Set the budget first, then play inside it. A stake is the price of an evening's entertainment; it is never a wage, and never a fix for debt. Nobody under 18 may play.
Controls you can switch on
- A deposit limit sets a ceiling on what goes in over a period you choose.
- A reality check interrupts play with a reminder of how long you have been at it.
- A time-out locks the account for a short pause.
- Self-exclusion closes it for a long stretch.
Choose a limit before your first deposit, while the decision is easy to make calmly.
A note on GAMSTOP
GAMSTOP is a scheme for sites the UK Gambling Commission licenses, and our licence comes from Anjouan instead. Joining GAMSTOP therefore leaves registration with us open, so if you have joined it, please keep away. Gamban blocks gambling sites, us included, on phones and computers.
Signs worth acting on
Chasing losses is the loudest alarm. Others are using money meant for rent or food, borrowing to keep going and sessions that run far past the plan. Hiding the sums from people close to you, or feeling edgy or flat on days without play, belongs on the list too.
Where to find help
- GamCare's National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133, free and confidential.
- GambleAware: plain guidance on gambling harm and how to reach treatment.
- Gordon Moody: residential and online recovery courses.
- Gamblers Anonymous: peer meetings in person and online.
Protecting younger people
Keep your login details private, lock your devices and never let anyone under 18 use your account. Filtering software on shared computers adds another layer of protection.