Gambling is meant to be entertainment. When it isn't, these are the people to call.
We're a comparison site, not a treatment service — but anyone landing here should know what UK support actually looks like. The Gambling Commission requires every UK-licensed operator to take this seriously, and so do we. Below: how to set limits, how self-exclusion works, and who to call if things feel out of hand.
Gambling is not a way to make money.The maths runs against the player over time and the operator's edge is the entire point of the product. Treat any deposit as the cost of an evening's entertainment — like a concert ticket — and you'll have a much better time of it. Treat it as income and you won't.
Set limits before you start, not after
Every UKGC-licensed operator must let you set deposit, loss and session limits, and they must let you set them before you play your first hand. Use them. Lower a limit on the operator's site and it's usually instant; raising it requires a cooling-off period, which is the regulator doing its job correctly.
- Deposit limits. Cap how much you can move into the account per day, week or month.
- Loss limits. Cap how much you can actually lose in a period, not just deposit.
- Session limits. Auto-logout after a set time so a 30-minute session doesn't quietly become three hours.
- Reality checks. Pop-up reminders at intervals you set — useful if a session has lost its sense of time.
- Time-out. Short break from the site — 24 hours, a week, six weeks. Doesn't require a full self-exclusion.
Self-exclusion through GAMSTOP
GAMSTOPis the free national self-exclusion scheme for Great Britain. One sign-up and you're blocked from all UKGC-licensed online gambling sites for a period you choose, from six months to five years. Every operator on this site is part of GAMSTOP because the Commission requires it.
Sign-up takes a few minutes. You give your name, date of birth, postcode and email, and the block goes live within 24 hours. You can't cancel mid-period — that's the whole point — so think of it as a hard commitment rather than a pause button.
Free, confidential help in the UK
Signs to take seriously
- Chasing losses — depositing again because the last session went badly.
- Gambling with money meant for rent, bills, food, or savings.
- Hiding gambling activity from people close to you.
- Borrowing to fund play, or using credit you can't afford to repay.
- Mood depending on how the last session went.
- Spending more than the time or money you planned, and not stopping when you said you would.
If any of that lands, please get in touch with one of the services above. The National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133) is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day.
For friends and family
GamCare and GambleAware both run support specifically for people worried about someone else's gambling. You don't need the person who's gambling to make the call — you can reach out yourself first.