Responsible Gambling
Gambling can be entertaining, but it carries real risks — and for some people those risks become serious. This page sets out the tools, organisations and practical steps available to anyone who feels their gambling is no longer under control, or who simply wants to stay in control before problems develop. 18+ only.
Recognising When Gambling Becomes a Problem
Problem gambling rarely announces itself clearly. It tends to develop gradually, and many people only recognise it in hindsight. The following signs are widely used by support organisations as early indicators:
- Spending more than you can afford to lose, or chasing losses to recover money
- Gambling to escape stress, anxiety or low mood rather than for entertainment
- Lying to friends or family about how much time or money you spend gambling
- Borrowing money, using savings or neglecting bills to fund gambling
- Feeling irritable or restless when you try to cut down or stop
- Continuing to gamble despite wanting to stop
- Gambling taking priority over work, relationships or other responsibilities
If any of these resonate, the organisations listed further down this page offer free, confidential support — no referral needed.
Free Support Organisations in the UK
Several independent charities and helplines operate in Great Britain specifically to support people affected by gambling harm. All of the services below are free to use.
| Organisation | What they offer | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, online chat, forums and a 24/7 helpline | gamcare.org.uk | 0808 8020 133 |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings across the UK, based on a 12-step programme | gamblersanonymous.org.uk |
| Gordon Moody | Residential treatment and therapeutic communities for severe gambling disorder | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Information, self-assessment tools and referral to treatment | begambleaware.org | 0808 8020 133 |
| NHS Northern Gambling Service | Specialist NHS treatment for gambling disorder, free on referral | Via your GP or nhs.uk |
What GAMSTOP Is and How It Works
GAMSTOP is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. Registering with it places a block across all online gambling operators that hold a UK Gambling Commission licence. Once you sign up, those licensed sites are required to refuse your registration or block your account for the period you choose — six months, one year or five years.
Registration is free and takes a few minutes at gamstop.co.uk. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, email address and postal address. The exclusion applies to all UKGC-licensed operators, not just the ones you currently use.
Important: GAMSTOP only covers operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Casinos licensed overseas and reviewed on this site operate outside that scheme. If you are using GAMSTOP as a primary control tool, be aware that it will not automatically restrict access to offshore sites.
Self-Excluding from Non-GAMSTOP Casinos
If you decide you want to stop playing at offshore casinos, the most direct route is to contact each site's customer support and request a self-exclusion. Reputable operators will close your account and return any balance. Most allow you to do this via live chat, email or a dedicated account settings menu.
Steps to take when self-excluding from any casino:
- Log in and navigate to the responsible gambling or account settings section — many operators have a self-exclusion option there.
- If no self-service option exists, contact support directly and state clearly that you want to self-exclude rather than take a temporary break.
- Ask for written confirmation and keep a copy.
- Request that any remaining balance is returned before the account closes.
- Consider blocking gambling sites at the device or network level using a tool such as Gamban, which works independently of any operator.
Practical Tools for Staying in Control
Self-exclusion is one option, but responsible gambling also includes lower-level controls that help you set limits before things escalate. Most reputable casinos — including those reviewed on this site — offer some combination of the following:
- Deposit limits — daily, weekly or monthly caps on how much you can add to your account
- Loss limits — a ceiling on how much you can lose in a set period
- Session time limits — automatic reminders or log-outs after a set playing period
- Reality checks — on-screen notifications showing how long you have been playing and your net result
- Cooling-off periods — temporary account pauses of 24 hours to several weeks
- Self-exclusion — full account closure for a defined minimum period
Using deposit and loss limits proactively — before you feel you need them — is one of the most effective ways to keep gambling within a budget you have decided on in advance.
Third-Party Blocking Software
For anyone who wants an additional layer of protection that works regardless of which operator they use, third-party software can block gambling sites at the device level. Gamban is the most widely used option in the UK and blocks tens of thousands of gambling domains across all browsers and apps on the devices you install it on. It is available for a modest annual fee and is free for people registered with certain support organisations — check BeGambleAware or GamCare for current arrangements.
Other tools include NetNanny and built-in parental controls on most operating systems, which can be configured to block gambling categories even if they are less comprehensive than dedicated gambling-block software.
Protecting Younger People
All gambling — including at offshore casinos — is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. If there is any possibility that a child or young person could access a device used for gambling, enabling parental controls and password-protecting gambling accounts are basic precautions. Never share login credentials, and log out of accounts when not in use.
If you are concerned about a young person's gambling, GamCare's Young People service offers specialist support for under-18s and the adults around them.
A Note on Our Reviews
The casinos reviewed on No Deposit Casinos are licensed by regulators outside the UK and are not part of the GAMSTOP scheme. We review and compare them on criteria including game range, payment options and bonus terms. Our full casino reviews include information on the responsible gambling tools each operator makes available.
We earn commission when readers sign up through our links. That commercial relationship does not change the information on this page, and it does not influence which support organisations we recommend or how we describe the risks of gambling.
If you have questions about how this site works, our about us page explains our review process, and our terms and conditions cover your use of the site. You can also reach us directly via the contact page.
If You Are in Crisis Right Now
If gambling has led to a financial or personal crisis — debt you cannot manage, thoughts of self-harm, or a breakdown in relationships — please contact one of the following immediately:
- GamCare helpline: 0808 8020 133 (free, 24/7)
- Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24/7, for emotional distress)
- StepChange Debt Charity: 0800 138 1111 (free debt advice)
- Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk (financial and legal guidance)
You do not need to have reached a crisis point to use any of these services. Reaching out early makes a genuine difference to outcomes.