Safer gambling and where to get help

Gambling should be something you do for entertainment, with money you can afford to lose. If it has stopped feeling like that — for you or for someone close to you — free and confidential help is available in Great Britain, 24 hours a day.

Talk to someone now

GamCare also runs live chat, forums and chat rooms, and can refer you to local support. You can also speak to your GP, who can refer you to treatment services in your area.

Signs gambling may be causing harm

There is no single test, but these are common warning signs. If several sound familiar, it is worth talking to someone:

• spending more time or money than you meant to, or chasing losses;
• borrowing money, using savings or missing bills because of gambling;
• hiding gambling from people close to you, or feeling defensive about it;
• feeling anxious, low or irritable when you are not gambling, or gambling to escape problems;
• gambling taking priority over work, study, family or friends.

The GambleAware website has a short self-assessment, a spend calculator and a service finder for local support.

Practical ways to stay in control

• Set a deposit limit before you start. Licensed operators must prompt new customers to set one. Decreases apply immediately; increases take at least 24 hours.
• Decide your budget and time in advance, and stop when you reach either.
• Treat money spent as the price of entertainment, not an investment. Over time, the house has the edge.
• Do not chase losses or gamble to pay debts.
• Avoid gambling when you are drunk, stressed or low.
• Use reality checks so you know how long you have been playing.
• Keep bonuses in perspective. Wagering requirements mean extra play, not free money.

Blocking tools

• GAMSTOP — free self-exclusion from every online gambling website and app licensed in Great Britain, for 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Gamstop Betting Shops covers high-street bookmakers. How GAMSTOP works.
• Operator self-exclusion and time-outs — available at every licensed site. Self-excluding at any LeoVegas Gaming PLC site covers all six of its UK brands, according to the operator.
• Bank gambling blocks — many UK banks let you block gambling payments in their app.
• Blocking software — stops gambling sites and apps loading on your devices.

Our guide to deposit limits and safer gambling tools explains each one in detail.

If you are worried about someone else

Gambling harm affects families and friends too. GamCare offers support for people affected by someone else’s gambling, and GAMSTOP explains how it can help if a loved one gambles — including registering yourself so your details cannot be used to gamble online. You do not need the other person’s agreement to get help for yourself.

Young people

It is illegal to gamble at an online casino in Great Britain under the age of 18. Licensed operators must verify age and identity before anyone can gamble. If you are worried about a young person’s gambling, the Gambling Commission suggests starting with a GP. The National Problem Gambling Clinic, an NHS service, accepts referrals for people aged 13 and over with complex gambling problems living in England or Wales.

This site is written for adults. We do not use characters, themes or language aimed at under-18s, and we ask anyone under 18 to leave.

Support services at a glance

A note on GambleAware

The charity GambleAware closed at the end of March 2026, when a new statutory levy took over funding for research, prevention and treatment. Its website, reached via BeGambleAware.org, has been kept online with its tools and service finder during the transition. If any of the services above change, we will update this page.

Our commitment

We will not publish content that presents gambling as a way to make money, solve problems or improve your life, or that creates false urgency. We do not cover operators that are not licensed in Great Britain. Every page carries an 18+ notice and links to support. If you see something on this site that falls short of that, please tell us.