Responsible Gambling
Gambling is entertainment, and for most people it stays that way. This page sets out the tools and organisations available to anyone who feels their gambling is becoming harder to manage, along with practical steps for staying in control from the outset. 18+ only.
Staying in Control
Responsible gambling starts before you deposit, not after a problem develops. A few habits make a significant difference:
- Set a budget before you play — decide in advance the maximum you are willing to spend, and treat it as a cost of entertainment rather than an investment.
- Use deposit and session limits — most online casinos allow you to cap daily, weekly or monthly deposits and to limit how long a single session runs.
- Keep gambling separate from finances — never gamble with rent, bill money or funds earmarked for essentials.
- Take regular breaks — time-out features let you pause your account for a set period without fully closing it.
- Avoid chasing losses — placing bigger bets to recover losses is one of the clearest early warning signs of problem gambling.
Recognising a Problem
Problem gambling does not always look dramatic. Common signs include spending more than you planned, feeling anxious or irritable when not gambling, keeping your gambling secret from people close to you, or borrowing money to fund play. If any of these feel familiar, the support organisations below can help — confidentially and without judgement.
Support Organisations in the UK
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, live chat and the National Gambling Helpline | 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7) |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings across the UK, online and in person | gamblers anonymous.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Advice, self-assessment tools and referrals to treatment | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment and online therapy programmes | gordonmoody.org.uk |
Self-Exclusion Options
GAMSTOP is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. Registering at gamstop.co.uk applies a single exclusion across all UK Gambling Commission-licensed operators simultaneously, for a minimum of six months. It is free, quick to set up and takes effect within 24 hours.
Casinos listed on our main casino comparison page operate under licences issued outside the UKGC framework. If you wish to self-exclude from any of these sites, contact their customer support directly to request a voluntary exclusion. Most reputable operators outside UKGC licensing provide account closure or self-exclusion on request — check the site's responsible gambling or account settings section.
For the most comprehensive protection, using GAMSTOP alongside direct self-exclusion requests at any non-UKGC sites you hold accounts with gives the broadest coverage.
Under-18 Protection
You must be 18 or over to gamble online in the UK. If children or young people have access to your device, parental control software such as Gamban or Net Nanny can block gambling websites across all browsers. Gamban covers thousands of gambling domains and can be installed on multiple devices from a single subscription.
About This Page
Leading Non GamStop Casinos is an independent comparison site. We research and review casinos but do not operate any gambling services ourselves. If you have questions about this page or need to reach us, visit our contact page. Our terms and conditions set out the full basis on which this site operates.