Responsible Gaming in the UK
Gambling should be enjoyable entertainment, not a way to make money or escape problems. Learn about responsible gambling and where to get help if gambling becomes a problem.
🚨 Need Help Now?
If you're struggling with gambling addiction, free confidential help is available 24/7
What is Responsible Gaming?
✅ Healthy Gambling
- •Gambling within your means and budget
- •Treating gambling as entertainment, not investment
- •Setting time and money limits before playing
- •Only gambling when feeling positive and relaxed
- •Accepting losses as the cost of entertainment
❌ Problem Gambling
- •Gambling more money than you can afford to lose
- •Using gambling to escape problems or negative feelings
- •Chasing losses with bigger bets
- •Neglecting responsibilities to gamble
- •Lying about gambling activities
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
If you or someone you know exhibits these behaviors, it may be time to seek help:
Quick Self-Assessment
Answer honestly: In the past 12 months, have you...
Spent more money gambling than you could afford to lose?
Needed to gamble with increasing amounts of money?
Felt restless or irritable when trying to stop gambling?
Lied to family or friends about gambling activities?
Used gambling to escape from problems or negative feelings?
Returned another day to win back money you lost?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, consider seeking help.
Take Full AssessmentUK Support Organizations
GamCare
Free confidential advice and support for anyone affected by problem gambling
Gamblers Anonymous UK
Fellowship of people who share experience and support each other
Gordon Moody Association
Residential treatment and ongoing support for gambling addiction
NHS Problem Gambling Services
NHS treatment services for gambling disorders
Gambling Control Tools
Deposit Limits
Set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on how much you can deposit
Time Limits
Control how long you spend gambling in a single session
Self-Exclusion
Block access to gambling sites for a chosen period
UK Gambling Laws & Protection
🇬🇧 Your Rights in the UK
- •All operators must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
- •Mandatory affordability checks for large deposits
- •Right to set gambling limits and self-exclude
- •Protection for vulnerable players
⚖️ Key Regulations
- •Minimum age of 18 for all gambling activities
- •Ban on gambling advertising during sports events
- •Mandatory responsible gambling tools
- •GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme
GAMSTOP - National Self-Exclusion
Block All UK Licensed Gambling Sites
GAMSTOP is a free service that allows you to put restrictions on your online gambling across all UK licensed operators.
6 Months
Minimum exclusion period
1-5 Years
Choose your exclusion length
All Sites
Covers all UK licensed operators
Remember: Gambling Should Be Fun
If gambling stops being enjoyable and starts causing stress, debt, or relationship problems, it's time to seek help. Support is available, and recovery is possible.