Responsible Gambling
Gambling should be an enjoyable form of entertainment, never a source of financial stress or personal harm. If gambling is causing problems in your life, support is available.
0808 8020 133
0808 8020 133
Recognising Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can affect anyone regardless of age, income, or background. It develops gradually, and the warning signs are often easier for others to notice than for the person experiencing them. Recognising these signs early is the most effective step toward getting support before gambling causes serious harm.
Common indicators include spending more time or money on gambling than originally intended, returning to gamble specifically to recover previous losses, borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling, neglecting work, family, or personal responsibilities because of gambling, lying to others about how much time or money is spent gambling, feeling restless, anxious, or irritable when trying to stop or reduce gambling, and using gambling as a way to escape problems or relieve difficult emotions.
- Spending more than intended — time or money
- Chasing losses — returning specifically to win back what was lost
- Borrowing or selling to fund gambling
- Neglecting responsibilities — work, family, personal
- Hiding gambling from others
- Feeling anxious or irritable when trying to stop
- Using gambling to escape problems or stress
No single sign confirms a gambling problem on its own. It is the pattern that matters. If several of these indicators are present together, or if gambling is causing financial stress, relationship difficulties, or emotional distress, it is worth reaching out to one of the support organisations listed on this page. Every organisation offers free, confidential support with no obligation.
Support Organisations
Four organisations provide free, specialist support for anyone in the UK affected by gambling. Each operates independently and offers different types of help. No referral is needed and all services are confidential.
BeGambleAware
BeGambleAware provides the National Gambling Helpline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0808 8020 133. The helpline is free to call from UK landlines and mobiles. BeGambleAware also offers live chat support through its website at begambleaware.org, an online self-assessment tool that helps individuals evaluate their relationship with gambling, and a treatment finder service that connects people with local counselling and support options funded through the national treatment system. BeGambleAware is funded by voluntary contributions from the gambling industry under the regulatory framework overseen by the Gambling Commission.
GamCare
GamCare offers free information, support, and counselling for anyone affected by gambling. The GamCare helpline is available on 0808 8020 133 and provides immediate telephone support from trained advisors. Beyond the helpline, GamCare runs a network of face-to-face counselling services across the UK, delivers online group support sessions, offers a dedicated forum where people can share experiences anonymously, and provides the BigDeal service specifically designed for young people aged 11 to 19 who are affected by gambling in their family or peer group.
Gambling Therapy
Gambling Therapy provides free online support for anyone affected by gambling worldwide. Services include live chat with trained advisors, email support, peer support forums, and structured self-help resources available in multiple languages. Gambling Therapy also offers a dedicated smartphone app that provides tools and exercises for managing gambling urges, tracking progress, and connecting with support. The service is operated by the Gordon Moody Association and is available at gamblingtherapy.org.
Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope to help each other recover from gambling addiction. GA follows a twelve-step programme adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous. Meetings are held across the UK, both in person and online, and are free to attend. No registration or referral is required. Meeting times and locations are listed at gamblersanonymous.org.uk. GA also runs Gam-Anon, a parallel support programme for family members and friends of people with a gambling problem.
| Organisation | Contact | Available | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeGambleAware | 0808 8020 133 | 24/7 helpline + live chat | Immediate advice, treatment referrals, self-assessment |
| GamCare | 0808 8020 133 | Helpline + face-to-face | Counselling, ongoing support, young people (BigDeal) |
| Gambling Therapy | gamblingtherapy.org | Online chat + app | Online support, multilingual, self-help tools |
| Gamblers Anonymous | gamblersanonymous.org.uk | Meetings (in-person + online) | Peer fellowship, twelve-step recovery, family support |
Self-Exclusion in the UK
The United Kingdom operates a national online self-exclusion scheme that allows players to block themselves from all Gambling Commission-licensed online gambling websites and apps. Registration is free and takes effect within 24 hours.
Players can choose a self-exclusion period of six months, one year, or five years. During the exclusion period, all licensed operators are required to close the player's account, remove them from marketing databases, and prevent them from opening new accounts. At the end of the exclusion period, accounts are not automatically reopened. The player must actively contact each operator to request reactivation.
Self-exclusion applies at the licence-holder level. This means that when a player registers, all brands operated by the same licensed entity are required to block the player's access. For example, self-exclusion affecting LC International Limited would cover Ladbrokes, Coral, Gala Bingo, Foxy Bingo, and every other brand under that licence. Understanding which brands share a licence holder — which is what sister-site research reveals — is directly relevant to understanding the scope of a self-exclusion registration.
