Responsible gambling
Gambling should be something you pay for as entertainment, never a way to make money or fix money problems. Here's how to keep it that way, and where to get free help if it isn't.
Signs it's becoming a problem
- You spend more than you planned, or more than you can afford to lose.
- You chase losses, or borrow money to gamble.
- You gamble to escape stress, or feel restless when you can't.
- You hide how much you gamble from people close to you.
If any of these sound familiar, talk to someone. The services below are free and confidential.
Tools that help
- Deposit limits. Set one when you open an account. Licensed sites in the UK and the US offer them.
- Time-outs and reminders. Take a break for a day, a week or longer from your account settings.
- Self-exclusion. In Great Britain, GAMSTOP blocks you from every UK-licensed gambling site at once. In the US, each state's regulator runs its own self-exclusion program.
- Blocking software and bank blocks. Free tools such as BetBlocker stop gambling sites loading on your devices, and many banks let you block gambling payments in their app.
Free help in the UK
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, with live chat.
- GAMSTOP: One free sign-up blocks you from every UK-licensed gambling site.
- NHS gambling support: Treatment and advice from the NHS.
Free help in the US
- National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Call, text or chat, 24/7.
- New Jersey and Pennsylvania: 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
- Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-270-7117, 24/7, for Michigan residents.
Age limits
You must be 18 or over to gamble in the UK, and 21 or over to gamble online in the US states we cover. If you're a parent, device controls and filtering software can stop children reaching gambling sites.