Updated November 2026 · 18+
Gambling should be entertainment you can afford, never a way to make money or escape problems. This page lists free, confidential help you can contact today, the tools casinos offer to keep play under control, ways to block gambling payments, and the warning signs that it has gone further than you meant. You must be 18+ to gamble.
If gambling is worrying you, or you are worried about someone close to you, you do not have to wait until things get worse. The services below are free and confidential, and you do not need to have hit rock bottom to use them.
National Gambling Helpline (GamCare): free and confidential, 24/7, 0808 8020 133
GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline. Advisers will listen, help you put blocks and limits in place, and can refer you to free counselling, face to face or online. Family members and friends can call too.
Gordon Moody is a charity for people most severely affected by gambling. It offers intensive support, including residential treatment programmes and online therapy, as well as help for people affected by someone else’s gambling.
The NHS runs specialist gambling clinics in England that treat gambling problems with talking therapies, and some also support family members. In most cases you can refer yourself without going through your GP.
Gamblers Anonymous runs peer support meetings, in person and online, for people who want to stop gambling. GamAnon runs separate groups for partners, relatives and friends of someone with a gambling problem.
| We will | We will not |
|---|---|
| Show 18+ and the National Gambling Helpline on every page | Take bets or deposits, or hold casino accounts |
| Quote wagering and withdrawal limits exactly as casinos publish them | Tell you a jackpot is due or a game is ‘hot’ |
| Explain how rarely jackpot top prizes land | Present gambling as a way to make money or clear debts |
| Point you to free, independent support | Help anyone reopen a closed or self-excluded casino account |
| Correct our content when we are told it is wrong | Aim content at anyone under 18 |
You can read more about how we review casinos and what we check.
Most online casinos offer tools to control how much and how long you play. They are usually in your account settings, under a heading such as Responsible Gambling or Safer Gambling. The exact tools, their names and how quickly changes take effect differ from casino to casino, so check what yours offers before your first deposit. Our online casino reviews note the safer gambling tools an operator publishes, where we could find them.
| Tool | What it does | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit limit | Caps how much you can deposit per day, week or month | Set it when you open the account, at the level of your entertainment budget |
| Loss or wager limit | Caps your losses or total stakes over a period, where offered | If you tend to deposit again straight after a loss |
| Reality check | Pop-up reminders of how long you have played and what you have spent | Long sessions, especially on fast slots |
| Session limit | Ends your session after a set time, where offered | If hours slip by without you noticing |
| Time-out | Blocks the account for a short break, from a day to a few weeks | When you want a pause without closing the account |
| Self-exclusion | Closes the account for a longer, fixed period and should stop marketing from that casino | When you want to stop gambling with that casino |
Three things to keep in mind:
If one or more of these sounds familiar, talk to someone today. The National Gambling Helpline is a good first call.
Jackpot games pay their top prize rarely, and every spin is independent of the one before. A rising meter shows how large the prize has grown, not that you are about to win it. Treat any money spent on jackpot games as the cost of entertainment, and read our guide on how progressive jackpots really work before you play.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999. If you are struggling to cope, Samaritans are available on 116 123, free, day or night. To suggest a support service we should add here, use our contact page.
Look in your account settings, usually under Responsible Gambling or Safer Gambling, and choose a daily, weekly or monthly amount. The options differ by casino, so check what yours offers before your first deposit.
A time-out blocks your account for a short break, usually from a day to a few weeks. Self-exclusion closes it for a longer, fixed period and is meant for when you want to stop gambling with that casino.
Many UK banks and card providers offer a gambling block in their app or by phone. Some add a waiting period before you can turn it off again.
Yes. The National Gambling Helpline (GamCare) on 0808 8020 133 is free and confidential, and open 24/7.
GamAnon runs support groups for relatives and friends, and the National Gambling Helpline, Gordon Moody and some NHS gambling clinics also support people affected by someone else’s gambling.