Safer gambling help is free and confidential. Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not a way to make money, and it is not a way to fix money worries. If it stops feeling like entertainment, the services listed above can talk it through with you at any time of day, without judgement and without you having to be certain there is a problem.
Reaching out early is easier than waiting. You do not have to be in crisis to ask a question, and you do not have to give up gambling to get support.
Warning signs and what to do
Gambling may be becoming a problem when you notice some of these:
- you spend more money or time than you meant to
- you use money meant for bills, or money you owe to others, to gamble
- you chase losses by playing again to get the money back
- you hide your gambling from people close to you
- you feel irritable, anxious or low when you are not gambling
- gambling gets in the way of work, study or relationships
Recognising one or two of these does not mean you have done something wrong. It is a signal to pause. Stop playing for now, and talk to someone: a friend, a family member or an adviser at GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline. Then use the tools in the next section to put distance between you and the next session.
Tools that put you in control
Every UK-licensed operator must offer deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion. A deposit limit caps what you can add to your account. A reality check reminds you how long you have been playing. A time-out pauses your account for a period you choose, and self-exclusion closes it for longer.
GAMSTOP is a free service that applies self-exclusion to all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once, so you do not need to contact each operator separately.
Some tools sit outside the casino:
- Many banking apps let you block payments to gambling merchants, which you can usually switch on yourself in the app's settings.
- Blocking software can stop gambling sites and apps from opening on your phone, tablet or computer.
No single tool solves everything, and none of them replaces talking to someone. They work most reliably when you set them up before you need them, and they can be combined.
If someone close to you is affected
Choose a calm moment to raise it, describe what you have noticed without blaming, and listen to the answer. Offer to help them find support rather than demanding that they stop. Services such as GamCare also support family members and friends, so you can ask for advice for yourself too.