Playing at casinos or wagering on sporting events can be a thrilling pastime. But it’s important to gamble responsibly to keep your gaming enjoyable and never dangerous.

Find out about the signs of problem gambling and how to practice responsible gambling.

Responsible Gambling: The Fundamentals

There are two things you should never do when gambling: think of it as a source of income and bet with money that you can’t afford to lose.

Along with sticking to these fundamentals, we recommend using responsible gambling tools available at your casino. These include:

• Checks – tell the casino how long you want to play for, and you will receive a prompt before your time is up
• Deposit limits – you can ask the casino to limit the amount you deposit within a set timeframe
• Access to gambling history – you can check out the stats of your transactions, deposits, and withdrawals to keep a tab on your gaming
• Breaks – set a break period to cool off

To comply with Gambling Commission regulations, all online casinos that operate in the UK should provide you with the tools mentioned above and links to gambling help services.

Top 10 Tips for Responsible Gambling

Follow these essential tips to ensure your betting remains enjoyable and secure:

1. Gambling is Not a Job

Remember, gambling is for fun, not a means to earn a living.

2. Keep Tabs on Time and Money

Set alarms to manage playtime and use budgeting tools to track spending.

3. Establish a Budget

Decide on a gambling budget that won’t impact your essential expenses.

Creating a Gambling Budget:

1. Income Assessment: Sum up your total monthly income.
2. Subtract Fixed Costs: Deduct necessities from your income.
3. Allocate Funds: Choose a percentage of the remainder for gambling.
4. Track Spending: Log all gambling activity.
5. Monthly Review: Regularly review and adjust your budget.

Online Casino Budget Tools

Utilize in-built casino features like deposit limits to maintain your budget.

4. Bet Within Your Means

Limit bets to a small percentage of your bankroll to avoid financial strain.

5. Accept Losses

Losses are part of gambling; don’t try to recover them through bigger bets.

6. Understand the Games

Knowing the rules can significantly improve your chances and enjoyment.

7. Gamble in the Right Mindset

Avoid gambling when feeling emotional or stressed.

8. Stay Sober

Alcohol and drugs can impair judgement; bet with a clear mind.

9. Separate Your Funds

Use a dedicated account or digital wallet for gambling to manage finances effectively.

10. Leverage Gambling Controls

Engage with tools provided by new UK casino sites to help manage your gambling habits.

Problem Gambling Signs

Many people who have gambling issues may not be aware of the extent of their problem. If you experience any of the signs listed below, seek professional help.

• Thinking about gambling all the time
• Having to gamble with increasing amounts of money to get the same buzz
• Struggling to cut back on your gambling when aiming to do so
• Feeling irritable when not gambling
• Gambling to relieve feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, or depression
• Chasing losses
• Hiding the extent of your gambling by lying
• Committing crime to fund your gambling
• Borrowing money to gamble

How Casinos and Bookmakers in the UK Promote Responsible Gambling

The largest gambling providers in the UK formed the Betting & Gaming Council to set a code of practice. The members of this organisation represent 90% of UK betting and gaming businesses. They aim to try and prevent gambling addiction problems by adhering to set rules:

• No advertising of gaming machines in bookmaker windows
• No TV advertising of sign-up offers before 9 pm
• All adverts must dedicate 20% of space to responsible gambling messages

The organisation established these rules to help achieve its five principal aims:

• Prevent underage gambling and protect young people
• Increase support for treatment of gambling harm
• Strengthen and expand codes of practice for advertising and marketing
• Protect and empower customers
• Create a culture of safer gambling

What’s more, online casinos always provide links to organisations that support problem gamblers to adhere to UK law.

Gambling Support Services

GamCare

GamCare offers free support to anyone in the UK affected by problem gambling. All of its services are confidential and non-judgemental. Its free helpline (0808 8020 133) is open from 8 am to 12 am and has a live chat service, a live text chatroom, and a forum – all available 24/7. Additionally, the charity organises meetings at various locations to provide in-person support.

