Betting is a form of entertainment. The only money you should ever risk is money you can genuinely afford to lose, and you can lose every bet you place.
Set limits before you start
- Deposit, loss and wagering limits: set them in your account before your first bet, not after a bad day.
- Reality checks: pop-up reminders of how long you have been playing and how much you have spent.
- Time-outs: a short break from your account, from 24 hours up to six weeks.
- Self-exclusion: a longer break, from six months up to five years.
- GamStop: free self-exclusion from all UK Gambling Commission licensed sites at once (gamstop.co.uk).
Signs it may be time to step back
- Chasing losses: increasing bets to win money back. No staking plan turns this into a strategy that works over time.
- Betting more, or more often, than you planned or can afford.
- Hiding your betting from friends or family, or borrowing money to bet.
- Relying on betting to improve your mood, income or self-esteem.
If any of this sounds familiar, the free and confidential help below is there for you. You do not need to be a ‘serious’ problem gambler to use it.
Free and confidential help
- GambleAware – free, confidential support, 24/7.
- GamCare – support and information on problem gambling.
- GamStop – self-exclusion from all UKGC licensed operators.
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, call 999.
All gambling on bookmakers we review is for customers aged 18 or over. If you are under 18, or in a jurisdiction where online betting is not permitted, please do not use these services.
