Gambling is entertainment that costs money. It is not a way to make money, solve money problems or win back losses. If gambling stops being fun, or starts taking more time or money than you planned, it is worth pausing and looking at the options below.
Help is free and confidential. The helplines listed above can talk to you about gambling at any stage, whether you are worried about yourself or someone else.
This page covers the warning signs, the tools that UK-licensed casinos must offer, and how to support someone close to you. It is general information and does not replace advice from a specialist service.
Warning signs and what to do
Gambling may be becoming a problem when you spend more time or money on it than you intended, when you keep going to try to win back losses, or when you hide how much you play. Other signs include borrowing money to gamble, feeling restless or irritable when you cannot play, and gambling to escape stress or low mood.
If you recognise any of these, a practical first step is to pause. Stop making deposits for now, and tell someone you trust what is happening. Ask yourself whether you could stop for a month without great difficulty. If the answer is no, speak to a specialist service.
GamCare, which runs the National Gambling Helpline, offers free and confidential support. Its details are listed above, and you can contact it whether or not you have decided to stop.
Tools every UK-licensed operator must offer
Every UK-licensed online casino must offer a set of tools to help you stay in control. They are worth knowing about even if you do not think you have a problem, because they are easier to set up before you need them.
Deposit limits let you cap how much you can pay in over a set period. Reality checks show how long you have been playing and how much you have spent in that session. Time-outs let you take a break from your account for a period you choose. Self-exclusion closes your access to the account for a period you choose, and you can ask the operator to explain how it works before you agree to it.
GAMSTOP is a free service that lets you self-exclude from all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. Registering there blocks you from those sites, so you do not have to close each account separately.
Your bank may also let you block gambling payments in its app, which stops card payments to gambling merchants. Check your bank's app or ask its support team how to do this. You can also use blocking software on your phone or computer to restrict access to gambling sites.
If someone close to you is affected
If you are worried about a partner, friend or family member, start with a calm conversation at a time when neither of you is under pressure. Describe what you have noticed rather than what you think they are doing wrong, and avoid blame. Expect them to be defensive at first, and do not expect one conversation to settle it.
Support is available for families too. GamCare offers help to people affected by someone else's gambling, and the helpline listed above can answer questions about how to approach the conversation and what to do next.