For more details about the organisation, visit the GamCare website.

Gamblers Anonymous

Gamblers Anonymous has been providing support since 1957. Its website gives you information on meetings close to you, an online forum, chat rooms, and links to helpful reading material.

Visit the Gamblers Anonymous website for more info.

BeGambleAware

BeGambleAware offers free and confidential help online and via its helpline. Its employees are fully trained to educate you on how to control a gambling problem. The organisation can also teach you how to determine if someone close to you has a gambling problem.

This independent charity also gives you tools that can help treat a gambling problem, including software that can help you manage your money, self exclude and block your access to online gambling sites.

Visit BeGambleAware.

National Centre for Behavioural Addictions

This centre is home to the National Problem Gambling Clinic and the National Centre for Gaming Disorders. Visit its website to find links to both organisations. Each one can support you to help overcome gambling addiction.

Gordon Moody

The Gordon Moody charity has provided gambling addiction therapy services since 1971. Originally called Gordon House, Reverend Gordon Moody MBE set it up as a hostel for men suffering from addiction. However, the charity now provides various services online to help anyone with gambling problems.

Visit the Gordon Moody website for more info.

How To Know You Have a Gambling Problem

If you think you might already have or are developing a gambling problem, take this quick quiz. Simply answer the questions using this scoring guide below.

• Each answer of ‘never’ scores 0
• Each answer of ‘sometimes’ scores 1
• Each answer of ‘often’ scores 2
• Each answer of ‘always’ scores 3

If your total score is eight or higher, you have a gambling problem and should contact one of the gambling support services mentioned above.

• Do you bet with more money than you can afford to lose?
• Do you increase the amount of money you gamble to get the same feeling?
• Do you chase losses?
• Does your gambling cause you stress or anxiety?
• Do other people tell you that you have a gambling problem?
• Do you borrow money or sell possessions to fund your gaming?
• Does your gaming cause you financial problems?
• Does the way you gamble give you feelings of guilt?

Essential Responsible Gambling Features

Utilise these responsible gambling features available at our recommended new casino sites to ensure a safer betting experience.

Playtime Alerts

Receive timely notifications to manage the duration of your gaming sessions effectively.

Break Periods

Activate a temporary hold on your gambling activities to help balance your time and spending.

Activity Tracker

Review your betting history to stay informed about your time and money spent on gambling.

Pause Feature

Take short-term breaks to help prevent impulsive betting and manage your gambling time.

Spending Caps

Set predefined limits on your deposits and wagers to keep your finances in check.

Limits on Automated Play

Control the extent of auto-play actions to maintain a balance between your time and budget.

Voluntary Exclusion

Choose to self-exclude from gambling platforms for a set period to aid in comprehensive self-regulation.

Complete Account Deactivation

Opt for a full account shutdown to address financial, time, and social gambling concerns.

Maximum Loss Threshold

Define a loss limit to prevent excessive financial depletion while gambling.

Behavioral Self-Check Quizzes

Assess your gambling habits with self-evaluation quizzes to maintain social accountability.

Fixed Session Durations

Limit your gambling to predetermined session lengths to better manage your time.

Underage Gambling Blocks

Tools specifically designed to prevent minors from gambling, supporting social responsibility.

Guidance on Safe Betting

Access expert advice for maintaining responsible gambling habits.

Spending Diary

Track your gambling budget over time for improved financial oversight.

Withdrawal Reversal Options

Manage your cash-out actions with the ability to reverse withdrawal requests.

Expert Support Access

Benefit from trained customer service teams for guidance on responsible gambling practices.

Session Interruption Alerts

Get notified during extended play to help you decide whether to continue or take a break.

What Happens When A Gambling Provider Breaks the Law?

If a gambling provider breaks the law, the UK Gambling Commission can revoke its license. This measure is a significant blow for a company because it would restrict it from operating in the UK – a market worth over £14 billion annually. That said, it has rarely happened.

