Safer Gambling

If it's no longer just a game, it's time to stop.

We compare gambling operators on this website, so we believe it is just as important to explain the risks of gambling and where to find help. This page is for anyone who wants to stay in control, and for anyone who is worried about their own gambling or someone else's.

Need help now? Call the National Gambling Helpline, run by GamCare, free on 0808 8020 133. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can also chat online at gamcare.org.uk.

Keep these three things in mind:

• Gambling is entertainment, not a way to make money.

Think of the money you gamble as the cost of your entertainment, like a cinema ticket. Over time the odds are always in the operator's favour, so be prepared to lose the money you stake. Never gamble to pay bills, clear debts or win back money you have lost.

• Stay in control.

Decide in advance how much money and time you will spend, and stick to it. Use the deposit limits, time-outs and reality checks that licensed operators offer, and choose limits that suit your own budget and circumstances.

• Know when to stop.

Stop when you reach your limit, whether you are winning or losing. If gambling stops being fun, or you find yourself chasing losses, take a break and talk to someone.

How gambling is regulated in Great Britain

Gambling in Great Britain is regulated by the Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act 2005. Every operator that offers gambling to people in Great Britain must hold a Gambling Commission licence and follow its rules, which are designed to keep gambling fair and open, protect children and vulnerable people, and keep crime out of gambling. You can check an operator's licence on the Commission's public register at gamblingcommission.gov.uk.

Among the rules that licensed operators must follow:

• Age and identity checks: operators must verify that you are 18 or over before you can deposit or gamble.
• No credit cards: gambling with a credit card is banned. You can use debit cards and other approved payment methods.
• Safer gambling tools: operators must offer tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, and online operators must take part in GAMSTOP, the national online self-exclusion scheme.
• Customer interaction: operators must look out for signs of gambling harm and act when they see them.
• Responsible advertising: gambling adverts must not target or appeal to under-18s and must not suggest that gambling can solve financial problems or lead to personal or social success.
• Online slots stake limits: the maximum stake per spin on online slots is £5 for adults aged 25 and over, and £2 for 18 to 24-year-olds.
• Data protection: your personal and payment details must be handled in line with UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018).

Tools that help you stay in control

• Deposit limits: set a daily, weekly or monthly limit on how much you can deposit.
• Time-outs: take a short break from an operator, from 24 hours up to six weeks.
• Reality checks: get regular reminders of how long you have been playing and how much you have spent.
• Self-exclusion: ask an operator to close your account and block you for at least six months.
• GAMSTOP: block yourself from all online gambling sites and apps licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, free of charge, at gamstop.co.uk.
• Bank gambling blocks: many UK banks let you block gambling payments on your debit card in their app.
• Blocking software: tools such as Gamban and BetBlocker stop gambling websites and apps from opening on your devices.

10 simple habits for safer gambling

1. Set a budget before you start and stick to it.
2. Set a time limit before you start.
3. Gamble for fun, never to make money.
4. Never chase your losses.
5. Take regular breaks.
6. Remember that skill or knowledge does not mean you will win – the odds favour the operator.
7. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, never with money meant for rent, bills or food.
8. Only use operators licensed by the Gambling Commission.
9. Avoid gambling when you have been drinking or taking drugs.
10. Don't gamble when you are feeling low, stressed or upset.

How much gambling is too much?

Knowing the warning signs can help you, or someone close to you, get help early. Common signs include:

• Spending more money or time on gambling than you intended.
• Thinking about gambling all the time and losing interest in things you used to enjoy.
• Feeling restless, irritable or anxious when you try to cut down or stop.
• Being unable to stop, even when you have decided to, or using money meant for rent, bills or food to gamble.
• Needing to gamble with more and more money to get the same excitement.
• Chasing losses: believing that "just one more bet" will win back what you have lost.
• Problems at work, such as missing days, losing focus or gambling during working hours.
• Neglecting family, friends, children or other responsibilities.
• Hiding your gambling, lying about it, or borrowing, stealing or selling things to gamble.
• Insisting you are fine when the people around you are worried.

If any of these sound familiar, you are not alone, and help is free and confidential. The sooner you reach out, the easier it is to make a change.

Where to get free, confidential help

• National Gambling Helpline (GamCare): 0808 8020 133, free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Live chat at gamcare.org.uk.
• BeGambleAware: begambleaware.org – advice, a self-assessment tool and links to the National Gambling Support Network.
• GAMSTOP: gamstop.co.uk – free self-exclusion from all online gambling licensed in Great Britain.
• Gamblers Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org.uk – local and online peer support meetings.
• GamAnon: gamanon.org.uk – support for the family and friends of people with a gambling problem.
• NHS: specialist NHS gambling clinics offer free treatment – search "gambling addiction" on nhs.uk.
• Samaritans: 116 123, free, 24/7, if you are struggling to cope.

You can also contact the operator you gamble with: licensed operators must have procedures to help you set limits, take a break or self-exclude.

FAQs

Why do some people develop problems with gambling?

There is no single cause. Some people may be more vulnerable because of genetic or biological factors, while others develop problems because of financial or emotional stress, or because they use gambling to cope with difficult feelings or mental health issues. The excitement of gambling stimulates the brain's reward system, which can reinforce the urge to keep going. Anyone can be affected, so it is important to know the warning signs and to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling.

What is gambling disorder?

Gambling disorder, sometimes called compulsive or problem gambling, is a recognised behavioural addiction. People with this condition have an uncontrollable urge to gamble, even when it leads to financial loss or personal difficulties. Like other addictions, it can be caused by a mix of genetic, environmental and behavioural factors, and it can be treated. Professional support is free and confidential.

Can you gamble without it becoming a problem?

Many people gamble occasionally as a form of entertainment without it causing harm. They accept that the odds are against them, only gamble what they can afford to lose and stop when they reach their limits. People with a gambling problem find it hard to control the urge to gamble and keep going regardless of their losses. If you are not sure which describes you, try the self-assessment at begambleaware.org or talk to GamCare.

What is the legal gambling age in the UK?

You must be 18 or over to gamble online, in a casino, in a betting shop or in a bingo hall, and to play the National Lottery. Licensed operators must check your age before you can deposit or gamble. In Great Britain gambling is regulated by the Gambling Commission, under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

What can I do if I'm worried about someone else's gambling?

Talk to them calmly, without judgement, and let them know that free help is available. GamCare and GamAnon also support family members and friends who are affected by someone else's gambling, so you do not have to deal with it alone.

Need help?

Most people who gamble never experience problems, but for some it can stop being entertainment and start to cause harm. If that is you or someone you know, don't hesitate to ask for help: call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.