Responsible Gaming and Self-Exclusion

Basic principle

Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to top up income. Over the long term every game pays out less than is staked, and that difference is not bad luck but simple arithmetic. Players are therefore advised to set an amount in pounds in advance that they can afford to lose, and to stick to it when a session goes badly. Losing a £20 stake should never be a reason to send another £50 after it.

Warning signs

Problem gambling rarely develops overnight. It usually starts with small shifts: playing for longer than planned, trying to win back losses with bigger stakes, borrowing money to keep going or hiding gambling from the people you live with. Anyone who notices that thoughts of gambling are starting to crowd out work, sleep or time with others has good reason to act before the harm grows.

Account settings

The platform offers several tools that let players set their own limits. A daily, weekly or monthly deposit limit caps the amount that can be added to the account. Loss limits and session time limits can also be set. A lower limit takes effect immediately, while an increase only applies after a 24-hour cooling-off period, so the decision is never made on impulse. An on-screen reminder also shows how long a session has lasted and how much has been staked during that time.

Time-out

Players who want a short break without closing their account can choose a time-out of 24 hours to six weeks. During that period it is not possible to log in, and marketing messages are stopped. Access is restored automatically at the end of the time-out unless the player asks to extend it. Any balance remains in the account during the break.

Self-exclusion

For an ongoing problem, a short break is usually not enough. Self-exclusion can be requested for six months, one year or five years, and the request cannot be reversed while the chosen period is running. Any positive balance is paid out once verification is complete. The profile is removed from all mailing lists, and any new registration under different details is blocked as soon as it is detected. A request to reopen the account after the period ends is assessed separately and is never granted automatically. To exclude from all UK-licensed gambling sites at once, players can also register with GamStop.

Protecting under-18s

Access is restricted to people aged 18 and over. On devices shared with children, it is sensible not to save login details and to use filtering software that blocks gambling websites. Accounts found to have been opened by someone under 18 are closed, stakes are refunded and any winnings are void.

Where to get help

Independent organisations in the UK offer free and confidential support:

• GamCare: runs the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, free and open 24 hours a day, including for people affected by someone else’s gambling.
• GamStop: the national online self-exclusion scheme that blocks access to all UK-licensed gambling websites and apps.
• Gamblers Anonymous: free peer support meetings across the UK, with no waiting list and no referral needed.
• Gordon Moody: residential and online treatment programmes for people with gambling problems.
• NHS: information on gambling addiction and access to specialist NHS gambling clinics.

For family and friends

Family members and friends often notice a problem before the player does. Paying off debts or covering up the behaviour rarely helps, because it removes the reason to stop. Contacting one of the organisations above usually achieves more, even if the person concerned is not yet ready to accept help.