Gambling is entertainment. It costs money, and it is not a way to earn an income or to fix money problems. If you play, decide before you start how much you can afford to lose and how long you want to spend, and stick to both. Help for gambling problems is free and confidential, and the services that offer it are listed above this page.
Many people enjoy gambling without any difficulty. Problems tend to develop gradually, so it helps to check your habits from time to time, especially if your play has changed recently or you have started to play to recover money you have lost.
Warning signs and what to do
Some changes are worth taking seriously. You may be spending more time or money than you planned, or finding it hard to stop once you have started. You might be chasing losses, borrowing money or selling things to pay for gambling. Gambling may be affecting your sleep, work, studies or relationships, or you may be hiding how much you play from people close to you.
If you recognise any of these, take a break from gambling for now. Then look at the tools described below. You can also talk to someone you trust, or contact the National Gambling Helpline or GamCare, whose details are shown above. Both services can talk through your situation with you, and you do not have to be sure you have a problem to call.
Tools every UK-licensed site must offer
Every UK-licensed gambling operator must offer a set of tools to help you keep control of your play. Deposit limits let you cap how much you can pay in over a day, week or month. Reality checks show you how long you have been playing and how much you have spent in the session. Time-outs let you take a break from your account for a set period, and self-exclusion blocks your access for a longer period.
Check these tools in your account settings before you start playing, rather than waiting until you feel you need them. Limits you set in advance are usually easier to keep than limits you try to set in the middle of a session.
GAMSTOP is a free service that lets you self-exclude from all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once. It is a useful choice if you want to stop gambling across the board rather than with one operator.
Some people also find it helpful to take practical steps outside gambling sites. Many banks let you block gambling transactions on your card or in their app, and you can ask your bank what options it offers. You can also install blocking software on your phone or computer to stop gambling sites from loading. These steps do not solve a problem on their own, but they make it harder to play on impulse.
If someone close to you is affected
If you are worried about someone close to you, start with a calm conversation at a time when neither of you is under pressure. Focus on what you have noticed and how it affects you, rather than on blame or on what they should have done. Avoid lecturing, and be ready to listen if they do not want to talk yet.
Support is also available for families and friends. GamCare offers help for people affected by someone else's gambling, and the National Gambling Helpline can advise you on your own next steps. You do not need to wait until the other person asks for help before you get support for yourself.