Responsible Gambling – Support & Self-Exclusion Tools

Gambling can be an enjoyable pastime, but for some people it becomes difficult to manage. This page brings together practical tools, UK support organisations and clear information about your options — whether you play at UKGC-licensed sites, non-GamStop casinos, or both.

18+ only. If gambling is causing you distress, financial harm or affecting your relationships, help is available right now — free, confidential and without judgement.

Recognising a Problem Early

Problem gambling rarely announces itself. It tends to develop gradually, and many people minimise the signs for a long time. The following are common indicators that gambling may be becoming harmful:

Spending more than you planned, or chasing losses to "win back" money
Feeling irritable or anxious when you are not gambling
Gambling with money earmarked for bills, rent or essentials
Lying to friends or family about how much time or money you spend gambling
Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
Feeling unable to stop, even when you want to
Neglecting work, study or personal relationships because of gambling

Recognising one or more of these does not mean you have a serious disorder — but it is a reason to pause and take stock. The organisations below offer confidential support at any stage.

Free Support Organisations in the UK

All of the following services are free to use and operate in Great Britain. None require a referral.

Organisation	What they offer	Contact
GamCare	Free counselling, live chat, forum and helpline. Runs the National Gambling Helpline.	0808 8020 133 (24/7)
Gamblers Anonymous UK	Peer support meetings across the UK, based on a 12-step programme.	0330 094 0322
GamAnon	Support for family members and loved ones affected by someone else's gambling.	Via Gamblers Anonymous UK
BeGambleAware	Information, self-assessment tools and access to treatment services nationwide.	begambleaware.org
Gordon Moody	Residential treatment and online therapy for severe gambling harm.	gordonmoody.org.uk
Gambling Therapy	International online support, forums and one-to-one chat, available in multiple languages.	gamblingtherapy.org

What GamStop Is — and What It Does Not Cover

GamStop is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme, operated by the Remote Gambling Association. When you register at gamstop.co.uk, your details are shared with all UKGC-licensed online gambling operators, and you are blocked from their platforms for a minimum of six months, one year or five years — whichever period you choose.

It is a useful tool with one important limitation: it only applies to operators holding a UK Gambling Commission licence. Casinos and betting sites licensed in other jurisdictions — commonly Malta (MGA), Curaçao or Gibraltar — are not connected to GamStop and will not be aware of your exclusion unless you contact them separately.

This means that if you have self-excluded via GamStop and then choose to play at a non-GamStop site, you are doing so outside the protections that scheme provides. That is a legal activity for adults in the UK, but it is worth understanding clearly before you proceed.

Self-Excluding From Non-GamStop Casinos

If you want to restrict your access to casinos that operate outside GamStop, you have several options. Using them together gives the most reliable coverage:

Contact the site directly. Every reputable casino — regardless of which jurisdiction it is licensed in — offers a self-exclusion option in its responsible gambling settings or via customer support. Request a permanent or timed exclusion in writing and keep a record of the confirmation.
Use blocking software. Tools such as Gamban, Betfilter and Gamblock work at device level and block access to gambling sites across all licences and jurisdictions. Gamban in particular is widely used and covers thousands of gambling URLs. A subscription typically costs a few pounds per month and can cover multiple devices.
Talk to your bank. Most major UK banks now offer a gambling block through their app or online banking. This prevents your debit card or bank account from being used at gambling merchants — including those not on GamStop — without requiring you to cancel your card.
Register with MOSES or similar schemes. The Multi-Operator Self-Exclusion Scheme (MOSES) and similar land-based schemes cover physical venues. If your gambling spans online and offline play, these may be relevant.

