Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not a way to make money, pay off debts or fix money worries. No game or system changes the result of a spin, a card or a roll. Play is easiest to keep under control when you decide in advance how much you can afford to lose, stop when that amount is gone, and treat each session as a choice you can end at any time.
If gambling stops being fun, or stops feeling like a choice, help is available. The services listed above are free to use and confidential. They are open to anyone worried about their own gambling or someone else's, and you do not need to be sure there is a problem before you get in touch.
Warning signs and what to do
Gambling is becoming a problem when it takes more of your money, time or attention than you planned. Common signs include:
- spending more than you intended, or gambling more often than you meant to
- chasing losses, meaning playing more to win back what you have lost
- lying to family or friends about how much you play or spend
- borrowing money, or using money meant for bills, rent or food, to gamble
- feeling restless or irritable when you cannot play, or playing to escape stress
If you recognise one or more of these, take a break from gambling for now. Move any money you need for essentials out of reach, and talk to someone you trust. GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline offer free, confidential support, and you can also restrict your access using the tools below.
Tools that help you stay in control
Every UK-licensed online casino must offer tools that help you limit or pause your play. The main ones are:
- deposit limits, which cap how much you can pay in over a set period
- reality checks, which remind you how long you have been playing and how much you have spent
- time-outs, which stop you using your account for a chosen period
- self-exclusion, which closes your access to a site for a set period
GAMSTOP is a free self-exclusion scheme that covers all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. Registering with it blocks access to those sites, so you do not need to close each account separately. The GAMSTOP website explains how to register.
Some banks let you block gambling payments in their app, so check with your bank what it offers. Blocking software can also restrict access to gambling sites on a phone or computer you use.
None of these tools solves everything on its own. They work best together, and they are easiest to set up before a problem grows.
If someone close to you is affected
If a partner, friend or family member is gambling in a way that worries you, choose a calm moment to raise it, when neither of you is upset or under the influence of alcohol. Describe what you have noticed, using specific examples, and avoid blame or ultimatums. Expect defensiveness, and do not expect one conversation to settle it.
Support services such as GamCare also help families and friends. They can advise you on what you can do while the person is not yet ready to seek help for themselves.