Responsible Gambling
Betting should be an enjoyable pastime. This page sets out the tools, resources and practical steps available to anyone who wants to keep it that way — or who feels their gambling may have got out of hand. Whether you bet occasionally or regularly, understanding how to stay in control is just as important as knowing where to place a wager.
18+ only. Gambling is for adults. If you are under 18, please do not attempt to open an account at any betting site.
Recognising When Gambling Stops Being Fun
Most people who bet do so without any lasting difficulty. But problem gambling can develop gradually, and the earlier it is identified the easier it is to address. The following signs are worth being honest with yourself about:
- Spending more money or time gambling than you planned to
- Chasing losses — betting more to try to win back what you have lost
- Gambling with money set aside for bills, rent or essentials
- Feeling irritable or anxious when you cannot place a bet
- Lying to family or friends about how much you bet or have lost
- Borrowing money or selling possessions to fund gambling
- Finding that gambling occupies your thoughts even when you are not betting
- Neglecting work, relationships or responsibilities because of gambling
Recognising one or more of these patterns is not a reason for shame — it is a prompt to take action. The organisations and tools listed below are there precisely for moments like this.
Free Support Organisations in Great Britain
All of the services below are independent, confidential and free to use.
| Organisation | What they offer | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| GamCare | Free counselling, a 24/7 helpline and online chat for gamblers and affected family members | 0808 8020 133 · gamcare.org.uk |
| Gamblers Anonymous | Peer support meetings across the UK based on a 12-step recovery programme | gamblers-anonymous.org.uk |
| BeGambleAware | Advice, self-assessment tools and referrals to local treatment services | begambleaware.org |
| Gordon Moody | Residential and online treatment programmes for severe gambling disorders | gordonmoody.org.uk |
| NHS Northern Gambling Service | Free specialist NHS treatment for problem gambling across England | Via GP referral or self-referral at nhs.uk |
If you are in immediate financial difficulty as a result of gambling, StepChange (stepchange.org) and Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) both offer free debt guidance.
Self-Exclusion and Blocking Tools
Several practical tools exist to help you limit or stop your gambling activity entirely.
Gamstop
Gamstop is a free self-exclusion scheme that covers all operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Registering at gamstop.co.uk allows you to exclude yourself from all participating UK-licensed bookmakers and casinos simultaneously for a minimum of six months, one year or five years. The exclusion cannot be reversed before the chosen period ends.
Betting sites not on Gamstop
Some operators reviewed on this site are licensed outside the UK and therefore do not participate in Gamstop. If you have self-excluded via Gamstop and are visiting this site, it is worth being candid with yourself about why. Seeking out alternative betting options while a self-exclusion is active may indicate that the exclusion itself has not resolved an underlying issue. If that resonates, please speak to GamCare or BeGambleAware before continuing.
You can read more about how these sites work and what distinguishes them from UK-licensed operators on our in-play sports betting review page.
Software blocking tools
Browser and device-level software can block access to gambling websites regardless of where those sites are licensed. Options that are widely used in the UK include:
- Gamban — blocks thousands of gambling sites and apps across all devices on a subscription basis
- BetBlocker — free tool that can block gambling sites for periods ranging from 24 hours to five years
- NetNanny / Parental controls — useful where children share a device
These tools work at the device level, so they can restrict access to any gambling site — including those outside UK jurisdiction.
Keeping Gambling in Check: Practical Steps
You do not need to be in crisis to make use of responsible gambling tools. The following habits help anyone keep their betting enjoyable and affordable.
- Set a budget before you start. Decide in advance how much you are prepared to lose in a session or a month. Treat it as the cost of entertainment, not an investment.
- Only bet with money you can afford to lose. Never use rent, bill money, savings or borrowed funds.
- Use deposit limits. Many betting sites allow you to set daily, weekly or monthly deposit caps. Apply one when you open an account, not after a bad run.
- Take regular breaks. Set a time limit for each session. Step away from the screen, even when you are winning.
- Don't chase losses. A losing run does not make a win more likely. Continuing to bet in order to recover losses is one of the most common routes into problem gambling.
- Keep records. Note what you deposit and what you withdraw. A clear picture of your actual profit and loss is more honest than memory.
- Talk to someone. If you are worried about your own gambling or someone else's, speaking to a friend, a GP or one of the organisations above is always a reasonable step.
Protecting Young People
It is illegal for anyone under 18 to open a betting account or place a wager in Great Britain. If children or teenagers have access to your devices:
- Log out of betting accounts after every session
- Do not save passwords in shared browsers
- Enable parental controls or blocking software on shared devices
- Keep payment cards out of reach
If a young person in your household is showing an interest in gambling, GamCare's Young People's Service offers tailored support and education resources.
Understanding the Odds
Every bet placed with any bookmaker — whether UK-licensed or not — is structured so that the operator has a mathematical advantage over time. This is built into the odds. No betting strategy, system or pattern of results changes this. Winning runs happen and can be substantial, but over a large enough number of bets the house edge means that most people who bet regularly will lose money in aggregate. Accepting this is the foundation of sensible gambling.
About This Site's Approach
Non Gamstop Bets reviews and compares betting sites that operate outside the Gamstop scheme. We aim to give readers accurate, balanced information so they can make informed decisions. We do not encourage anyone to circumvent a self-exclusion they feel they need, and we include this responsible gambling page because we believe it belongs alongside any content about online betting.
If you have questions about the sites we review, visit our sports betting reviews or read more on our About Us page. For anything else, you can reach us via the Contact Us page.
Our editorial standards, including how we handle commercial relationships with operators, are set out in our Terms and Conditions.