Take steps before gambling causes harm

Gambling involves risking money on an uncertain outcome. It is not a way to earn money and cannot solve money problems. Set a limit before you play, and do not use money needed for bills, food, rent or other essentials.

Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem

Look for changes in what you do, not just how you feel. Warning signs include:

• spending more than you planned, or repeatedly raising your limit;
• trying to win back losses by continuing to gamble;
• borrowing money, using credit or selling possessions to fund gambling;
• hiding gambling or the amount you have spent from people close to you;
• missing work, study, appointments or other responsibilities because of gambling;
• feeling unable to stop, or returning to gambling after deciding not to;
• gambling to escape stress or difficult feelings, then feeling worse afterwards.

If any of these apply, act before placing another bet. Sign out of your account and use its responsible gambling controls to set a financial limit or self-exclude. If you cannot find those controls, contact the operator through the help or complaints options on its website or app and ask how to use them.

Tools available on UK-licensed casino accounts

Remote gambling operators must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit and provide accessible account-level limit controls. Use these controls to restrict the amount you can spend. Check the account settings and the operator’s instructions to understand what each control does and when it takes effect.

UKGC-licensed casinos must also provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion. Use self-exclusion if you need to prevent yourself from gambling with that operator. Read the operator’s terms for the process and scope; do not assume that one operator’s self-exclusion applies to other accounts.

These tools reduce access or spending through an account. They do not resolve debts or prevent gambling through every possible route. If you are struggling to stop, involve someone you trust and seek further support.

Where to turn

The research available for this page did not verify any support organisations, addresses, phone numbers or websites. No external contact details can therefore be listed here. Do not rely on an unverified number or address.

For help right now, use the responsible gambling section in the casino account where you gamble. Set a financial limit or start self-exclusion, and contact that operator through its listed support or complaints route if you need help applying either tool. UKGC licensees must provide an internal complaints process and access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. The operator’s website or app should show its licence details and link to its public register licence information; use those details to check the operator and locate its stated processes.

Age, payments and safer play

Operators must verify your age before allowing you to deposit funds into a gambling account. Gambling is restricted to people who meet the UK legal age threshold. If an operator accepts your deposit without checking your age, do not treat that as evidence that the account is permitted.

UK rules also restrict how gambling can be funded: remote operators cannot accept credit-card payments for gambling, including credit-card funds routed through a money service business, or wallet payments where the wallet permits credit-card funds to be used for gambling. These restrictions do not make gambling risk-free. UKGC licensees must provide responsible gambling tools, and operators are required to contribute to the Research, Education and Treatment levy.

If you choose to gamble, decide in advance what you can afford to lose and stop when you reach that limit. If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships or daily responsibilities, use the account controls and seek support rather than trying to recover losses by gambling more.

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