For retail gambling premises (betting shops, casinos, bingo halls), a separate self-exclusion scheme called Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion (MOSES) covers physical venues in a chosen area.
Gambling Commission Complaints
If a dispute arises with a licensed operator that cannot be resolved through the operator's own complaints process, UK players have access to formal dispute resolution. Every Gambling Commission-licensed operator is required to provide access to an approved ADR (ADR) provider.
The process follows a set sequence. First, raise the complaint directly with the operator through its published complaints procedure. The operator must acknowledge the complaint and attempt to resolve it. If the operator's final response does not resolve the issue, or if eight weeks pass without a resolution, the player can escalate the complaint to the operator's approved ADR provider.
The most commonly used ADR provider for UK gambling disputes is the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). eCOGRA also serves as an ADR provider for some operators. The operator must display which ADR provider it uses on its website, typically in the terms and conditions or the complaints section.
ADR decisions are binding on the operator but not on the player. If the player is unsatisfied with the ADR outcome, they retain the right to pursue the matter through the courts, though this is rarely necessary.
If a player believes an operator is breaching its licence conditions — as opposed to a commercial dispute about a specific transaction — they can report concerns directly to the Gambling Commission. The Commission investigates regulatory breaches but does not mediate individual commercial disputes.
Tools Available on Licensed Sites
All Gambling Commission-licensed operators are required to offer a set of responsible gambling tools in every customer account. These tools are designed to help players manage their gambling before problems develop. Setting limits at the point of registration, before any gambling takes place, is the most effective use of these tools.
Deposit limits allow players to set a maximum amount that can be deposited within a daily, weekly, or monthly period. Once the limit is reached, no further deposits are accepted until the next period begins. Increases to deposit limits are subject to a cooling-off period (typically 24 to 72 hours) before taking effect, while decreases take effect immediately.
Session time limits allow players to set a maximum duration for a single gambling session. When the time limit is reached, the player is notified and may be logged out of the session automatically.
Reality checks display a notification at set intervals (for example, every 30 or 60 minutes) showing the player how long they have been playing, how much they have deposited, and how much they have won or lost during the session.
Cooling-off periods allow players to temporarily suspend their account for 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, or 30 days. During the cooling-off period, the player cannot log in or gamble. This is a less permanent step than full self-exclusion and is useful for taking a short break.
Account closure allows players to permanently close their account at any time. The operator must process closure requests promptly and return any remaining balance to the player.
| Tool | What It Does | Cooling-Off on Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limits | Caps deposits per day, week, or month | Increases: 24-72hr delay. Decreases: immediate |
| Session time limits | Alerts or logs out after set duration | Immediate |
| Reality checks | Shows time played and spend at intervals | Immediate |
| Cooling-off period | Temporary account suspension (24hrs to 30 days) | Immediate |
| Self-exclusion | Blocks account for 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years | Immediate, cannot be reversed early |
| Account closure | Permanent account shutdown | Immediate |
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact one of the support organisations listed on this page. BeGambleAware and GamCare both offer free, confidential helplines on 0808 8020 133, available 24 hours a day. Gambling Therapy provides online chat and app-based support. Gamblers Anonymous offers peer fellowship meetings across the UK. No referral is needed and all services are confidential. If gambling is causing immediate financial distress, your bank may also be able to block gambling transactions on your debit card through its app or customer service.
The national online self-exclusion scheme allows you to block yourself from all Gambling Commission-licensed online gambling sites for a period of your choice: six months, one year, or five years. Registration is free and takes effect within 24 hours. All licensed operators are required to close your accounts, remove you from marketing, and prevent new account openings. Accounts are not automatically reopened when the period ends.
Yes. Every Gambling Commission-licensed operator is required to offer deposit limits, session time limits, reality checks, and cooling-off periods in your account settings. Deposit limits cap how much you can deposit per day, week, or month. Session limits alert you or log you out after a set duration. Cooling-off periods let you temporarily suspend your account for 24 hours to 30 days without full self-exclusion.
Yes. Self-exclusion is applied at the licence-holder level. When you register, all brands operated by the same company under the same licence are required to block your access. For example, if the self-exclusion covers an operator that runs five different casino brands, all five brands should block your account. Understanding which casinos share a licence holder is one of the practical reasons sister-site research matters.