Practical Tools for Staying in Control

Short of full self-exclusion, most licensed casinos — including non-GamStop sites with credible licensing — offer a range of player protection tools. These are worth using proactively, not just in a crisis:

Deposit limits — set a daily, weekly or monthly cap on how much you can deposit. Changes to reduce the limit take effect immediately; increases typically require a 24-hour cooling-off period.
Loss limits — cap the total you can lose over a set period.
Session time limits — the casino will end your session or send a reminder when your chosen time is up.
Reality checks — on-screen prompts that show you how long you have been playing and your net position in the session.
Cool-off periods — a short break of 24 hours to 30 days, during which you cannot log in but your account remains open.
Account closure — a permanent option at any time, separate from self-exclusion in that you can reopen the account after a period at most sites.

If a casino you are considering does not offer these tools, treat that as a significant warning sign about how it operates.

How to Set Limits Before You Play

The most effective moment to set a deposit limit is before you make your first deposit — not after a losing session. A straightforward approach:

Decide what you can genuinely afford to lose in a month — not what you hope to win back.
Set that figure as your monthly deposit limit before you fund your account.
Enable session time reminders at an interval that feels realistic (many players use 60 minutes).
Write down — or save in your phone — the support number 0808 8020 133 so it is there if you need it.
Review your limits every month and adjust downward if your circumstances change.

Financial Harm and Getting Help

Gambling-related financial harm is common, and specialist help exists beyond the gambling organisations listed above. If debt has become a concern:

StepChange Debt Charity offers free debt advice and management plans: stepchange.org or 0800 138 1111.
National Debtline provides free, independent advice: nationaldebtline.org or 0808 808 4000.
Citizens Advice can assist with both debt and benefits questions if your financial situation has become serious.

These organisations do not judge how the debt arose. Their role is to help you find a workable path forward.

A Note on How This Site Operates

Online Casinos is an independent comparison site. We review and rank online casinos — including those not connected to the GamStop scheme — and we may earn a commission when readers sign up through our links. That commercial relationship does not influence our editorial assessments, and it does not change our view that responsible gambling tools and support organisations matter.

All casinos featured on this site are reviewed for the responsible gambling tools they make available to players. We recommend that every adult who chooses to gamble — at any site — makes active use of deposit limits and knows where to find help if their gambling changes.

For a full overview of the casinos we have reviewed, visit our main casino comparison page. If you have a question about how this site works, our About Us page explains our review process, or you can contact us directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I self-exclude from non-GamStop casinos if I've already registered with them?

Yes. Contact the casino's customer support and request a self-exclusion in writing. Reputable sites are required by their own licensing conditions to honour this. Keep the confirmation email. You can also use device-level blocking software such as Gamban to enforce the restriction on your end.

Does GamStop block all gambling sites?

No. GamStop only covers operators holding a UK Gambling Commission licence. Sites licensed in Malta, Curaçao, Gibraltar or elsewhere are not part of the scheme and will not act on a GamStop registration unless you contact them separately or use a third-party blocking tool.

Is the National Gambling Helpline free to call?

Yes. The GamCare helpline — 0808 8020 133 — is free to call from UK landlines and mobile phones, and it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls do not appear on itemised phone bills from most UK providers, though it is worth checking with your network if that matters to you.

What should I do if someone I know has a gambling problem?

GamAnon and GamCare both offer support specifically for friends and family members. You cannot force someone to seek help, but talking to a support service yourself can help you understand how to approach the situation and protect your own wellbeing in the meantime.

Will using deposit limits affect my bonuses?

It depends on the casino's terms. Some bonuses require a minimum deposit that exceeds a low deposit limit — in that case, the limit takes precedence and the bonus would not trigger. That is a worthwhile trade-off. No bonus is worth depositing more than you are comfortable losing.

Can I reverse a self-exclusion if I change my mind?

For GamStop, the minimum exclusion period is six months and cannot be reversed early. For individual non-GamStop casinos, the terms vary — many impose a minimum cooling-off period before an exclusion can be lifted. Blocking software such as Gamban also includes a deliberate delay before it can be uninstalled, which provides an additional barrier during a vulnerable moment.