Responsible Gambling UK -- Keep gambling fun & safe

Gambling of any kind should be both fun and safe. Responsible gambling means enjoying it while staying in control of your thoughts, feelings and finances at all times. Playing responsibly helps players keep that control, and it’s something we strongly recommend for all gamblers.

The primary goal of CasinoProfessor.uk is to help players find a safe and fun online gambling experience. In the UK, we only partner with online casinos that have a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. This licence requires every casino to help combat problem gambling and protect children and other vulnerable people through a range of strict measures.

However, people can and do get addicted to gambling. If you are experiencing any problems, issues or doubts while gambling, stop and get support. The tools and services listed below can help.

Need to talk to someone now? Call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133 (England and Scotland) or the NHS Wales Gambling Helpline on 0808 281 9265. Both are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

How to gamble responsibly in the UK

Every gambler is strongly encouraged to gamble responsibly to help keep things fun and safe. A few tips on how to do that are:

Do not think of gambling as a source of income
Decide how long you want to play before starting, and switch on reality checks if playing online to keep to that time
Decide how much money you want to play with before starting
Never gamble with money you cannot afford to lose
Set a deposit limit so you can’t deposit more than planned. UK-licensed sites must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit
Do not try to recoup any losses
Take breaks regularly
Do not play when under the influence of alcohol or otherwise intoxicated
Do not play when stressed, anxious or in any other distressed mood
Only play at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission

Take a time out

If you think you are gambling too much, stop and take a break.

Every UK-licensed online casino must offer a time-out feature. It prevents you from playing at that site for a set period: 24 hours, one week, one month, or any other period you reasonably request up to six weeks.

Gambling problem? Spot the signs

It’s not always easy to spot if you, or someone else, has a gambling problem. Part of the reason for that is because it’s often seen as a hidden addiction, with no obvious physical effects.

Here are a few signs that could indicate that someone has or is developing a problem with gambling:

Spending more time and money gambling
Playing over your limits
Not gambling for fun
Chasing losses
Missing commitments or appointments
Borrowing money to gamble
Getting into debt
Lying about gambling habits
Problems with family or friends due to gambling
Feeling guilty, stressed, anxious, depressed or being otherwise distressed due to gambling

If any of the above applies to you, stop and seek help. The sooner a problem is addressed, the better.

Take a self-assessment

A self-assessment can help you understand whether gambling is becoming a problem. Gordon Moody’s online self-assessment asks a few questions and points you towards the right treatment or support. Gamblers Anonymous also offers its Twenty Questions test to help you judge whether you may be a compulsive gambler.

Responsible gambling tools in the UK

If you think you have a problem, there are a variety of tools that can help.

Self-exclude

All gambling businesses in the UK need a licence from the Gambling Commission. As part of that licence, the Gambling Commission requires them to let gamblers self-exclude if they choose to.

Each type of gambling has its own self-exclusion scheme, so you need to register separately with every scheme you want to use:

Online gambling – Gamstop: Every UK-licensed online gambling site must be part of Gamstop. Once your self-exclusion is confirmed, you are blocked from all licensed gambling websites and apps for the period you choose: six months, one year or five years.
Betting shops – Gamstop Betting Shops: Previously known as MOSES (the Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme), the betting shop scheme now runs under the Gamstop name. You register by phone on 0800 294 2060 and choose the bookmakers you use or might try to use. The exclusion runs for a fixed 12 months, after which you can renew it.
Land-based casinos – SENSE: The Self-Enrolment National Self-Exclusion (SENSE) scheme lets you exclude yourself from all licensed land-based casinos with one application, made in person at a casino or by email. The exclusion lasts at least six months, and you can extend it up to five years.
Bingo halls – BISES: The Bingo Industry Self-Exclusion Scheme covers all licensed land-based bingo premises. You can register in person at a bingo club or by phoning the club directly.
Arcades – BACTA: Self-exclude from adult gaming centres, high street arcades, motorway service areas and family entertainment centres in your area by asking in person at the premises. For advice, call 01482 441 142 and select option 1.

Problem Gambling Support

There are many different websites, programmes and tools where you can find help for problem gambling.

