Player protection · 18+
Responsible gambling: limits, tools & help
Gambling should be entertainment, never a way to make money. This page brings together the tools every UKGC-licensed operator must offer, the national schemes that protect you, and the free, confidential support available if gambling stops being fun.
Need help now? Call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, or visit BeGambleAware.org. Support is free, confidential and available 24/7.
Set limits before you play
Every operator licensed by the UK Gambling Commission must give you tools to stay in control. Use them from the start, not once there is a problem:
- Deposit limits — cap how much you can pay in per day, week or month.
- Loss and spend limits — set a ceiling on net losses over a period.
- Session limits & reality checks — reminders of how long you have been playing.
- Time-outs — a short cooling-off break from a single operator.
UK rules add further protections by design: online slots carry stake limits of £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18–24s, introduced in 2025 because slots were identified as the highest-risk product. Credit cards are banned for gambling, so you cannot fund play with borrowed money.
GAMSTOP — self-exclude from every UK site at once
If you want to stop for a while, GAMSTOP is the free national self-exclusion scheme. One registration blocks your access to every UKGC-licensed online operator for a period you choose — 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Read our full explainer on what GAMSTOP is and how to register. Note that offshore "not on GamStop" sites sit outside this protection; we do not list or recommend them.
Signs it might be time to take a break
- Betting more than you can comfortably afford, or chasing losses.
- Gambling to escape stress, or feeling anxious about it.
- Borrowing money, or hiding your gambling from people close to you.
- Finding it hard to stop even when you want to.
If any of these feel familiar, help is available and it works. You do not have to wait until things are severe.
Free, confidential support
- National Gambling Helpline — 0808 8020 133, free and confidential.
- BeGambleAware — begambleaware.org, advice, tools and a live chat service.
- GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous — counselling and peer support.
- Your GP — can refer you to NHS gambling support services.
How we support safer gambling
UK-Gamers only covers UKGC-licensed operators, shows sign-up offers neutrally rather than pushing figures, and never promotes unlicensed sites. You must be 18 or over to gamble. Learn more about our approach on how we rate and about us.