Responsible Gambling
Gambling is entertainment, and for most people it stays that way. But for some it can become something harder to manage. This page sets out the tools available in Great Britain to help you stay in control, the organisations that offer free and confidential support, and the options open to you if you feel you need a break — whether you use a UK-licensed site or one based overseas. All visitors to Online Casinos must be 18 or over.
The Basics of Playing Within Your Limits
Responsible gambling starts before you log in. A few straightforward habits make a real difference:
- Set a budget before you play — decide in advance the most you are prepared to lose in a session, and treat it as the cost of entertainment rather than a stake you expect to recover.
- Use deposit and loss limits — most casinos let you set daily, weekly or monthly caps through your account settings. Apply them before you need them.
- Keep track of time — it is easy to lose track. Set an alarm or use a session timer if one is offered.
- Never chase losses — increasing your bets to win back money you have lost is one of the most reliable warning signs that gambling has stopped being fun.
- Avoid gambling when emotional — stress, low mood or alcohol all affect judgement. Save play for when you are calm and clear-headed.
- Balance gambling with other activities — if gambling is crowding out other interests or relationships, that is worth taking seriously.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Problem gambling rarely announces itself. The signs tend to build gradually. Ask yourself honestly whether any of the following apply:
- Spending more than you planned, more often than you planned
- Feeling irritable or anxious when you are not gambling
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund play
- Lying to family or friends about how much you gamble or spend
- Gambling to escape worry, boredom or difficult feelings
- Failed attempts to cut down or stop
- Neglecting work, study or relationships because of time spent gambling
If more than one of these feels familiar, speaking to one of the organisations below costs nothing and carries no obligation.
Free Support Organisations in Great Britain
The following services are free, confidential and available to anyone in GB — whether you are concerned about your own gambling or that of someone close to you.
| Organisation | What they offer | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, a 24/7 helpline, online chat and the National Gambling Helpline | 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7) — gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer-support meetings across the UK, based on the twelve-step programme | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| GamAnon | Support groups for family members and friends affected by someone else's gambling | gamanon.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools and referrals to treatment services | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential and online treatment programmes for severe gambling disorders | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| Gambling Therapy | Free online support, forums and one-to-one counselling in multiple languages | gamblingtherapy.org |
Self-Exclusion: Your Options Explained
Self-exclusion is a formal request to a gambling operator to close your account and block you from opening a new one for a set period. It is one of the most effective tools available when you want to stop.
GAMSTOP — the UK Self-Exclusion Scheme
GAMSTOP is a free service that lets you self-exclude from all UK Gambling Commission-licensed online operators in a single registration. You choose a period of six months, one year or five years. Once active, every UKGC-licensed site is required to block you from registering or logging in. You can sign up at gamstop.co.uk. The exclusion cannot be reversed early, so choose the period you are ready to commit to.
Self-Excluding from Non-GAMSTOP Casinos
Casinos operating outside the GAMSTOP scheme are not automatically linked to it. If you want to stop using a non-GAMSTOP site, you need to contact that site directly through its responsible gambling or account-management section and request a self-exclusion. Reputable offshore operators offer this option in their account settings or via customer support. The exclusion period and process will vary by site — check the casino's responsible gambling page or contact their support team directly.
You can also use blocking software to prevent access to gambling sites entirely, regardless of where they are licensed:
- Gamban — blocks gambling websites and apps across all your devices. Available at gamban.com, with a low annual subscription.
- BetBlocker — free software that blocks access to gambling websites on up to five devices. betblocker.org.
- Net Nanny / parental controls — can be configured to restrict access to gambling domains at the device or router level.
How Deposit Limits and Cooling-Off Tools Work
Beyond self-exclusion, most casinos — both UKGC-licensed and offshore — offer a range of in-account controls. The availability varies by operator, so check your account settings or ask support:
- Deposit limits — cap how much you can add to your account in a day, week or month. Reductions take effect immediately; increases are subject to a waiting period on UKGC-licensed sites.
- Loss limits — cap net losses over a chosen period.
- Session time limits — log you out automatically after a set time.
- Reality checks — pop-up reminders showing how long you have been playing and how much you have wagered.
- Cooling-off / time-out periods — a short break of 24 hours to several weeks, during which you cannot deposit or play. Less permanent than a self-exclusion.
Non-GAMSTOP Casinos and Responsible Play
The casinos reviewed on Online Casinos operate under licences issued by regulators outside Great Britain — such as Curaçao or Malta. They are not enrolled in GAMSTOP, which is why they appear on this site. That does not mean responsible gambling tools are absent. The casinos listed here each offer account-level controls including deposit limits and self-exclusion, and their support teams can be contacted to apply restrictions at any time.
If you have self-excluded via GAMSTOP and are visiting offshore casinos, it is worth being honest with yourself about whether that is a considered choice or a sign that the exclusion is not working as intended. The support organisations listed above do not judge — they are there to help either way.
You can read more about how the casinos on this site are selected and assessed on our main casino listings page.
Protecting Under-18s
No one under 18 may gamble on any of the sites linked from Online Casinos, and no one under 18 may use this website. If you share a device with someone under 18, consider:
- Setting up a separate user profile for younger household members with parental controls enabled
- Using BetBlocker or Net Nanny to block gambling domains on shared devices
- Keeping your login credentials private and logging out after each session
About This Site's Approach
Online Casinos (acousticfestival.co.uk) is an independent comparison site. We research and review offshore casinos for readers in Great Britain who are looking for options outside the GAMSTOP scheme. We earn commission when readers sign up through our links; that commercial relationship does not affect editorial ratings or rankings. A fuller explanation of how we work is on our About Us page.
Our commitment to responsible gambling is straightforward: we include this information on every page we produce, we do not market to people who have indicated they want to stop, and we encourage anyone who is struggling to use the free resources listed above before continuing to play anywhere.
If you have a question about the content on this site or want to report a concern, you can reach us via our Contact Us page. Our full Terms and Conditions are also available to read.
Quick Reference: Getting Help Fast
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133 — free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- GAMSTOP self-exclusion: gamstop.co.uk
- Free blocking software: betblocker.org (free) / gamban.com (paid)
- Online counselling: gamcare.org.uk / gamblingtherapy.org
If you are in a moment of crisis, close the browser and call the helpline. The conversation is confidential and there is no pressure to commit to anything.