Responsible Gambling
Betting should be entertaining. For most people it stays that way, but for some it can become harder to control — and when that happens, it matters to know what help exists and how to reach it quickly. This page sets out the tools, organisations and practical steps that are available to anyone who bets, whether on UKGC-licensed bookmakers or on non-Gamstop betting sites reviewed on this site.
18+ only. Nothing on Betting Sites Not On Gamstop is directed at anyone under the age of 18. Gambling is not suitable for everyone. Please read this page carefully if you have any concern about your own betting habits or those of someone you know.
Recognising When Betting Stops Being Fun
Problem gambling rarely announces itself clearly. It usually develops gradually, and the signs can be easy to rationalise away. The following are recognised indicators that betting may have moved beyond entertainment.
- Betting with money set aside for bills, rent or essential expenses
- Chasing losses — placing further bets to recover what has already been lost
- Feeling irritable, anxious or preoccupied when unable to bet
- Hiding betting activity or its financial consequences from family or friends
- Borrowing money or selling belongings to fund bets
- Repeatedly trying to cut down or stop but finding it difficult
- Betting affecting sleep, work, relationships or mental health
- Spending significantly more time or money betting than you intended
Experiencing one or more of these does not mean the situation is beyond recovery. It does mean it is worth speaking to someone. Every organisation listed below offers confidential, non-judgemental support.
Free Support Services in the UK
All of the following services are free to use and available to anyone in Great Britain, regardless of where or how they bet.
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, online chat and a 24/7 helpline. Run the National Gambling Helpline. | 0808 8020 133 | gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer-support meetings across the UK, based on a 12-step programme. | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| GamAnon | Support specifically for family members and friends affected by a loved one's gambling. | gamanon.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools and referrals to local treatment services. | begambleaware.org |
| Gambling Therapy | Online support in multiple languages, including live chat and forums. | gamblingtherapy.org |
| National Gambling Helpline | Free, 24-hour telephone and live chat support, operated by GamCare. | 0808 8020 133 |
Self-Exclusion: How It Works and What to Know
Self-exclusion is a formal agreement between you and a betting operator that blocks your access to that account for a set period. In the UK, there are two main routes.
Gamstop
Gamstop is the UK's national self-exclusion register, operated on behalf of UKGC-licensed operators. Registering with Gamstop blocks access to all participating UK-licensed bookmakers and casino sites simultaneously. Exclusions run for a minimum of six months and cannot be reversed before the period ends. You can register at gamstop.co.uk.
Operator-Level Self-Exclusion
Individual operators — including those not covered by Gamstop — offer their own self-exclusion tools. If you wish to restrict your access to a specific site, contacting that site's customer support directly is the fastest route. Responsible operators will action the request promptly and honour it for the duration you request.
A Note on Non-Gamstop Sites
Betting sites not registered with Gamstop operate under licences issued in other jurisdictions and are not required to participate in the UK self-exclusion scheme. If you have self-excluded through Gamstop and want to extend that protection to non-UK-licensed sites, you will need to contact those operators individually or use additional blocking software (see below).
Betting Controls You Can Use Right Now
Most reputable betting sites — regardless of where they are licensed — provide a suite of account tools designed to help you stay in control. These are typically found in the account settings or responsible gambling section of a site.
Deposit Limits
Set a maximum amount you can deposit in a day, week or month. Reductions take effect immediately; increases may require a cooling-off period.
Loss Limits
Cap the amount you are prepared to lose within a set timeframe. Once the limit is reached, further betting is blocked until the period resets.
Time Limits and Reality Checks
Session time limits close your account automatically after a defined period. Reality checks send a notification at regular intervals showing how long you have been betting and your net result for that session.
Cooling-Off Periods and Temporary Breaks
A cooling-off period suspends your account for a short spell — typically 24 hours to 30 days — without constituting a full self-exclusion. Useful if you want a pause rather than a permanent block.
Account Closure
Any operator is required to close your account on request. If a site makes this unreasonably difficult to do, that is a significant red flag.
Software That Blocks Gambling Sites
Blocking software works at the device or network level and can restrict access to betting and casino sites entirely, regardless of which operator runs them. The following tools are widely used in the UK.
- Gamban — blocks gambling-related content across all devices on a subscription basis. Works across phones, tablets and computers. gamban.com
- BetBlocker — a free blocking tool available for most devices. Exclusions can be set from 24 hours to five years. betblocker.org
- NetNanny / Bark — broader parental control software that can be configured to restrict gambling content.
Blocking software is particularly useful alongside self-exclusion, since no single scheme covers every site. Using both together provides a more complete barrier.
Protecting Young People
Under-18s must not gamble. If children or teenagers have access to your devices, use parental control software and keep betting accounts password-protected. Never share account credentials, and log out fully after each session. UKGC-licensed operators carry out age-verification checks; it is your responsibility to ensure your account is not accessible to anyone under 18.
How to Talk to Someone You Are Worried About
Approaching a friend or family member about a possible gambling problem is difficult. The following points can help.
- Choose a calm moment when neither of you is stressed or distracted.
- Use specific examples rather than general accusations — "I noticed you've seemed worried about money lately" rather than "you've been gambling everything away".
- Listen more than you speak. Let them explain how they see the situation.
- Avoid ultimatums in the first conversation. Focus on your concern for them, not their behaviour.
- Share the details of GamCare or GamAnon rather than insisting on a course of action.
- Look after yourself. GamAnon exists precisely for family members in this position.
Our Commitment to Responsible Gambling
Betting Sites Not On Gamstop reviews and lists betting sites for adult readers who choose to use them. Our editorial process — described on the About Us page — assesses operators on a range of criteria. We do not endorse irresponsible product design, and we do not benefit from encouraging anyone to bet beyond their means.
The bookmakers we review are assessed in part on the quality of their responsible gambling tools. Sites that make it genuinely easy to set limits, take breaks and self-exclude are viewed more favourably than those that do not. No commercial arrangement changes that assessment — commission does not buy a more favourable write-up, and it does not remove a site's limitations from the record.
If anything on this site has raised a concern, or if you simply want to ask a question, you are welcome to reach us via the Contact Us page. We cannot provide counselling, but we can point you in the right direction.
Our Terms and Conditions set out the full scope of what this site does and does not do.
Remember: gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Only bet what you can afford to lose, and stop if it stops being enjoyable. Help is always available.