Responsible Gambling
This page, and every operator we link to, is intended for adults aged 18 and over. Gambling is meant to be entertainment with a cost, not a way to earn money, escape a problem, or chase a previous loss.
Signs worth paying attention to
Most people who gamble do so without it becoming a problem, but it's worth knowing the warning signs early. These include spending more time or money than you intended, feeling you need to gamble to feel normal, chasing losses, hiding the extent of your play from people close to you, or gambling affecting your work, sleep or relationships. None of these need to be extreme before they're worth acting on.
Free tools every licensed operator must offer
- Deposit limits — a daily, weekly or monthly cap you set yourself, which the operator cannot let you exceed.
- Reality checks — on-screen reminders of how long you've been playing and how much you've spent in a session.
- Time-outs — a short break from your account, typically a day to a few weeks, that you can set yourself.
- Self-exclusion — a longer block on a single operator's site, or on every UK-licensed site at once through GAMSTOP.
For a fuller explanation of how these tools work in practice, see our safer gambling tools guide, or ask any operator's support team directly — they are required to explain how to use them.
Where to get free, confidential support
A note for family and friends
If someone else's gambling is affecting you, GamCare and GambleAware both offer support specifically for affected family members and friends, not just for the person gambling. You don't have to wait for things to be at their worst to reach out.