This site explains how casino games work. It is written for adults aged 18 and over, and gambling should stay a form of entertainment — never a way to make money or escape money worries. If the fun has gone, it's worth pausing and taking stock.
Signs it might be becoming a problem
Everyone is different, but a few patterns tend to show up:
- Spending more time or money than you meant to, again and again.
- Chasing losses, hoping the next game puts things right.
- Borrowing money, or hiding how much you play from people close to you.
- Feeling anxious, low or irritable when you're not playing.
- Letting work, sleep or relationships slip.
If any of these feel familiar, it may be time to set firmer limits or step back entirely.
Practical limits you can set
- Decide a budget before you start, and treat it as spent money, not an investment.
- Set a time limit and stop when it's up, win or lose.
- Use the deposit, loss and time limits most UK sites offer.
- Never gamble to recover losses, or with money meant for bills.
- Take regular breaks, and keep gambling out of difficult or emotional days.
Blocking tools: TalkBanStop
Launched in December 2020 by GamCare, Gamban and GAMSTOP, the TalkBanStop campaign brings together three free tools: support from the National Gambling Helpline, free Gamban blocking software, and GAMSTOP self-exclusion.
Self-excluding with GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is a free online self-exclusion scheme running since April 2018. All UK gambling businesses must take part. Register your details at gamstop.co.uk, and keep them up to date — your address, surname and email — because GAMSTOP works by matching what you've entered.
Where to get help in the UK
GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms, and runs the National Gambling Helpline. It offers free, confidential support by phone, face-to-face and online across England, Scotland and Wales, with dedicated help for under-18s across the whole UK including Northern Ireland. GamCare is part of the National Gambling Support Network.
- National Gambling Helpline: call 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland) or 0808 2819 265 (Wales), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free of charge.
- Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles and do not show on itemised bills.
- You can also reach the helpline by web live chat or WhatsApp.
- For short-term email support, the Online Support Team replies within two working days (Monday to Friday).
Family and friends affected by someone else's gambling can use the same free, confidential support.