GambleAware, which funded many of these services for years, closed at the end of March 2026. Support and treatment are now funded through the statutory gambling levy and commissioned by the NHS and public health bodies in England, Scotland and Wales.

Here are some of the most prominent services for UK residents:

GamCare – National Gambling Helpline – Free, confidential support for people in England and Scotland, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0808 8020 133, or use live chat or WhatsApp. GamCare also runs an online forum and daily chatrooms where you can talk to people in a similar situation.
NHS Wales Gambling Helpline – Since April 2026, people in Wales can call the free NHS helpline on 0808 281 9265, 24/7. It is run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and can refer callers to the All Wales Gambling Treatment Service.
NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic – Available for people aged 16 and over living in England and Wales, the National Problem Gambling Clinic treats problem gamblers as well as partners and family members. It focuses on more complex cases, so most people are asked to contact the National Gambling Helpline first.
Gam-Anon – Support for people who have been affected by someone else’s problem gambling, with regular meetings usually held on the same nights as Gamblers Anonymous but in separate rooms. Gam-Anon Scotland runs the groups in Scotland.
Gamblers Anonymous – Support for people across England, Wales and Ulster who have a compulsive gambling problem, with meetings every day of the week and no appointment needed. In Scotland, meetings are run by Gamblers Anonymous Scotland.
Gordon Moody – A charity offering residential treatment for gambling-related harm, alongside advice, counselling and online support.

Block gambling websites

It’s also possible to block access to gambling websites using certain online tools:

Gamban – Blocks access to tens of thousands of gambling websites and apps on multiple devices, such as computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Includes a 7-day free trial.
GamBlock – Uses analysis rather than fixed lists to block new gambling sites and apps across devices. Available as a single licence or multiple licences.

You can also ask your bank to block gambling payments. The Gambling Commission has a guide to blocking gambling transactions.

How UK player protection has improved

The rules protecting UK players have tightened considerably in recent years. These are the key changes:

May 2019: Online casinos must verify your age before you can deposit, play free-to-play games or gamble
March 2020: Every UK-licensed online gambling site must be part of Gamstop
April 2020: Using credit cards to gamble is banned
September 2022: Online casinos must monitor accounts for signs of harm and act on them promptly
April 2025: A statutory gambling levy replaces voluntary industry contributions, funding research, prevention and treatment
April and May 2025: Online slot stakes are capped at £5 per spin, and at £2 for players aged 18 to 24
October 2025: Sites must prompt you to set a financial limit before your first deposit
March 2026: GambleAware closes, and the NHS and public health bodies take over funding for support and treatment
April 2026: NHS Wales launches its own 24/7 gambling helpline
September 2026: Every site must offer a deposit limit based purely on how much you pay in, and only this type of limit can be called a deposit limit

UK underage gambling

Underage gambling is against the law. In the UK, only people aged 18 or over can gamble in most cases, including at licensed online casinos.

In line with the Gambling Commission’s rules, all UK online casinos must verify the age and identity of new players before they can deposit or play. If the age cannot be verified as 18 or over, the person will not be allowed to play. We only include sites that are licensed by the Gambling Commission and have this strict process in place.

FAQ

How does the UK Gambling Commission enforce responsible gambling?

Every UK-licensed casino must follow the Gambling Commission’s licence conditions and social responsibility codes. These cover safer gambling tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion, as well as marketing rules. If a site breaks them, the Commission can fine it or suspend or revoke its licence.

What is the safe-gambling duty of care expected from UK operators?

Since September 2022, online casinos must monitor your account from the moment it’s opened, using a set of indicators to spot signs of harm. When those signs appear, they have to act promptly, and they must stop sending marketing and bonus offers to players showing strong signs of harm.

Can I self-exclude from both online and land-based casinos at once?

Not with a single request. Each type of gambling has its own scheme: Gamstop for online sites, Gamstop Betting Shops for bookmakers, SENSE for land-based casinos, and separate schemes for bingo halls and arcades. You need to register with each one you want to be excluded from.

How is my personal data protected when self-excluding?

Self-exclusion schemes must handle your personal data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, which means using it only for a stated purpose such as enforcing your exclusion. Each scheme publishes a privacy policy explaining how your data is used.