Responsible Gaming
Introduction
Gambling should always be a form of entertainment, not a way to earn money or escape from problems. The outcome of any bet is never guaranteed, and chasing losses can lead to serious harm. Please only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and treat any losses as the cost of your entertainment.
Age Verification
In Great Britain, you must be 18 or over to gamble legally. Licensed UK gambling operators are required to verify your age before you can deposit, play, or withdraw.
If you are under 18, or below the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction, you must not use gambling services. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use parental controls and keep gambling accounts secure.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
Problem gambling can develop gradually. These signs may indicate that gambling is no longer just entertainment:
- Chasing losses — trying to win back money you have lost
- Hiding gambling activity or lying to family and friends about it
- Spending more money or time gambling than you intended
- Borrowing money, selling possessions, or using bills money to gamble
- Neglecting work, education, relationships, or responsibilities
- Feeling anxious, guilty, irritable, or depressed about gambling
- Finding it difficult to stop or cut down, even when you want to
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety, or other problems
Self-Help Tools
Licensed UK gambling sites must offer safer gambling tools. You can use these to stay in control:
- Deposit limits — set a maximum amount you can deposit daily, weekly, or monthly
- Loss limits — cap the amount you can lose over a set period
- Reality checks — receive reminders about how long you have been playing
- Time-outs — take a short break from your account for 24 hours to several weeks
- Self-exclusion — block yourself from a site, or use GamStop to self-exclude from all UK-licensed online gambling sites at once
Support Organizations
If you need free, confidential advice or support, contact the relevant organization for your country: