Responsible Gaming

Strictly 18+

Gambling in Great Britain is restricted to adults aged 18 or over. Every operator licensed by the Gambling Commission must verify your age and identity before you deposit. Never let anyone under 18 use your account, and keep your login credentials to yourself.

Six habits worth keeping

• Set a deposit limit before you start. Decide the figure when you are calm, not mid-session. A reduction takes effect immediately at any UK-licensed operator.
• Set a time limit too. Reality checks interrupt a long session with a plain reminder of how long you have been at it.
• Never chase a loss. Money already lost is gone. Trying to win it back is the single most common route to serious harm.
• Never gamble with borrowed money. Credit cards have been banned for gambling in Great Britain since 2020, for good reason.
• Keep it separate from other feelings. Stress, loneliness and boredom are poor reasons to open an account.
• Take a break early. Cool-off periods from 24 hours to six weeks exist precisely so you can step away before it becomes a decision you regret.

Warning signs

It may be time to seek support if you are gambling for longer or with more money than you intended; hiding it from people close to you; borrowing money or selling things to fund it; losing interest in other activities; feeling anxious, irritable or low when you are not gambling; or telling yourself the next result will fix things.

Self-exclusion through GamStop

GamStop is the free national self-exclusion scheme. Registering once blocks you from every operator licensed by the Gambling Commission for a period you choose: six months, one year or five years. It cannot be lifted early. If your gambling no longer feels like your decision, this is the most effective single step available to you in the UK. Register at gamstop.co.uk.

Blocking software and bank controls

Free and paid blocking tools such as Gamban and BetBlocker prevent access to gambling destinations across your devices. Most UK banks — including Monzo, Starling, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC and Santander — now offer a gambling block in their app that stops gambling transactions at source and applies a cooling-off period before it can be removed. Use both together for the strongest protection.