However, the Gambling Commission has handed out substantial fines. In 2020, gambling companies paid out over £44 million in penalties.

Online Casinos That Have Broken Responsible Gambling Laws

888.com

Online gambling provider 888.com once paid a penalty of over £7.8million for failing to protect vulnerable customers. The regulator discovered various cases of misconduct which led to the fine. Firstly, due to a technical failure, over 7,000 customers who had chosen to self-exclude from their casino/poker/sports platform could still access their accounts via the site’s bingo platform. As a result, the commission decided that although 888 had set self-exclusion procedures, they had failed to enforce them adequately.

Also, 888 didn’t recognise signs of problem gambling behaviour by an individual. One patron staked over £1.3million, including £55k in stolen cash over a period of 13 months.

Betway

This gambling company owned by Super Group paid an £11.6m fine for accepting stolen money from “VIP” customers that displayed signs of gambling addiction. The trial found that Betway had taken £8m of deposits over four years from one customer who lost £4m. Although the operator’s employees had flagged the account as a potential risk over 20 times, staff accepted the gambler’s word that he could afford these losses. The investigation found that the customer’s account was only closed after the police contacted the company.

TonyBet

TonyBet, an online betting firm, was fined £442,750 by the UK Gambling Commission for imposing unfair conditions on winners trying to withdraw their funds, while neglecting necessary checks on depositors.

The Estonia-based operator was found to have demanded identification from winning customers for withdrawals, yet failed to perform similar due diligence on incoming deposits, potentially allowing vulnerable players to gamble unchecked.

This action highlights the Commission’s commitment to fair treatment of customers and the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing within the gambling industry.

Final Thoughts

Responsible gambling is essential for keeping gaming fun and safe. It’s about smart choices and knowing the risks. The strategies, tools, and advice provided here aim to help you gamble responsibly and recognise when it’s time to stop.

It’s crucial to remember that gambling is not a financial strategy or a job. It’s meant for entertainment. If it starts to negatively impact your life, it’s time to reach out for help.

The UK has robust measures to support responsible gambling, but the onus is on you to use these tools and know your limits. For gambling providers, failing to promote responsible gambling can lead to severe penalties, but for individuals, the stakes are personal and can be much higher.

Stay within safe limits, seek help if you need it, and let gambling remain a positive part of your life. If gambling becomes a problem, immediate support is available.

Play wisely, play safely.

FAQ

What is problem gambling?

Problem gambling is when your gaming negatively affects your life and has become an unhealthy addiction. To keep your gaming fun, set yourself limits and keep track of how much you’re spending. It’s recommendable to use a separate account and deposit limits when playing at online casinos or making bets. If you think you might have a gambling problem, contact GamCare or other gambling addiction services in the UK to get professional help.

How can I gamble responsibly?

The best way to gamble responsibly is to set yourself limits. Before playing casino games or wagering on sports, you can impose restrictions to stop your gambling from becoming a problem. Also, remember that you should always treat gambling as entertainment and not a source of income.

How can I cut down on my gambling?

There are various ways you can cut down on your gambling. Thanks to laws set by the Gambling Commission, all establishments that offer betting services to UK customers must provide you with responsible gambling tools. These include deposit limits, gaming timeouts, and links to gambling addiction services. If you’re struggling to cut down, seek professional advice.

How can I protect my children from online gambling?

Online gambling sites adhere to strict rule regulations when verifying new players to protect children. However, if you want to stop your children from viewing these sites, change your browser settings to block gambling sites – most browsers give you this option.

How can I spot that someone has a gambling problem?

Becoming aware that someone has a gambling problem can be difficult. However, there are telltale signs that might show that someone has an unhealthy gaming habit. These range from lying to committing crimes to fund their habit. If the actions of someone close to you are starting to become a worry, visit gamcare.org.uk for advice.