Gambling is a paid activity with an uncertain outcome. It is not a way to earn money or a solution to money problems. You can lose money, including money you need for bills and essentials.
Signs that gambling may be causing harm
Look for changes you can observe, rather than relying only on how you feel. Warning signs include:
- spending more than you planned, or repeatedly increasing the amount you stake;
- gambling for longer than intended, or returning soon after a session to try to recover losses;
- using money set aside for rent, bills, food or other essentials;
- borrowing, selling possessions or using credit to fund gambling;
- hiding gambling activity, losses or transactions from people close to you;
- missing work, study, appointments or other responsibilities because of gambling;
- feeling unable to stop, or becoming distressed or irritable when you try.
One sign can be enough to take action. You do not need to wait for debts or other consequences to become severe.
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Take a practical step now
If you are gambling now, end the session and do not deposit more money. Open your account settings and use the available financial-limit controls to restrict future gambling. You can also use the operator’s self-exclusion tool to block your access to that casino.
If you cannot find these controls, use the help or support option within the casino account and ask the operator to explain how to set a limit or self-exclude. Do not rely on closing a browser tab or deleting an app: those actions do not necessarily restrict access to your account.
If you are at risk of harming yourself, go to the nearest emergency department or ask someone nearby to contact emergency services now.
Where to turn
UK-licensed casinos must provide responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion. Remote operators must also provide accessible account-level limit controls, and must prompt new customers to set a financial limit before their first deposit. Use these account controls to act without waiting for a problem to worsen.
A directory of external help organisations, with verified addresses or contact details, is not available for this page. No organisation names or contact details are listed here rather than risk directing you to an incorrect service. For immediate action on a gambling account, use the operator’s account controls or its in-account help option. If you need someone with you while you take that step, tell a person you trust what is happening and ask them to stay with you.
Protections and limits
You must meet the legal minimum age to gamble. Operators must verify your age before allowing you to deposit funds into a gambling account.
Some product rules limit how play works, but they do not remove the risk of losing money. Online slot autoplay is banned in Britain, and each online slot spin must last at least 2.5 seconds. In an online slots game cycle, the total stake must not 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.
UK-licensed casinos cannot accept credit cards for gambling. Remote gambling operators also cannot accept credit-card payments routed through a money service business, or 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. Setting limits or self-excluding is a separate action you can take through your account.