If you need help now
Before anything else: if gambling is causing immediate harm to you or your household, the following resources are staffed right now and every day of the year.
- GamCare National Helpline: 0808 802 0133 — free, 24/7, confidential. Staffed by trained advisers who understand problem gambling and can refer you to treatment, counselling, or practical financial support.
- GamStop self-exclusion: www.gamstop.co.uk — register once to block your account at all UKGC-licensed operators simultaneously. Free, takes effect within 24 hours.
- BeGambleAware: www.begambleaware.org — self-assessment tools, online chat, and referrals to specialist support services.
- Gordon Moody residential treatment: www.gordonmoody.org.uk — residential and therapeutic programmes for individuals experiencing severe gambling disorder. Referrals accepted via GamCare.
Self-exclusion via GamStop — a walkthrough
GamStop is the UKGC-mandated national self-exclusion register. All operators holding a UKGC Remote Operating Licence are legally required to honour GamStop registrations. The process is straightforward:
- Visit www.gamstop.co.uk and click "Register with GamStop".
- Enter your name, date of birth, email address, postal address, and telephone number. This information is cross-matched against operator account databases.
- Select your exclusion period: 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Once selected, the period cannot be shortened — only extended.
- Confirm your registration. You will receive an email confirmation within minutes; the exclusion takes effect across all UKGC-licensed operators within 24 hours.
- If you hold accounts at any operators, log in and close them (or contact support) to stop any pending transactions. GamStop does not automatically close open accounts or cancel pending withdrawals — it blocks new logins only.
GamStop does not cover unlicensed operators, offshore sites, or operators licensed in jurisdictions other than Great Britain. If you are using unlicensed sites, contact GamCare for tailored advice on how to block access to those platforms.
Tools available on every UKGC-licensed platform
The UKGC's Social Responsibility Code requires all licensed operators to make the following tools available and accessible to every customer, free of charge and without unreasonable friction. If an operator is making it difficult to access these tools, that is a breach of the UKGC's licence conditions — report it to the Gambling Commission at gamblingcommission.gov.uk.
Deposit limits
You can set a maximum amount you are allowed to deposit per day, week, or month. Increases to a deposit limit are subject to a 24-hour cooling-off period before they take effect; reductions are immediate. Setting a deposit limit is the most effective first-line tool for preventing spend from exceeding your budget.
Loss limits
Separate from deposit limits, loss limits cap the net amount you can lose within a defined period. Because you can win and re-bet winnings without hitting a deposit limit, loss limits offer a tighter control on total financial exposure. They are particularly relevant for in-play tennis betting, where winnings from one match can be rapidly redeployed into the next.
Time limits and session reminders
UKGC-licensed operators must offer the ability to set a maximum session duration. When the session limit is reached, you are logged out automatically. Reality-check notifications — pop-ups at regular intervals showing how long you have been logged in and your net position — are also required. ThamesQuill's mobile interface audit checks whether operators surface these controls prominently or bury them behind multiple menu layers; the result feeds into the UKGC compliance posture axis of the benchmark score.
Cool-off periods
A cool-off (or "take a break") is a short-term pause on account activity, typically from 24 hours to six weeks. Unlike self-exclusion, a cool-off expires automatically and your account becomes accessible again without re-registration. If you need a longer break, use GamStop or request a longer voluntary exclusion directly with the operator — these are held for a minimum of six months under UKGC rules.
Self-exclusion via the operator
In addition to GamStop's cross-operator scheme, each operator must offer single-operator self-exclusion for a minimum of six months. Operator self-exclusion blocks your account on that platform only; it does not affect your accounts at other operators. Use GamStop if you want exclusion to apply across all UKGC-licensed platforms simultaneously.
NHS problem gambling clinics
The NHS operates problem gambling clinics in London, Manchester, Leeds, Stoke-on-Trent, Southampton, and Telford under the National Problem Gambling Clinic network. These clinics offer cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatment, free at the point of use on the NHS. Referrals can be made by your GP, or self-referrals are accepted in some areas. Contact details for the network are available via BeGambleAware or directly through GamCare.
Gordon Moody Association — residential treatment
Gordon Moody (gordonmoody.org.uk) provides residential therapeutic treatment programmes for individuals with severe gambling disorder. The programmes run for 12–14 weeks at residential centres and include one-to-one counselling, group therapy, financial education, and aftercare planning. Funding routes include GamCare referrals and local authority support. If you or someone you know requires intensive residential support, Gordon Moody is the specialist route; contact GamCare on 0808 802 0133 for a referral.
If someone you know needs help
Problem gambling affects not just the individual but their immediate household. GamCare offers support and counselling to friends and family members of people experiencing gambling harm, as well as to the individuals themselves. The helpline is confidential whether you are calling about your own gambling or on behalf of someone else. Gamfam (via GamCare) provides specific group support for affected families.