Safer Gambling Resources

Signs that gambling may be a problem

Problem gambling rarely announces itself. Common warning signs include: spending more than you planned, chasing losses, borrowing money to gamble, neglecting work or relationships, feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling, or lying to others about how much time or money you spend betting. If any of these resonate, free help is available — there is no obligation to have reached a crisis point before reaching out.

Self-exclusion via GamStop

GamStop is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. A single registration with GamStop blocks your access to every UKGC-licensed online operator simultaneously — one decision covers the entire regulated UK market. You can register for a minimum of 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. The scheme is free, confidential, and takes effect within 24 hours.

Registration: gamstop.co.uk

Note: GamStop covers only UK Gambling Commission-licensed operators. Offshore or unlicensed sites are not covered. If you are self-excluding because you have a gambling problem, we strongly recommend also blocking access to any unlicensed sites you use.

Deposit limits and account tools

All UKGC-licensed operators are required to offer the following account tools, which you can usually find in the "Responsible Gambling" or "Safer Gambling" section of your account settings:

• Deposit limits — daily, weekly, monthly caps. Reductions take effect immediately; increases are delayed by 24 hours under UKGC rules.
• Loss limits — caps on how much you can lose in a set period.
• Wager limits — caps on stake size per bet.
• Session time limits — alerts or automatic log-outs after a set playing duration.
• Reality checks — periodic pop-ups showing how long you have been logged in and your current session win/loss.
• Cool-off periods — temporary account suspension from 24 hours to 6 weeks, without formal self-exclusion.
• Self-exclusion — operator-level block, separate from GamStop, covering only that operator. For a wider block, use GamStop (above).

GamCare — the National Gambling Helpline

GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline and provides counselling, live chat, and support groups for anyone affected by problem gambling — including friends and family members. All services are free and confidential.

• Helpline: 0808 8020 133 — free from any UK phone, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Live chat and forum: gamcare.org.uk

BeGambleAware

BeGambleAware provides information, tools, and support for anyone concerned about their gambling or someone else's. Their website includes a self-assessment quiz, information on how to talk to someone you're worried about, and a signposting tool to local support services.

Website: begambleaware.org

Gordon Moody

Gordon Moody is a charity providing residential and digital treatment programmes for people with severe gambling disorders. Treatment is free and available without a GP referral. The charity also runs the Gambling Therapy service, which offers online support in multiple languages.

Website: gordonmoody.org.uk

Blocking software

If you want to block access to gambling websites at the device or network level, the following tools are commonly used:

• Gamban — blocks thousands of gambling domains across all devices on your plan
• BetBlocker — free, blocks gambling sites on up to 5 devices, duration from 24 hours to 5 years
• GamBlock — comprehensive blocking software widely recommended by treatment providers

These tools complement rather than replace GamStop, which works at the operator account level.