18+
Keep it entertainment.
Gambling has a price. It is not a wage, a rescue plan, or a way to win yesterday back. This page is how to stay in control, and where to get free help in the UK.
Strictly 18 or over. If you are under 18, leave this website.
Help that is open now
National Gambling Helpline
0808 8020 133 · free, 24 hours. You do not need to be in crisis.
BeGambleAware
Advice, live chat and a self-assessment.
GAMSTOP
One registration blocks online operators licensed in Great Britain.
Gamblers Anonymous UK
Local and online meetings.
Ten habits worth keeping
- Set a deposit limit before the first payment.
- Decide the amount first and treat it as the cost of a night out.
- Do not chase a loss. The next price does not care about the last one.
- Do not stake borrowed money, including credit, overdrafts or a friend’s cash.
- Set a time limit and switch reality checks on.
- Do not gamble to get away from stress, low mood or boredom.
- Do not gamble while drinking, tired or upset.
- Keep it visible to people close to you. Hiding it is a warning.
- Use a time-out of a day, a week or a month when the pull grows.
- Remember the margin. Over time the book keeps a share of stakes. No system removes it.
Warning signs
- Staking more, or for longer, than you planned
- Going back to recover money
- Borrowing, selling things, or missing bills to fund it
- Lying about the time or the money
- Feeling restless when you cannot gamble
- Using it to dull stress or low mood
- Rows at home, or work and study slipping
If several of these fit, call 0808 8020 133.
Tools a UK licensed operator must offer
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Cap what you pay in. Cuts apply at once. Increases wait through a cooling-off period. |
| Loss limits | Cap net losses over a period. Stricter than a deposit cap. |
| Reality checks | On-screen reminders of time and position. Set 30 or 60 minutes. |
| Time-out | Locks the account from 24 hours up to several weeks. It cannot be lifted early. |
| Self-exclusion | Closes that operator’s account for at least six months. |
| GAMSTOP | Blocks you across licensed GB operators. Active within 24 hours, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. |
Children and other people
Nobody under 18 may gamble in Great Britain. If a child uses a device you own, use filtering software, a separate account, and never leave a funded bookmaker session signed in.
If you are worried about someone else, the helpline advises relatives as well. Do not take on their debts alone. Gam-Anon supports people close to someone who gambles.
If an operator lets you down
Complain to the operator first. If it is still open after eight weeks, use the free dispute service named on their site. You can also report a concern to the Gambling Commission.