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Responsible gambling: free help and tools to stay in control in the UK
Updated
Betting is for adults aged 18 and over, and it is a way to spend money on a sport you follow, not a way to make money. If it stops feeling like that, free help is a phone call away.
Clause 01
Signs that betting is becoming a problem
- You bet more than you planned, or more than you can afford to lose.
- You bet to win back money you have lost.
- You hide your betting from people close to you, or borrow to keep going.
- Betting affects your sleep, work, relationships or mood.
Clause 02
Free, confidential help
Each of these services is free to use.
- National Gambling Helpline
- 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare, 24 hours a day, every day. Live chat and WhatsApp at gamcare.org.uk.
- GambleAware
- Advice, self-assessment and a finder for local support at gambleaware.org.
- GAMSTOP
- Self-exclusion from all online gambling businesses licensed in Great Britain for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years, at gamstop.co.uk. It can take up to 24 hours to take effect.
- NHS gambling clinics
- Specialist treatment in England; you can refer yourself. See the NHS gambling help page.
- Gamblers Anonymous
- Peer support meetings across the UK at gamblersanonymous.org.uk.
Clause 03
Tools every UK-licensed bookmaker offers
- Deposit limits per day, week or month, set in your account.
- Time-outs that lock the account for a short break.
- Reality checks that remind you how long you have been logged in.
- Self-exclusion with that bookmaker, for six months or more.
Clause 04
Habits that keep betting in proportion
Decide what a race weekend is worth to you before it starts and stop when that amount is spent. Never chase a losing bet with a bigger one. Keep betting money separate from money for bills. Take a break when the outcome starts to matter more than the race.
Clause 05
Under 18s
Gambling is illegal for anyone under 18 in the UK, and bookmakers verify age and identity before you can bet. If a child uses your devices, filtering software can block gambling sites.