Responsible play — when to put the till on pause
Gambling is for adults. If the till has stopped feeling fun, free, immediate help is one phone call away. This page is a printed shortcut to the support routes, the operator-level tools, and the signs the desk watches for.
Five quick routes to free help
- GamCare — National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, every day. Live chat and NetLine on www.gamcare.org.uk.
- GamStop — single-step self-exclusion across every UKGC-licensed operator. Six months, one year, or five years. No operator can override the block. Register at www.gamstop.co.uk.
- BeGambleAware — the independent charity funding NHS Northern Gambling Service and a national network of treatment providers. www.begambleaware.org hosts the directory and a short self-assessment.
- Gordon Moody Foundation — residential treatment programmes for severe gambling harms. www.gordonmoody.org.uk for the waiting list and information for friends and family.
- NHS Northern Gambling Service and National Problem Gambling Clinic — NHS-run, free at the point of need. Referrals available through GamCare or via a GP.
Operator-level tools every UKGC licensee must offer
The six operators on our till-roll are UKGC licensees. Each one is required by the UKGC's LCCP code to offer the following — they are not optional and they are not buried behind a menu. If you cannot find them from the operator's lobby, the support desk is obliged to walk you to them.
- Deposit limits — daily, weekly, monthly. Reductions take effect immediately. Increases require a cooling-off period before they apply.
- Loss limits — daily, weekly, monthly. Net of stakes against winnings across a chosen window. Distinct from deposit limits.
- Session time-outs — set the maximum session length; the lobby logs you out at the limit.
- Reality checks — at minimum hourly, surfaced as a pop-up while you are logged in. The figure shown is for the session, not for the day.
- Self-exclusion at operator level — six months minimum. Distinct from GamStop, which covers every UKGC licensee at once.
Signs the desk watches for in its own copy
We do not write the site for thrill or urgency. If you ever read copy here that implies a guaranteed win, frames betting as a way to make money, or pressures a "now-or-never" stake, the desk has slipped. Write in to the contact form and we will fix it inside one working day.
Last revised: 27 May 2026.