Safer Gambling

Britannia Prize Guide wants gambling to stay what it should be: entertainment. A casino session should cost no more than a night out and never more than you can comfortably lose. This page collects the practical tools available at every UK‑licensed casino, the free help that exists if things stop feeling like fun, and a few honest questions to ask yourself along the way.

Help right now

If you are worried about your own gambling or someone else’s, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. It is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, every day, run by GamCare. You can also chat online at gamcare.org.uk or find advice and local support through BeGambleAware.org.

Tools every UK casino must offer

Deposit limits

Set a daily, weekly or monthly cap on what you can pay in. Since October 2025 UK casinos must ask every new customer to set a deposit limit before their first deposit — take it seriously and choose a figure you would be happy to lose. Lowering a limit takes effect immediately; raising one is subject to a cooling‑off period.

Time limits and reality checks

Reality checks interrupt play at intervals you choose to show how long you have been playing and how much you have won or lost. Session limits log you out automatically. Both are useful because time passes quickly at a live table.

Cool‑off periods and time‑outs

A time‑out locks your account for anything from 24 hours to six weeks. It is a good first step if you notice you are chasing losses or playing when you had not planned to.

Account history

Every licensed casino gives you a full record of deposits, withdrawals, stakes and results. Check it monthly; the net figure is often more sobering than the memory of a single win.

Self‑exclusion

If you need a longer break, you can self‑exclude from an individual casino for six months, one year, five years or permanently. The operator must close your account, stop all marketing and refuse to let you reopen it during that time.

GAMSTOP — one step, every UK site

GAMSTOP is the free national self‑exclusion scheme for online gambling in Great Britain. Register once and every UK‑licensed website and app must block you for the period you choose — six months, one year or five years. The exclusion cannot be lifted early. Every casino on this site takes part in GAMSTOP, because participation is a condition of a UK licence.

Blocking software and bank blocks

Gamban blocks gambling websites and apps on your phone, tablet and computer, and is free to UK residents through TalkBanStop, a partnership between GamCare, Gamban and GAMSTOP that combines support, software and self‑exclusion in one place. Most UK banks — including Monzo, Starling, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC and Santander — offer a gambling block in their app that declines gambling transactions on your card, usually with a 48‑hour or longer delay before it can be switched off.

Ask yourself honestly

• Am I spending more money or time on gambling than I intended?
• Have I gambled to win back money I lost?
• Have I borrowed money, sold something or missed a bill because of gambling?
• Do I hide how much I gamble from people close to me?
• Do I feel restless or irritable when I try to cut down?
• Has gambling caused arguments, stress or problems at work?

Answering yes to any of these does not make you a bad person — it makes you someone who would benefit from talking to a professional. The helpline above exists exactly for that conversation, and the people who answer will not judge you.

More support

• Gordon Moody — residential and online treatment for people severely affected by gambling.
• Gamblers Anonymous UK — peer‑support meetings across the country and online.
• GamFam and GamCare’s family services — support for partners, parents and friends.
• NHS — speak to your GP or search “NHS gambling clinic” for specialist treatment services in England, Scotland and Wales.

Under 18? Not here

Gambling is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. It is illegal for anyone younger to open an account, and licensed casinos verify age before allowing play. If you are under 18 and worried about gambling, talk to a trusted adult or contact BigDeal, GamCare’s service for young people.