Player Protection
Responsible gambling
18+ only. Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. The house has a mathematical advantage on every game. If you feel gambling is causing problems — financial, emotional, or relationship — free help is available. This page lists the main UK resources.
National Gambling Helpline: 0808 802 0133 (free, 24/7)
GamStop — UK self-exclusion
GamStop is the UK's national self-exclusion scheme. Registering blocks you from gambling with all UKGC-licensed operators for the period you choose: six months, one year, or five years.
All UKGC-licensed operators — including every site in this comparison — are legally required to check against GamStop before allowing account registration or permitting a return to play after an exclusion period ends.
Registration is free and takes around five minutes. Once active, the exclusion cannot be shortened below the minimum period.
Tools within your account
Every UKGC-licensed operator is required to make the following available to all registered players:
Deposit limits
Set a maximum amount you can deposit per day, week, or month. Reduces take effect immediately; increases are subject to a cooling-off period (usually 24–48 hours).
Loss limits
Cap the total amount you can lose in a given period. Mechanics are similar to deposit limits.
Session time reminders
Operators must offer the ability to set reminders about how long you have been playing.
Cooling-off periods
A short voluntary pause on your account — typically 24 hours to several weeks — that you can trigger at any time from within your account settings.
Self-exclusion (operator level)
Separate from GamStop — you can self-exclude directly with an individual operator, typically for a minimum of six months. This covers that operator only; GamStop covers all UKGC-licensed operators simultaneously.
Reality checks
Pop-up notifications showing how long you have been logged in and how much you have spent during the session.
UK support organisations
Advice, self-help tools, and a directory of treatment services. Runs the National Gambling Helpline (0808 802 0133, free, 24/7).
The UK's leading support provider for people affected by gambling harms. Free live chat, phone support, and face-to-face counselling.
Specialist residential and online treatment programmes for people with serious gambling problems.
Peer support groups based on a 12-step model, with meetings available across the UK.
For help with financial problems related to gambling — debt advice, benefits, and housing support.
Gambling and money
Casino games and most forms of gambling are designed with a mathematical advantage for the operator. Over a sufficient number of bets, the expected outcome for a player is a loss. This is not a reason to avoid gambling altogether — many people enjoy it as entertainment within a budget — but it is a reason not to gamble with money you cannot afford to lose, or with the expectation of profit.