18+ | Safer gambling
Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be entertaining when you are in control of it. When it stops feeling like a choice, support is available — and it is free.
Age restriction
All online gambling in the UK is restricted to persons aged 18 and over. UK-licensed operators are required to verify the age of players before allowing them to deposit or play. If you are under 18, please do not attempt to use any gambling service.
If you are concerned that a child or young person in your household may be accessing gambling sites, parental controls and internet filtering software can help. GamCare offers guidance on talking to young people about gambling.
Understanding the risk
Gambling is a form of entertainment with an inherent financial risk. The house always has a statistical edge, which means that over time, most players will lose money. There is no strategy or system that can reliably change this.
Gambling should never be seen as a way to make money, solve financial problems, or recover previous losses. Chasing losses — increasing bets in an attempt to win back what you have lost — is one of the most common patterns associated with problem gambling.
Practical tools for staying in control
UK-licensed casino operators are required to offer tools that help players manage their gambling. These typically include:
- Deposit limits — set a daily, weekly, or monthly cap on how much you can deposit.
- Loss limits — restrict how much you can lose over a given period.
- Time limits and session reminders — limit how long you spend in a single session.
- Reality checks — on-screen prompts that remind you how long you have been playing.
- Cool-off periods — take a break from an account for a defined period without closing it.
- Self-exclusion — block access to your account for a minimum period, usually six months.
These tools are available through the account settings on any UKGC-licensed operator. If you struggle to find them, contact the operator's customer support.
GAMSTOP: self-exclude from all UK operators at once
GAMSTOP is a free national self-exclusion scheme. When you register with GAMSTOP, you are blocked from all online gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission for a period of your choice — 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years.
Self-exclusion through GAMSTOP applies across all participating UK-licensed operators simultaneously, so you do not need to contact each one individually.
Support organisations
Signs to watch for
Gambling becomes a problem when it stops being a choice. Some signs that gambling may be affecting you or someone else:
- Spending more than you planned, or more than you can afford.
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, or negative feelings.
- Feeling unable to stop or reduce gambling despite wanting to.
- Chasing losses in an attempt to win back money.
- Hiding gambling activity from family or friends.
- Borrowing money or using essential funds to gamble.
- Gambling affecting work, relationships, or mental health.
If any of these apply, speaking to a professional can help. GamCare and GambleAware both offer free, confidential support.