Gambling should always be fun and never a way to make money or escape problems. This guide explains how to keep it that way — how to set limits, spot the warning signs, and where to find free, confidential help whenever you need it.
For most people, gambling is an enjoyable form of entertainment. The key is to treat it like any other leisure activity — something you spend a set amount of time and money on, and walk away from when you've had enough.
Before you play, it helps to keep a few simple principles in mind:
The simplest rule is the most important one: when the fun stops, stop. Gambling has stopped being a harmless bit of fun if you find yourself spending more than you meant to, chasing losses, or feeling anxious about it.
Every so often, pause and ask yourself: "Am I still enjoying this, and am I still within the limits I set?" If the honest answer is no — stop, log out, and do something else. You can always come back another day.
Problem gambling can affect anyone. Be honest with yourself if you recognise any of these signs — in yourself or someone close to you:
If any of these feel familiar, you're not alone and help is available. Take the quick self-assessment below, or talk to one of the free services in where to get help.
Every casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must give you tools to manage your play. You'll find these in the "Safer Gambling" or account settings area of any licensed site:
Cap how much you can deposit per day, week or month. Decreases apply immediately; increases involve a cooling-off period.
Set reminders that pop up during play to show how long you've been gambling, helping you keep track of time.
Limit how much you can lose or wager over a set period, so you always stay within a budget you chose in advance.
Lock yourself out for 24 hours, a week, a month or longer. Your account is frozen until the time-out ends.
Block yourself from a casino for 6 months to 5 years. The operator must close your account and stop marketing to you.
One free scheme that blocks you from all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. More below ↓
Answering "yes" to one or more of these questions may suggest your gambling is becoming a problem. Be honest — it's only for you.
If you want to stop gambling online completely, GAMSTOP is a free service that lets you exclude yourself from every online casino and betting site licensed in Great Britain, all in one go.
You choose a self-exclusion period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Once registered, licensed operators are required to prevent you from accessing their sites or sending you gambling marketing for the duration you choose.
Registration takes just a few minutes. Visit gamstop.co.uk to get started. For physical venues, you can also self-exclude from betting shops, casinos and arcades through the Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Schemes (SENSE, SEbingo and others).
If gambling is causing you or someone you know harm, these UK organisations offer free, independent and confidential support — 24 hours a day in many cases.
Run by GamCare. Confidential advice, emotional support and information for anyone affected by gambling, including friends and family. Live chat also available.
Visit GamCare →Free, confidential advice, tools and a self-assessment to help you understand and manage your gambling. Signposts to local and online treatment services.
Visit BeGambleAware →Free self-exclusion scheme that blocks you from all online gambling sites licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Register with GAMSTOP →A fellowship of people who share their experience to help each other recover from a gambling problem, through local and online support meetings.
Find a meeting →Online chat, a moderated forum and structured support programmes for anyone affected by their own or someone else's gambling.
Chat now →Free treatment across England, Scotland and Wales, including the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic and regional gambling clinics.
Find treatment →You must be 18 or over to gamble in the UK. We take the protection of children and vulnerable people seriously, and so do all licensed operators, who are legally required to verify the age and identity of every customer.
If you share a device with under-18s, please take steps to keep gambling content out of their reach:
You can find more advice on protecting children at BeGambleAware.org and through the Gambling Commission.
We support and signpost to the UK's leading safer gambling organisations. Click any logo to visit their website.