Gambling is not a way to earn money or a solution to money problems. Games are designed so that outcomes are uncertain, and losses can build up. If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, work or health, take that as a reason to stop and seek help.
Signs that gambling may be becoming a problem
Look for changes in what you do, not only how you feel. You may be:
- spending more time or money gambling than you planned;
- chasing losses by returning to try to win back money;
- borrowing, selling belongings or using money meant for bills to gamble;
- hiding gambling, transactions or losses from people close to you;
- feeling restless or irritable when you try to cut down;
- missing work, appointments or time with family because of gambling;
- gambling to escape worries, or continuing despite arguments and financial consequences.
You do not have to wait until several of these signs appear before taking action.
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What to do now
If you are gambling at the moment, close the game and do not make another deposit. Sign out of your account, then use its responsible-gambling controls to set a financial limit or self-exclude. Self-exclusion is a tool that prevents you from gambling with that operator for a period chosen through its process. Check the operator’s terms to understand how it works and what other steps may be needed.
Remote operators must give new customers a prompt to set a financial limit before their first deposit and provide accessible account-level controls. UK-licensed casinos must provide responsible-gambling tools, including self-exclusion. These controls can help interrupt access, but they do not resolve debts or address the reasons you gamble.
For a practical step outside the account, tell someone you trust that you are stopping and ask them to help you avoid gambling and protect money needed for essentials. If gambling is affecting your mental or physical health, contact a healthcare professional and explain what is happening.
No verified gambling-support organisation, address or telephone number was available for this page. It would be unsafe to guess at contact details. For help through the operator, use the responsible-gambling section of your account or its customer-support channel. If you need to complain about an operator, UKGC licensees must provide an internal complaints process and access to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service.
Limits and protections in Britain
Operators must verify a customer’s age before allowing deposits into a gambling account. Do not use an account if you are below the legal gambling age.
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 payment restrictions do not prevent losses from other payment methods.
Online slot autoplay is banned in Britain. A slot spin must last at least 2.5 seconds, and at least 2.5 seconds must pass from the start of one game cycle before the next can begin. For an online slots game, the total amount you may stake in a game cycle is capped at £2 if you are under 25, or £5 if you are 25 or older.
If you need to check who operates a gambling website or app, look for its licence details and link to its public register information. A licence and required safety tools do not make gambling a safe way to make money. If you cannot stick to your own limits, stop gambling and use self-exclusion rather than trying to win back what you have lost.