Gambling involves losing money. It is not a way to earn money or a solution to debt, bills or other financial problems. If gambling is affecting your decisions, finances or relationships, stop and take a practical step to limit access or seek help.
Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem
Look at what you do, not only at how you feel. Possible warning signs include:
- spending more than you planned, or repeatedly raising the amount you intend to spend;
- gambling for longer than planned, or returning soon after deciding to stop;
- trying to win back losses by gambling again;
- using money meant for rent, bills, food or other essentials;
- borrowing, selling belongings or using credit to fund gambling;
- hiding gambling, losses or transactions from people close to you;
- missing work, study, sleep or agreed commitments because of gambling;
- feeling restless or irritable when you cannot gamble;
- continuing despite arguments, financial difficulty or other clear consequences.
One sign does not establish a diagnosis. A pattern of these behaviours is a reason to pause gambling and get support.
Our top casino picks for the UK
- Revery PlayBonus: 100% up to€1,000+ 100 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- SpinFormulaBonus: 550% Up To £15,000 + 550 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- BritsinoBonus: Welcome Package – Get your £2,200 + 2,000 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- ZombillionBonus: Welcome Pack 250% up to £4000 + 200 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- NightLuckBonus: Welcome Pack + 805% Up To 6400€ + 280 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- BeOnBetBonus: 100% up to €500 + 100 FS · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
- WinBeastBonus: €5000 + 500 FS + €650 Freebet · Payout speed: 1-3 business days
Tools that can limit gambling
If you use a UK-licensed casino, check its account controls. Operators must provide accessible account-level financial limit controls, and must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit. Choose a limit that restricts what you can deposit or spend, and lower it if the available controls allow you to do so. A limit is a control on an account, not a way to recover losses.
UK-licensed casinos must also provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion. Self-exclusion is intended to prevent you from gambling with the operator for the period you select. Check the operator’s terms to understand how it works and what happens to your account. If you need to stop now, use the self-exclusion control or contact the operator through its account support.
Other rules reduce particular risks but do not remove them. Online slot autoplay is banned in Britain, and each online slot spin must last at least 2.5 seconds. For an online slots game, the total stake in a game cycle cannot exceed £2 if you are under 25, or £5 if you are 25 or older. At least 2.5 seconds must pass from the start of one game cycle before the next can begin. These restrictions do not prevent losses.
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. Do not treat payment restrictions as a substitute for setting limits or stopping.
Where to turn
For help right now, use the operator’s responsible gambling controls to limit or stop access. If you cannot find them, contact the operator through the support options shown on its site. This page has no verified external gambling-support organisation or service to direct you to, so it does not provide an unverified name, address or phone number.
If you have a complaint about a UKGC licensee, the operator must offer an internal complaints process and access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. Follow the complaints instructions on the operator’s site; if the complaint is not resolved, ask the operator for details of its approved ADR service.
Age and operator checks
Operators must verify your age before allowing you to deposit funds into a gambling account. Do not try to bypass an age check or use another person’s account. If a site allows deposits before checking your age, stop using it and raise the issue through the operator’s complaints process.
A remote-licensed operator must show details of its licence on the gambling websites and apps it provides and link to its public register licence information. Check those details if you need to establish whether an operator is licensed. Verification of age and identity is the operator’s responsibility; payment providers should not be relied on to conduct KYC checks.