitute for national self-exclusion.
Signs That Gambling Is Becoming a Problem
- Spending more money or time than you intended
- Trying to win back losses
- Keeping your gambling secret from people close to you
- Borrowing money or falling behind on bills
- Gambling to cope with stress, loneliness or low mood
- Feeling anxious or irritable when you try to stop
If you recognise any of these, pausing and speaking to a specialist will do far more good than moving to another site.
Support for You and Those Close to You
The National Gambling Helpline is free and confidential on 0808 8020 133, and GamCare offers advice, online chat and access to treatment. Information on self-exclusion is available from GAMSTOP. These services also help family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling. If anyone is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services.