Responsible gambling: limits, self-exclusion and help in Great Britain
Gambling should be entertainment you pay for, never a way to make money or pay bills. This page explains the tools you can use, what each one stops and doesn't stop, and where to get free help in Great Britain if gambling stops being fun.
What responsible gambling means
Gambling responsibly means setting the limits before you play and keeping to them while you play: how much money, how much time and when you stop. It also means knowing where to get help if the limits don't hold.
Casino games are built so that the casino wins over time. The loss you expect is the price of the entertainment, not a temporary setback to be won back.
Set a money limit before you play
Decide the amount when you are not playing, for example on payday, and write it down. It should be money that is left once rent, food, bills and savings are covered.
An example: you decide on £50 a month and set a monthly deposit limit of £50 in your account. When the £50 is gone, you are done for the month, even if it went in two days. If you win, decide in advance how much you withdraw straight away.
- Never borrow to gamble or use money meant for fixed costs.
- Never raise a limit in the middle of a session.
- Read the bonus terms before you accept an offer. Wagering, maximum stakes and time limits can make you play for more than you planned. You can always play without a bonus.
Set a time limit and take breaks
Time matters as much as money. Long sessions make it harder to keep track of what you are staking, especially on fast slots. Decide how long you will play before you log in, and set an alarm on your phone if the site has no session reminder.
Take a break when gambling stops being fun, when you feel irritated, or when you notice you are raising stakes to catch up on a loss.
Limits and breaks in your casino account
Casinos offer deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion in the account settings. We set deposit limits on our own accounts when we test a casino, and we recommend doing the same before your first deposit.
| Tool | What it does | How long | What it doesn't stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Stops deposits above an amount per day, week or month | Until you change it | Play with money already in the account |
| Loss limit (where offered) | Stops play when your net loss reaches the limit | Until you change it | Play at other sites |
| Reality check | Shows how long you have been playing | Every session | Nothing: it only informs you |
| Time-out | Locks the account for a short period | Usually a day to a few weeks | Other sites and other accounts |
| Self-exclusion | Closes the account for a long period or permanently | Usually months to permanent | Other sites, unless you use GAMSTOP |
The exact periods and limits vary from site to site. An account-level self-exclusion only covers that one site; to exclude from all online gambling licensed in Great Britain at once, use GAMSTOP.
GAMSTOP: what it covers and what it doesn't
GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling. The Gambling Commission describes it as a way to self-exclude from online operators with one request: every online gambling company licensed in Great Britain has to take part. You choose how long the exclusion lasts; GAMSTOP's own FAQs explain the periods and what happens when one ends.
GAMSTOP covers online operators licensed in Great Britain. It doesn't cover:
- land-based gambling. Betting shops, bingo halls, arcades and casinos have their own multi-operator schemes that let you exclude from the same type of venue in your area with one request.
- sites without a British licence. An overseas casino is not part of GAMSTOP, whatever it accepts.
What else changes when a British player uses a casino without a UK licence is covered in our guide to UK casinos versus overseas casinos.
An overseas casino is not a way around self-exclusion
The UK Gambling Commission says businesses anywhere in the world need its licence to offer remote gambling to consumers in Great Britain. A site without that licence isn't supervised by the Commission, doesn't have to offer its safer-gambling tools and isn't covered by its complaints routes. That is exactly why our UK section compares brands without linking to any casino.
Block gambling payments and sites
Self-exclusion works best alongside blocks that don't depend on any one gambling company:
- Your bank. The Gambling Commission lists 13 banks that can block gambling transactions on your account or debit card, including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Monzo and NatWest. At HSBC, for example, you can lift a block but transactions are still declined until a set period has ended, so a lapse in the moment doesn't undo it. The block doesn't stop e-wallets or crypto.
- Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps worldwide on all your devices under one licence, including overseas sites that GAMSTOP doesn't reach. It is free for seven days and then a subscription; the Gambling Commission notes that Halifax and Lloyds Bank customers can get it through their bank's support services.
- BetBlocker is free and run as a charity. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. You choose a period from a day up to five years, and the block can't be lifted before it ends.
Install the blocker on every device you gamble on, including tablets.
Warning signs to take seriously
The NHS asks questions like these to help you judge whether gambling is causing harm:
- Do you bet more than you can afford to lose?
- Do you need to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling?
- Have you tried to win back money you have lost?
- Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
- Has gambling caused you stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties or money problems?
- Do you feel guilty about your gambling?
If several of these apply, talk to someone. The NHS page on gambling addiction has the full self-assessment.
If you have been chasing losses
If you have gambled more than you meant to, do this in order:
- Stop for today, log out and withdraw what is left in the account.
- Set a time-out or self-exclusion in the account, and register with GAMSTOP if you play at British sites.
- Add up what you have lost and see which bills it affects. It is uncomfortable, but it makes it easier to act.
- Talk to someone. Call the National Gambling Helpline, and use a free debt advice service if gambling has left you with debts.
- Don't borrow to cover gambling losses, and don't try to win the money back.
For family and friends
Family and friends often notice the problem first: money going missing, loans, excuses or someone withdrawing from the people around them. You don't need to be sure it is a gambling problem to get support.
- The National Gambling Helpline also supports people who are worried about someone else's gambling.
- GamAnon runs meetings for people affected by someone else's gambling.
- NHS gambling clinics offer family support alongside treatment.
- Protect your own finances: don't lend money for gambling, and consider separate accounts.
Where to get help in Great Britain
- National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133. Free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for gamblers and the people around them.
- NHS gambling clinics. You can refer yourself to specialist treatment with psychiatrists, psychologists and family support.
- Gamblers Anonymous. Local support groups using a 12-step approach.
- GamAnon. Meetings for family and friends.
- Your GP can also help and refer you on.
If you are thinking about harming yourself, or someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
You can check whether a gambling company holds a British licence in the Gambling Commission's public register.
Why a comparison site writes about responsible gambling
PlayFrankCasino compares casinos in several countries and earns commission from affiliate links on its Swedish, Danish, German and Norwegian pages. Our UK section has no casino links, and this page has no offers. If you want to understand how UKGC and overseas casinos differ on licensing and protection, read our comparison of UKGC and offshore casinos.