Responsible gambling in the UK: signs and tools
Gambling is a paid activity with uncertain outcomes. It is not a way to earn money or a solution to debt, bills or other money problems. Treat any money you spend as money you may lose.
Signs that gambling may be causing harm
Look at what you do, not only how you feel. Warning signs include:
- spending more than you planned, or returning to gamble after deciding to stop;
- trying to win back losses by staking more or playing for longer;
- using money set aside for rent, bills, food or other essentials;
- borrowing, selling possessions or using credit to fund gambling;
- hiding gambling or losses from people close to you;
- missing work, study, sleep or other commitments because of gambling;
- feeling unable to stop, or becoming distressed when you cannot gamble.
One sign can be enough to take action. You do not need to wait for debts or other consequences to become severe.
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Take action now
If you are gambling now, end the session and do not deposit more money. Open your account’s responsible gambling controls and use the available financial limit controls. Remote operators must provide accessible account-level limit controls, and must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit.
If you need gambling to stop, use the account’s self-exclusion tool. UKGC-licensed casinos must provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion. Follow the on-screen steps and check that the exclusion has been applied to your account. Do not open another gambling account to get around it.
You can also tell someone you trust what is happening and ask them to stay with you while you take these steps. If you cannot find the controls, use the casino’s account or support area to ask how to set a limit or self-exclude. Avoid making another deposit while waiting for a reply.
No verified external support organisation or contact details are available to list on this page. Do not rely on an unverified number or link. If you are in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service for your location.
Rules and tools in Britain
Operators must verify a customer’s age before allowing deposits into a gambling account. Gambling is for people who meet the legal minimum age; age verification is required before depositing.
For online slots, autoplay is banned in Britain. A spin must last at least 2.5 seconds, and at least 2.5 seconds must pass from the start of one game cycle before another can begin. The total amount an individual may stake in an online slots game cycle is capped at £2 for someone under 25 and £5 for someone aged 25 or older.
Remote gambling operators cannot accept credit-card payments for gambling, including credit-card funding routed through a money service business. They also cannot accept wallet payments where the wallet allows credit-card funds to be used for gambling. These restrictions do not make gambling risk-free: you can still lose money using other payment methods.
UKGC licensees must offer an internal complaints process and access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service. A remote operator’s gambling websites and apps must show its licence details and link to its public register licence information. Operators must also contribute to the Research, Education and Treatment levy.
Rules and account controls set limits on how gambling is offered; they do not determine what you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting your spending or daily life, stop and use the account controls rather than treating a limit as a target.