Safer Gambling

Many people enjoy gambling for entertainment, but for some it can become harmful. We’ve created this guide to help you recognise when gambling stops being fun and understand what support is available if you need it.

Spotting the warning signs

Gambling becomes problematic when you find yourself thinking about it constantly, chasing losses to recover money, or lying about how much time and money you’ve spent. Other red flags include unable to stop despite trying, borrowing or stealing to fund gambling, neglecting work or relationships, and using gambling to escape stress or difficult feelings. If you’ve experienced any of these, it may be time to seek help.

Tools to stay in control

Most online gambling platforms offer practical tools to help you manage your habits. Deposit limits let you cap how much you can spend daily, weekly, or monthly. Time limits restrict how long you can play in one session. Self-exclusion allows you to block yourself from an account for a set period—from weeks to indefinitely. Many operators also offer time-out features that pause your account temporarily. Using these tools before problems develop is an effective way to keep gambling enjoyable.

Where to find support

If gambling is affecting your life, confidential support is available across the UK. The National Gambling Helpline operates 24 hours a day, completely free to access. You can call 0808 8020 133, use live chat on their website, or reach out via WhatsApp. They also offer face-to-face therapy, online counselling, and phone-based talking therapies across England, Scotland and Wales. Family and friends affected by someone else’s gambling can get support too.

About the operator

The operator of this online gambling brand holds a licence issued by the relevant regulator. You can verify the operator’s licence status and details in the regulator’s official register. The operator is required to provide responsible gambling tools and support information on its own website—check there for account settings where you can set limits or self-exclude.