Responsible Gambling
Gambling involves a risk of losing money and should never be treated as a source of income. Your wellbeing, essential spending and relationships come first. This page explains ways to manage play and what to do when gambling becomes difficult to control.
1. Age and personal eligibility
The age threshold stated for this website is 21. You must also meet any higher minimum age and other participation requirements that apply to you. A minimum age alone does not establish eligibility in every location.
Do not let a minor or another person use your account. Keep your login details private, sign out on shared devices and avoid leaving an authenticated account open where someone else can access it.
2. Decide what you can afford
Set a budget before playing using only money you can afford to lose. Rent, food, bills, debt repayments and other essential expenses must take priority. Borrowing money or selling important possessions to continue gambling is a reason to stop and seek help.
Set a time limit as well as a spending limit. Keep a record of deposits, withdrawals and the time spent playing so that you can assess the overall effect on your finances and daily life.
3. Avoid chasing losses
A previous loss does not make a later win more likely. Increasing a stake or playing longer in an attempt to recover money can make the harm worse. Pause when you reach the limit you set, even if you feel close to winning.
Avoid gambling when you are distressed, tired or affected by alcohol or other substances. Take regular breaks and keep time for work, study, sleep, relationships and activities unrelated to gambling.
4. Check your own behaviour
Ask yourself whether you have spent more money or time than intended, hidden your gambling, borrowed to play or tried repeatedly to recover a loss. Consider whether gambling is interfering with bills, sleep, responsibilities or relationships.
These questions are prompts for reflection, not a diagnosis. If the answers worry you, stop depositing and consider a break or self-exclusion. You do not need to wait for a financial crisis before asking for support.
5. Limits and short breaks
Use any spending or time controls offered in your account. If you cannot find a setting, ask account support about the available deposit limits, session controls and temporary breaks. Keep the confirmation of any request.
A temporary break can help you step away from the routine of playing. Avoid replacing gambling on one account with gambling somewhere else during the break. Consider removing saved payment details and disabling promotional messages.
6. Requesting self-exclusion
If you need a stronger barrier, contact account support and clearly request self-exclusion. State that the request concerns gambling control and ask for confirmation of its scope, duration and when it takes effect. Follow any identification steps needed to apply it to the correct account.
Do not open another account, borrow someone else’s account or use different personal details to get around an exclusion. Ask separately how remaining balances and pending transactions will be handled. An exclusion request is not a request to continue playing while an account issue is resolved.
7. Add protection outside the account
Device-level blocking tools, browser restrictions and payment controls can add barriers outside the website. Your bank or payment provider may offer a gambling-payment block. Check the options available for your device and financial accounts.
No single control should be your only safeguard. Combining limits, blocking, support from someone you trust and independent help can make it easier to maintain a decision to stop.
8. Independent help
GamCare provides information and support for people affected by gambling. Its website includes guidance about self-exclusion, blocking tools and support options. Visit gamcare.org.uk to see the services relevant to your circumstances.
You can also visit Gambling Therapy for independent gambling-support resources. Review each organisation’s current service and language information. You do not need to continue playing or make a payment to ask for help.
9. If you are concerned about someone else
You can seek independent guidance even if the person who gambles is not ready to ask for help. Protect access to shared funds and consider speaking with a trusted person or an independent support service.
Account support can explain the steps available for an account under its control, but private account information cannot simply be shared with another person. For your own privacy, avoid posting financial or identity documents in a public message.