Responsible Gambling – Support & Self-Help Tools

Betting should be enjoyable — a way to add interest to sport, not a source of financial or emotional harm. This page sets out the tools, organisations and practical steps available to anyone who wants to keep their gambling in check, or who is concerned about their own habits or those of someone close to them. If you are in crisis right now, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (free, 24 hours a day).

Bets Not On Gamstop (timelaps.co.uk) is an independent comparison site. We earn commission when readers follow our links, but that never influences the information on this page. Responsible gambling guidance is editorially independent and carries no commercial interest.

Keeping Gambling in Its Proper Place

Most people who bet do so without it ever becoming a problem. A few straightforward habits help keep it that way:

Set a budget before you start — decide the maximum you are comfortable losing in a session or a week, and treat it as spent the moment you stake it.
Only bet with money you can afford to lose — never use rent, bills money or borrowing to fund a bet.
Think of it as entertainment, not income — the house edge means that over time most punters lose more than they win. That is the honest baseline.
Keep track of time as well as money — it is easy to lose an hour without noticing. A simple phone alarm helps.
Do not chase losses — placing a bigger bet to recover what you have lost is the single most common route into serious difficulty.
Take regular breaks — stepping away for a day, a weekend or longer resets perspective.

Recognising When Gambling Is Becoming a Problem

Problem gambling rarely announces itself. The signs tend to be gradual. Being honest with yourself about the questions below is a useful first check.

Are you spending more than you planned, more often than you planned?
Are you borrowing money or selling possessions to fund betting?
Do you feel restless or irritable when you try to cut down or stop?
Are you hiding your gambling from family or friends?
Has gambling caused arguments, missed work or lost sleep?
Do you return to try to win back money you have lost?
Do you find yourself thinking about gambling for large parts of the day?

Answering yes to any of these does not mean you have a disorder, but it is a signal worth taking seriously. Reaching out to one of the organisations below costs nothing and carries no obligation.

Free Support Services in the UK

All of the services below are free, confidential and available to GB residents. None requires a referral.

Organisation	What it offers	Contact
GamCare	Counselling, online chat, forums and the National Gambling Helpline	0808 8020 133 — free, 24/7
Gamblers Anonymous	Peer-support groups across the UK, based on the 12-step model	0330 094 0322
GamAnon	Support specifically for families and friends affected by someone else's gambling	0330 094 0322
Gambling Therapy	International online support — chat, forums and self-help tools — run by Gordon Moody	gamblingtherapy.org
BeGambleAware	Information, self-assessment tools and referrals to local treatment	begambleaware.org
NHS Northern Gambling Service	Specialist NHS treatment — free, no referral needed for most areas	Via your GP or nhs.uk

Self-Exclusion and Betting Limits — Your Practical Options

Beyond seeking support, there are direct tools that let you restrict your own access to gambling. Using them is straightforward and does not require speaking to anyone.

Gamstop

Gamstop is the UK's national self-exclusion register. Registering at gamstop.co.uk applies a self-exclusion to all online operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission simultaneously. You choose a minimum exclusion period of six months, one year or five years. Once registered, those operators are required to prevent you from opening new accounts or accessing existing ones for the duration you choose.

It is important to understand that Gamstop only applies to UKGC-licensed operators. Sports betting sites not covered by Gamstop are licensed in other jurisdictions and are therefore outside the scheme's scope — which is why self-management, budgeting tools and the support services above remain relevant regardless of where you choose to bet.

Deposit and spending limits

Most betting sites — whether UK-licensed or regulated elsewhere — allow you to set daily, weekly or monthly deposit limits from within your account settings. Setting these proactively, before you feel the need to, is one of the most effective low-friction tools available. The limit takes effect immediately; raising it is usually subject to a cooling-off period.

Reality checks and session time limits

Many operators offer on-screen reminders showing how long you have been active and how much you have wagered. Turning these on keeps time and money visible in the moment, when it counts most.

Account cooling-off and self-exclusion at individual sites

If you want to step back from a specific site without going through a national register, you can ask the operator directly to apply a temporary suspension or a permanent self-exclusion to your account. Responsible operators are required by their licences to honour these requests promptly.

Blocking software

Third-party tools such as Gamban, BetBlocker and Gamblock can be installed across your devices to block access to gambling websites entirely. BetBlocker is free. Gamban and Gamblock charge a small fee. These work independently of any operator and are particularly useful if you want a technical barrier as a backstop.

If You Are Worried About Someone Else

It can be harder to watch a friend or family member struggle than to face a problem yourself. A few things are worth keeping in mind:

Problem gambling often involves shame and secrecy — direct confrontation can cause the person to withdraw further.
GamAnon (details above) is designed specifically for people in this situation and offers group support from others who understand it.
GamCare's helpline advises family members as well as gamblers themselves.
If there is an immediate risk to someone's safety or wellbeing, contact the relevant emergency services or the Samaritans (116 123, free, 24/7).

About This Site and Our Responsibilities

Bets Not On Gamstop reviews and compares sports betting sites available to UK readers, including non-Gamstop bookmakers operating under licences issued outside the UK. We present factual information to help adults make informed choices. We do not accept advertising from operators in exchange for editorial treatment, and our rankings are based on independent research. Full details of how we work are on our About Us page.

We are committed to displaying responsible gambling information prominently and to never marketing our content at people under 18. You must be 18 or over to use this site and to open an account with any operator featured here.

If anything on this site is causing you concern, or if you have feedback about how we present responsible gambling information, you are welcome to get in touch with us directly.

Staying in Control — a Quick Reference

Set a fixed budget before each session and stick to it.
Use deposit limits at every site where you hold an account.
Never chase losses with a larger stake.
Take a break if betting stops being enjoyable.
Use Gamstop or blocking software if you want a stronger barrier.
Contact GamCare (0808 8020 133) or BeGambleAware if you are unsure — both are free and confidential.

Gambling should add to your enjoyment of sport, not detract from it. The resources above exist precisely so that help is available the moment it is needed — with no judgement and no cost.