Safer Gambling & Responsible Gambling

This Site is for Adults Only

UK Gambling Guide is intended solely for adults aged 18 years and over. Gambling is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 in Great Britain. All UKGC-licensed operators are required by law to verify that their customers are aged 18 or over before allowing them to gamble with real money.

Understanding the Risks

Gambling involves a risk of financial loss. There is no guaranteed way to win, and the outcomes of gambling activities are determined by chance. For some people, gambling can become problematic, leading to financial difficulty, relationship problems, and harm to mental health.

Gambling should only ever be treated as entertainment — never as a way to make money or solve financial problems. If you find you are gambling more than you can afford to lose, or that gambling is affecting other areas of your life, this may be a sign that support is needed.

Signs of Problem Gambling

• Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
• Chasing losses (trying to win back money you have lost)
• Hiding gambling from family or friends
• Gambling to cope with stress, anxiety, or other problems
• Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
• Neglecting work, family, or other responsibilities because of gambling

If any of these apply to you, please reach out for support. Help is free and confidential.

Responsible Gambling Tools

All UKGC-licensed operators are required to offer responsible gambling tools to their customers, including:

• Deposit limits — set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month
• Loss limits — cap the amount you can lose in a set period
• Session time limits — receive reminders or automatic logouts after set periods of play
• Reality checks — notifications showing how long you have been playing and how much you have spent
• Self-exclusion — block yourself from an operator's site for a defined period
• Account closure — close your gambling account permanently

Self-Exclusion: GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. When you register with GAMSTOP, you are excluded from all UKGC-licensed online gambling websites for a period of your choosing: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. The service is free to use and takes effect within 24 hours of registration.

GAMSTOP is the most comprehensive self-exclusion tool available to customers in Great Britain. We encourage anyone who needs a break from gambling to consider registering.

Support Resources

• BeGambleAware.org — information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harm
• GamCare.org.uk — counselling, support groups, and the National Gambling Helpline
• GAMSTOP.co.uk — UK national self-exclusion (free)
• GamblingCommission.gov.uk — the regulator; public register of licensed operators
• National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 — free, confidential, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week